Wolterton Hall Walks
This walk explores the grounds of the 18th century Wolterton Park estate in Norfolk.
This historic hall dates back to the mid 1700s when it was designed by the architect Thomas Ripley, a protégé of Lord Walpole and his brother Sir Robert Walpole who is generally considered the first de facto first Prime Minister of Great Britain. The hall is generally not open to the public unless you are staying at the hotel or you book one of the tours. This walk circles the hall on public footpaths and country lanes that run around the perimiter of the site. There's some lovely countryside and views across the expansive estate from the paths.
The walk starts from the Saracen's Head pub, located just north east of the park. From here you follow birdle paths south to Fring Wood Farm where you turn west towards the village of Itteringham. Country lanes will then take you north east to return to the pub.
On the western fringes of the walk you will come very close to Mannington Hall.
Postcode
NR11 7LY - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Wolterton Hall Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Wolterton Hall Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Wolterton Hall OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Wolterton Hall Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
To the south is Blickling Hall where you'll find five thousand acres of parkland, farmland and woodland to explore on foot or by bike. The popular Weavers' Way long distance walk can also be picked up here.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Wolterton Hall - the former stable block Wolterton Hall was built by the architect Thomas Ripley in the 1720s for Horatio Walpole, younger brother of Britain's first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole. On the death of the 3rd Earl in 1858 the Hall was abandoned until 1905, when the Earl moved back in. Ever since the present Earl inherited the property in 1989, there has been a programme of reorganisation, conservation and research into the rich family history of the Walpoles and the Hall now houses an extensive collection of family portraits. The ruined tower, all that remains of St Margarets church, stands at the edge of Wolterton Park
Wolterton Hall and front garden Viewed across the ha-ha, forming the southern boundary between Wolterton Park and the Hall. A ha-ha is a dry ditch or trench with a fence, wall or hedge running along its bottom or side, forming the boundary to a garden or park. It is designed so as not to interrupt the view, and to be invisible until closely approached. The originator of the ha-ha is believed to be the English garden designer Charles Bridgeman (1690-1738). The waymarked public footpaths and permissive paths traversing Wolterton Park cover more than 20 miles; they lead around Wolterton and neighbouring Mannington, some connecting with the Weavers Way long distance footpath and the Holt circular walk. There also is an orienteering course and adventure playground.
Wolterton Lake
Keepers Cottage
The ruined church of St Margaret. Viewed from beside the ha-ha which forms the northern boundary of Wolterton Park. The tower is all that remains of St Margaret's church, in the grounds of Wolterton Park. When St Margaret's church was torn down the Walpoles of Wolterton Hall adopted St Andrew's church in neighbouring Wickmere; some furnishings were moved to there, such as an unknown number of the rood screen panels, presently fixed to the 1930s pulpit, believed to depict the donors.
View towards Abbot's Grove (the woodland seen in the background), across water trough in cattle pasture beside footpath.
Wall Road. This pleasant country lane runs along the northern side of the estate.
The River Bure as it flows through Itteringham Common just south of the park. The footbridge seen in mid-distance carries the path over it. This public footpath which starts by the end of New Road, an area known as Journey's End can be followed in northerly or in westerly direction - it leads over drains, through cattle pastures, always roughly following the course of the River Bure.