Peddars Way

Peddars Way is a long-distance footpath running through Suffolk and Norfolk. It follows the line of an old road, possibly a branch of the Icknield Way, later used and improved by the Romans. The name comes from Middle English ‘pedder’, meaning travelling trader, and first appears on a map from 1587. The path starts at Knettishall Heath in Suffolk, near the Norfolk border, and ends at Holme-next-the-Sea where it meets the Norfolk Coast Path. Together they form the Peddars Way & Norfolk Coast Path National Trail, one of fifteen such routes in England and Wales. The route is well marked with wooden fingerposts at junctions and small discs bearing the acorn symbol along the way. A detailed guide with Ordnance Survey maps is available for walkers. The trail links at its southern end to Harling Road railway station and at the northern end to bus services at Holme. It also connects to the Icknield Way Path, which continues south-west for 110 miles. Local folklore tells of the ghostly Black Shuck, said to haunt the path. Walkers find wide grassy tracks crossing farmland and heath, with gentle gradients and open views. The route passes quiet villages and crosses the River Heacham near its northern end. At intervals there are fingerposts showing the way, and the acorn symbols guide walkers along the clear paths. The landscape includes wooded sections, open fields and stretches beside the coast. The trail offers a chance to see East Anglia’s countryside at a relaxed pace.