{"id":319,"date":"2012-03-18T17:39:49","date_gmt":"2012-03-18T17:39:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/?p=319"},"modified":"2016-07-08T10:27:44","modified_gmt":"2016-07-08T10:27:44","slug":"grand-norfolk-hike-stage-9-thetford-to-diss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/2012\/03\/grand-norfolk-hike-stage-9-thetford-to-diss\/","title":{"rendered":"Stage 9: Thetford to Diss"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I walked this, the 9th stage of my\u00a0<a title=\"More info on the hike\" href=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/?p=78\">Grand Norfolk Hike<\/a>, on Saturday 11th\u00a0March 2012.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_321\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-321\" style=\"width: 523px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?saddr=Thetford,+UK&amp;daddr=Diss,+UK&amp;hl=en&amp;sll=42.875129,2.18546&amp;sspn=0.153727,0.308647&amp;geocode=FbjBHwMdKXgLACm1MuYdUyPYRzG-pb670B3qQA%3BFaszHwMdqukQACnnvEQ2RZPZRzGYstgN-j1R5Q&amp;oq=dis&amp;t=h&amp;dirflg=w&amp;mra=ltm&amp;z=11\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-321 \" title=\"lunapic_133197238923985_1\" src=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/lunapic_133197238923985_1.gif\" alt=\"Thetford to Diss\" width=\"523\" height=\"296\" srcset=\"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/lunapic_133197238923985_1.gif 654w, https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/lunapic_133197238923985_1-300x169.gif 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-321\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thetford to Diss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/martinblack.com\/?page_id=149\">You can see a map of the hike so far<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Phew, this was a walk and a half I can tell you. \u00a0Including the walk to Ely station I covered 25 miles, probably the furthest I&#8217;ve ever walked. \u00a0Yes, I was knackered by the time I arrived in Diss but after a pint and a bag of chips I could have walked a few more, good to know that.<\/p>\n<p>Actually the key to walking long distances is a) sunny skies b) interesting countryside, both make everything that much easier.<\/p>\n<p>The plan for the day was to walk from Thetford to <a href=\"http:\/\/brecks.org\/1.aspx\">Knettishall Heath<\/a> and pick up the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.countrysideaccess.norfolk.gov.uk\/walk.aspx?id=1\">Angles Way<\/a> to Diss (and ultimately keep on that path to Lowestoft).<\/p>\n<p>I caught the early train (7.30am) from Ely and arrived in Thetford 15 minutes later. \u00a0I took the quick route out of town and an hour or so later was having a tea break outside the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.suffolkchurches.co.uk\/brettenham.htm\">pretty church of Brettenham<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"St Mary's church, Brettenham, nr Thetford\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-hzYbT_kdbLA\/T1-Sel4BjaI\/AAAAAAAABTw\/JqBO92AIods\/s640\/Copy%2520of%2520DSCN1325.JPG\" alt=\"St Mary's church, Brettenham, near Thetford\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">St Mary&#39;s church, Brettenham, near Thetford<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At Knettishall Heath I finally arrived at the trailhead of the Angles Way.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Angles Way trailhead\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-ifFgUsoYlHc\/T2RZlNYm75I\/AAAAAAAABXA\/n8GMQw1AL3o\/s640\/DSCN1328.JPG\" alt=\"Angles Way trailhead\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Angles Way trailhead<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>At one point I was followed by a flock of sheep,\u00a0nosily\u00a0demanding to be fed. Only the natural border of the Little Ouse river kept them from mobbing me.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hungry sheep on the rampage\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/-IyOYTQ3tgTY\/T1-SZC0oXHI\/AAAAAAAABTg\/P_oyzOskwuk\/s640\/Copy%2520of%2520DSCN1333.JPG\" alt=\"Hungry sheep on the rampage\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hungry sheep on the rampage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I arrived in the Suffolk village of <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hopton,_Suffolk\">Hopton<\/a> about 11.30am, sadly too early for a pint. \u00a0A quick look at the map showed me another village with a pub in <a href=\"http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Thelnetham\">Thelnetham<\/a> not far off the path some 40 minutes walk away, perfect!<\/p>\n<p>A sad sight met me at the village, the White Horse was no more.\u00a0Closed village pubs are one of the most depressing sights in the countryside, once closed they are gone for ever and will no doubt be turned into a holiday home for some wealthy Londoner.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Last orders at the White Horse\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/-Q69SkKADZi8\/T1-SSBazM9I\/AAAAAAAABTQ\/j-8K30v0Zag\/s640\/Copy%2520of%2520DSCN1336.JPG\" alt=\"Last orders at the White Horse\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Last orders at the White Horse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Soon after the pub disapointment my spirits were lifted by passing through the lovely\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org\/reserves-and-visitor-centres\/redgrave-lopham-fen\/\">Redgrave &amp; Lopham Fen<\/a>, &#8216;the largest remaining river valley fen in England and the source of the River Waveney&#8217; according to the website. \u00a0The source of the Little Ouse is also nearby. \u00a0I took a break at this point and finished the last of my tea.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 480px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Source of The River Waveney, Redgrave &amp; Lopham Fen\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-Y6z2S6NtEBI\/T1-SrhxAZXI\/AAAAAAAABUY\/OaI9XocSoX0\/s640\/Copy%2520of%2520DSCN1340.JPG\" alt=\"Source of The River Waveney, Redgrave &amp; Lopham Fen\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source of The River Waveney, Redgrave &amp; Lopham Fen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>By this time I was starting to tire and began to take more regular rests. \u00a0At one point I lay flat on my back for ten minutes, I was about to drop off into a\u00a0pleasant\u00a0nap when I heard a voice:<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Are you okay?&#8217;, asked a\u00a0concerned\u00a0looking walker.<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Uh, yeah, sure&#8217; I replied, &#8216;just walked from Thetford and I&#8217;m taking a rest&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p>She gave me an odd look and went on her way.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 480px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The River Waveney, Near Diss\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-WD83WeqeEow\/T1-Sounov4I\/AAAAAAAABUQ\/fw7Uh848oCQ\/s640\/Copy%2520of%2520DSCN1341.JPG\" alt=\"The River Waveney, Near Diss\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The River Waveney, Near Diss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>From here on I followed the River Waveney into Diss. \u00a0The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the\u00a0surrounding\u00a0countryside, it was all very\u00a0serene.<\/p>\n<p>I shot a little video reportage:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1040\" height=\"585\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HUWhsC1YCvc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Finally I reached Diss and\u00a0celebrated\u00a0with a fine pint of <a href=\"http:\/\/adnams.co.uk\/\">Adnams<\/a> outside the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cockinndiss.co.uk\/\">Cock Inn<\/a> (as recommended to me by my friend John W)<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A pint at the Cock Inn, Diss\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/-Y9kR6PtDzMM\/T2RZZerYdrI\/AAAAAAAABW0\/g_SouPFew2Y\/s640\/DSCN1346.JPG\" alt=\"A pint at the Cock Inn, Diss\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A pint at the Cock Inn, Diss<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I walked this, the 9th stage of my\u00a0Grand Norfolk Hike, on Saturday 11th\u00a0March 2012. You can see a map of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10,12],"tags":[32,31,33],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5248,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319\/revisions\/5248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=319"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinblack.com\/oldsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=319"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}