{"id":277,"date":"2012-03-04T20:20:20","date_gmt":"2012-03-04T20:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/?p=277"},"modified":"2017-12-08T12:24:32","modified_gmt":"2017-12-08T12:24:32","slug":"grand-norfolk-hike-stage-8-brandon-to-thetford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/2012\/03\/grand-norfolk-hike-stage-8-brandon-to-thetford\/","title":{"rendered":"Brandon to Thetford"},"content":{"rendered":"

I walked this, the 8th stage of my\u00a0Grand Norfolk Hike<\/a>, on Sunday 26th\u00a0February\u00a02012.<\/p>\n

\"Brandon<\/a>
Brandon to Thetford route (click for Google map)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I arrived at Brandon at about 9.30am on a beautiful sunny morning and within a few minutes was\u00a0strolling\u00a0alongside the Little Ouse river as it winds its way through the forest towards Thetford.<\/p>\n

I love this walk. \u00a0I’ve done\u00a0stretches\u00a0and\u00a0variations\u00a0of it three or four times over the years and never\u00a0fail\u00a0to be\u00a0bewitched\u00a0by the\u00a0beautiful, slow moving river, the forest, the birds and flowers.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Little Ouse at Brandon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After an hour of walking I reached the village of Santon Downham<\/a> where I stopped for a cup of tea on a bench not far from the pretty 12th century church.<\/p>\n

\"Santon
Santon Downham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Santon
Santon Downham church<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The sun was out and becoming warmer, a light fresh breeze moved through the trees and I found myself remembering how I felt on my earliest solo hikes when I’d cycle down to the North Downs at the age of 13. \u00a0A fine, carefree,\u00a0joyous\u00a0feeling of freedom and the simple happiness of being alive.<\/p>\n

Refreshed, I left Santon Downham and continued following the Little Ouse.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Little Ouse from the site of an old Saxon church, St Helen’s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As I walked I kept my eye open for potential wild camping bivy-bag spots, a few places caught my attention.<\/p>\n

\"Wild
Wild camp?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This location looks perfect, imagine waking up to this view. \u00a0Not far away were groups of snowdops. \u00a0It’s wonderful how one can find places of relative isolation so near to the hustle and bustle of town life. \u00a0I didn’t see another person on this stretch of the route.<\/p>\n

\"Snowdrops\"
Snowdrops<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I sat down a while for lunch. \u00a0The day had become very warm and I was able to lie back on the river bank, sunbathing in my t-shirt, early summer weather in\u00a0February, incredible!<\/p>\n

\"Little
The Little Ouse midway between Brandon and Thetford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I had reached the midway point and after half an hour dozing on the river bank I decided to shoot a little video\u00a0reportage\u00a0before setting off on the last leg of the hike.<\/p>\n