Horstead to Heggatt

A stroll along the southern side of the River Bure to the ancient hamlet of Heggatt.
This short walk takes one through country lanes and along old tracks and footpaths on the southern side of the River Bure. Highlights include the ruins of Horstead Mill and views across the valley to Coltishall and Belaugh. Plus a walk would not be complete without a little piece of folklore, and this one is all about a prophesy centered around a tree on Heggatt Common.

Technical sheet

44123142
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.73 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 15 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 16 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 21 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: Recruiting Sergeant pub, Horstead. (NR12 7EE) Grid ref. TG 264 196

(S/E) From the Recruiting Sergeant pub, cross the road and proceed left down Mill Road, a country lane with the river on the left-hand side.

(1) Horstead Mill is soon encountered where there are information boards both within the ruins and on the river bank. Continue along Mill Road as it veers to the right and up a hill.

(2) At the top, as the road straightens, there is a track on the left with a public footpath sign. Take this and follow this through a double bend and down to a point where it turns sharp left into a private driveway with a post box on the left. At this point, a footpath leads off to the right through the woodland. Follow this for 600 yards to where it meets another track at a T-junction. Turn right onto this and follow the track through the private dwellings of Heggatt.

(3) At the T-junction turn right and follow the road past Heggatt Hall on the left, continuing all the way back down to where the route first took the track off the road. Continue down the hill to Horstead Mill.

(1) Turn right and walk along the path through the ruins, turning sharp left at the end. Keep straight ahead to the locks. Walk over the walkway and keep going straight ahead. The footpath soon brings one out onto the main road by the side of the bridge.

(4) Cross the road and turn left, use the footbridge to return to the start of the walk.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Recruiting Sergeant pub, Horstead
  2. 1 : km 0.38 - alt. 7 m - Horstead Mill
  3. 2 : km 0.78 - alt. 18 m - Top of the hill - Footpath sign left
  4. 3 : km 2.77 - alt. 13 m - T-junction
  5. 4 : km 4.41 - alt. 6 m - Main road by the side of the bridge
  6. S/E : km 4.72 - alt. 5 m - Recruiting Sergeant pub, Horstead

Practical information

Start: Recruiting Sergeant pub, Horstead. (NR12 7EE) Grid ref. TG 264 196

Refreshments :
Recruiting Sergeant, Horstead

Find more information and walks at Griffmonsters Great Walks here.

In the nearby area

The Legend of the Three-Thumbed Miller

Reviews and comments

5 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Clarity of route map
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Julien VR
Julien VR ★

Hi Door,
Thanks for taking the time to rate and review!
I’m happy to hear that you had a nice sunny time and what a lovely message to start this week with. haha
Best regards,
Julien

Content Manager & User support

Door
Door

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No


Lovely sunny day for a lovely easy walk.
We missed 1st sign as had been moved or rotted away. No matter as we carried on further and because the instructions come with a map also it was really easy to change the walk, picking up the correct path.
We absolutely love the little tracker dot, so useful.
All in all, we both really enjoyed it 😊 !!!!

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of the author. Do not copy them without permission.