Little Ouse River

The Little Ouse is a small river in eastern England that forms part of the border between Norfolk and Suffolk for much of its course. It rises near the B1113 road between South Lopham and Redgrave, flowing westwards through wetland areas and villages. The river is a tributary of the Great Ouse and measures about 37 miles in length. The river’s headwaters are unusual because two rivers, the Little Ouse and the Waveney, rise barely 160 yards apart in a broad valley. The area was studied by geologists including Rev. Osmond Fisher in the 19th century and later by Prof Richard West between 2002 and 2007. The valley was shaped by runoff from a large glacial lake that once covered the region. The downstream course of the river has changed over centuries due to natural flooding and human drainage work. Visitors can follow the river through landscapes shaped by its waters. At Thelnetham, the Little Ouse passes near a restored windmill dating from 1819. The Nunnery Lakes Reserve near Thetford contains deep pools created by gravel extraction and is managed by the British Trust for Ornithology. The river is crossed by several historic bridges, including Town Bridge in Thetford, a cast iron span from 1829. Thetford Forest, the largest manmade lowland forest in Britain, borders the river downstream. The Little Ouse Path follows the river in places, offering walks through varied scenery.