A Jaunt to Aylsham

About trip

Aylsham’s name has its origins with the Saxons. A Saxon farmer named Aegel lived here, and his homestead became known as Aegel’s Ham, which was later shortened to Aylsham. The village is recorded in the Domesday Book and it is remarkable to see that the parish in the 1080s was about the same size as it is today. Aylsham became Crown property after the Conquest and remained in royal hands until the reign of Charles I. Charles pawned it to the Corporation of the City of London, in an effort to raise some cash, and was never able to afford to redeem it. The City passed it to the Earls of Buckinghamshire, who owned nearby Blickling. It finally ended up with the National Trust, who remain its careful guardians today. While you're there: If you enjoy stately homes, then visit the medieval manor house of Mannington Hall 4 miles (6.4km) to the northwest of Blickling. Its gorgeous gardens are open to the public in the summer and the hall itself is open by appointment. Even closer is Wolterton Hall, built in the 1720s for the Walpole family. Both houses are owned by Lord and Lady Walpole. What to lookout for: Blickling Hall holds many treasures, but in particular you should not miss the grand South Drawing Room with its superb plaster ceiling; the Brown Drawing Room, which was a chapel in the 17th century; and the sumptuous Peter-the-Great Room and State Bedroom. In the grounds, look for the early 18th-century temple and fountain, and the 1782 Orangery. Where to eat and drink: There is a National Trust tea shop and restaurant in the hall, with a children’s menu. However, the hall and its facilities are open at differing times during the year, and are closed during the winter. The Buckinghamshire Arms stands just outside the main gates. It was originally built for the estate bricklayer Joseph Balls in 1693, but is now a pub that serves good food. Directions: Go towards the National Trust visitor centre and take the gravel path to its left, past the Buckinghamshire Arms. At the drive, turn left signed to the park and lake. Keep right and go through gates into Blickling Park. Keep ahead at a fork and follow the Weavers’ Way, eventually to go through a gate into The Beeches. Continue ahead at a crossing of paths along the right-hand fieldedge. On nearing a house, follow the path right, then left to a lane. Turn left at the lane, following its winding path until you pass Mill Cottage, complete with mill pond, on your right and Mill Farm on your left. The mixed deciduous Great Wood on your left belongs to the National Trust. Leave the woods and walk through the pretty Bure Valley for about 700yds (640m) until you see a footpath on your left (although the sign is on the right). Turn left down this overgrown track, with hedgerows to the right and trees to the left. Go up a slope to Bunker’s Hill Plantation (also protected by the National Trust), skirting around the edge of this before the footpath merges with a farm track. It eventually comes out on to a road. Turn left and then right, on to New Road, which is signposted for Cawston and Oulton Street. This wide lane runs as straight as an arrow for about 0.75 mile (1.2km), before reaching a crossroads at the village sign for Oulton Street. Turn left by the RAF memorial and its bench. The lane starts off wide, but soon narrows to a peaceful rural track. Continue along this for 1.5 miles (2.4km), passing through the thin line of trees known as the Oulton Belt and eventually arriving at Abel Heath, a small conservation area owned by the National Trust. Turn right in Abel Heath and then right again on to the lane that leads to Aylsham. The lane winds downhill to a ‘Give Way’ sign. Go right on Blickling Road, heading for the town centre and the Market Place. Originally medieval, it is dominated by18th-century architecture and 12th-century St Michael’s Church. Just before the Market Place, turn right along Hungate Street. At the junction turn right into Mill Road and proceed to The Feathers pub. Turn left and walk along the pavement until you pass St Michael’s Hospital on your right. Before the road joins the B1145 there is a bridge. Don’t go underneath it, but look for the steps to the right. Climb the steps to join Marriott’s Way cycle path. Turn right along the wide track. This eventually opens out to give splendid views over surrounding farmland as you continue the walk. Continue through the gates near Woodgate Farm and then keep straight ahead until you reach the double gates at the junction with Sankence Lane. Go straight across the junction, and after 100yds (90m) you will see a farm track crossing the cycle path. Turn right at the waymarker and follow it across the middle of a field before emerging on to a lane. Turn right and walk back to Abel Heath. Continue straight on towards Abel Heath Farm. The lane winds downhill until you reach the red-brick cottages of the little hamlet of Silvergate. You are now on the Weavers’ Way long distance footpath. Pass a cemetery on your right and continue until you see St Andrew’s Church (partly 14th century, but mostly Victorian). Continue on until you reach the main road.Turn left, passing the Buckinghamshire Arms and the pretty 18th- and 19th-century estate cottages at the park gates on your right. Continue walking until you see signs for the car park, where you turn right.