Route: The Burnhams
Area: North Norfolk
Date of walk: 1st December 2023
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 6.9 miles
Ascent: 250 feet
Weather: Sunny spells at first, then sleet and snow, very cold
There are several Burnham settlements in this part of North Norfolk and today’s circular walk would visit four of them – in order of appearance Burnham Market, Burnham Norton, Burnham Overy Staithe and Burnham Overy Town
We parked in one of the roadside spaces in Burnham Market, the largest of the Burnhams, and walked out of the attractive town via Herrings Lane. We then joined a path through the fields leading towards Burnham Norton. At the far end of the village we entered onto Norton Marsh and followed a muddy track towards the sea. This was a wonderful section of the walk for bird spotting. Along the way we saw curlew, oystercatcher, lapwings, redshank, egrets, marsh harrier and thousands of geese and ducks. Some rare species may be spotted here too. I’d decided to leave the telephoto lens at home on account of its weight, but regretted the decision as there were many good opportunities for bird photos
After leaving Norton Marsh we made our way to Burnham Overy Staithe. The dramatic skies which we’d seen earlier in the walk were quickly making their way towards us and it was obvious we were likely targets for a soaking. We had intended to visit Overy Creek but decided to shorten the walk and followed a green lane known as Gong Lane, which shaved a mile or two off our planned itinerary. As we left the village we were overtaken by a combination of rain, sleet and snow and the camera had to be stowed away. After passing through Burnham Overy Town we followed a succession of paths back into Burnham Market to end a walk which we’d enjoyed greatly, despite the mixed weather
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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The start of today's walk from the village green in Burnham Market
We pass between these houses to walk along Herrings Lane...
Looking back to Burnham Market. We will leave the lane shortly to join a path heading north across fields
Dramatic skies over Burnham Overy Mill, which we'll walk past later on...
We follow the waymarked path to Burnham Norton
We arrive in Burnham Norton and follow the lane through the attractive village
We pass by an old barn...
...and the village library...
Weather coming our way
Another view of Burnham Overy Mill as we leave Burnham Norton
At the end of the village we enter onto Norton Marsh, a wonderful bird watching location
Canada geese
Skies over Norton Marsh...
Curlew
The River Burn as we approach Burnham Overy Staithe
The route of the river forces us away from Burnham Overy Staithe as we follow the embankment across the marshes
We pass by Burnham Overy Mill, which we'd seen at the start of the walk
We arrive in Burnham Overy Staithe just as the weather starts to close in
I wonder if the driver noticed the sign?
The River Burn
Little egret. At this point the dramatic skies we'd seen earlier overtook us bringing rain, sleet and snow, and the camera had to be stowed away. We'd planned to walk to Overy Creek but decided to take a shorter way back
Half an hour later the skies start to clear as we arrive at the last of the Burnhams - Burnham Overy Town and its church of St Clement
The nail stone on the village green, over which merchants made their deals, giving rise to the expression 'paying on the nail'
We pass by Union Mill on the edge of the town
St Margaret's church, a short distance from Burnham Market
The end of the walk as we arrive back in Burnham Market
Later that day, a visit to nearby Wells-next-the-Sea
