Hethersett and Swardeston Country Walk
This village near Norwich has some nice surrounding countryside to explore on a number of footpaths. There's also a noteworthy 14th century church and the remains of the old 19th century rail station to see.
This walk takes you along a section of the Upper Tas Valley Walk and the Tas Valley Way to the nearby villages of Swardeston and Mulbarton.
The walks starts in the village where you can pick up the waymarked footpath and follow it south to Hethersett Hall and Ivy Farm near Ketteringham. Here you can visit the historic Ketteringham Hall which has some beautiful grounds and gardens accessible from the tea rooms.
The route then turns east past Norwich Hill and Lower East Carleton before coming into Swardeston. Here there are some nice trails to follow across Swardeston common where there's wildflowers and ponds to see.
After exploring the village the route continues south to Mulbarton, passing East Carleton on the way. There's another good sized area of common land here with some nice walking trails.
For more details on the history of the village see the informative wikipedia page.
Postcode
R9 3DD - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsHethersett and Swardeston Country Walk Ordnance Survey Map 
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Hethersett and Swardeston Country Walk Open Street Map 
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Hethersett and Swardeston Country Walk OS Map 
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Hethersett and Swardeston Country Walk Open Street Map 
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Walks near Hethersett
- Tas Valley Way - This 25 mile river walk runs from Cringleford, near Norwich, to Attleborough, visiting a series of pretty villages with historic churches along the way.
- Norwich Riverside Walk - This circular walk around the city centre of Norwich follows the lovely riverside path along the River Wensum
- Wymondham Tiffey Valley Walk - This walk follows footpaths along the River Tiffey in the Norfolk town of Wymondham.
- Ketts Country Walk - Follow Kett's Country Walk from Cringleford to Wymondham on this splendid walk through Norfolk
- Attleborough - This Norfolk based town has some nice trails to follow through the surrounding valley of the River Tas
- Whitlingham Country Park - Enjoy a peaceful cycle or walk around the lovely Whitlingham Country Park on the outskirts of Norwich
- Caistor St Edmund - This historical circular walk explores the Roman town of Caistor St Edmund in Norfolk
- Wherryman's Way - This walk follows the River Yare between Norwich and Great Yarmouth through the Norfolk Broads.
- Shotesham - This south Norfolk village is located just a few miles to the south of the city of Norwich in the River Tas Valley.
- Old Buckenham - This Norfolk based village sits just to the south of Attleborough on the popular Tas Valley Way walk
- Mulbarton - This Norfolk based village is located just south of Norwich
- Yare Valley - Follow the River Yare from Bowthorpe to Marston Marsh on this deilghtful riverside walk near Norwich
- Marston Marshes - This pretty nature reserve is located on the River Yare near Cringleford and Norwich.
- Ketteringham Hall - Ketteringham Hall is located in the Norfolk village of Ketteringham, a few miles south west of Norwich.
Pubs/Cafes
The Queens Head is a nice place for some post exercise rest and refreshment. They serve good quality food and have a nice garden area to sit out in. You can find the pub at postcode R9 3DD for your sat navs.
On the route in Mulbarton there's the noteworthy World's End. The historic pub dates back to the 1600s when it was an important Coaching Inn. They serve good food and have an award winning Garden area for warmer days. You can find them at postcode NR14 8JT. The village is also a pleasant place for a stroll with a common, a village green, a pond and a fine old church dating back to the 14th century.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Just to the west of the village you can pick up the Wymondham Tiffey Valley Walk and enjoy an easy waterside stroll along the River Tiffey.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Norfolk Walks page.
Photos
Bus shelter in New Road, Hethersett
This derelict rail station at Hethersett is situated almost two kilometres distant from the heart of the town it once served, and cut off from it by the A11 road. The brick and flint single-storey station built in 1845 survives more or less as at closure, with the canopy and the platform goods store still in place. The station platforms have been removed. For some time the station buildings were used as part of a tyre store but they have since been abandoned and are now derelict. Hethersett station was on the Great Eastern Railway main line between Norwich-Thetford/Ely, and in the 1960s it was still served by 10 to 12 trains daily each way, the majority being Norwich-King's Lynn/Wells-next-the-Sea services. Deemed as surplus to requirements the station was closed in 1966 but trains are still travelling past here.
The church of St Remigius in Hethersett. There are only five churches in England which are dedicated to St Remigius. The church of St Remigius as we see it today dates primarily from the 14th century. The chancel had been in ruins since the Reformation and was rebuilt in 1898 with the nave roof partially reconstructed at the same time, which gives the structure a somewhat unusual profile. The interior was extensively restored in Victorian times and the arcades decorated with scripture and floral motifs but the 14th century font has survived. The church windows contain a fine collection of 19th and early 20th century stained glass.
Path on Swardeston Common
Public footpath to Mulbarton. This public footpath links Greenways and The Rosary in Mulbarton, further to the north. The wild flowers growing alongside the ditch seen at left provide food for many insects
The tithe barn in Mulbarton. The former 140 ft long tithe barn on the edge of the Common used to be divided into hay barn, chaff cutting shed, corn barn, and a stable for four horses. It has since been converted into accommodation and The Coach House and Stable are two holiday flats incorporated in the western end of the building.
View across Long Lane towards Mulbarton Common
Long Lane past Mulbarton Common