10k Run North Walsham: Scenic Loop through Walsham Woods

Route Overview & Local Insights

This 9.8km loop offers a refreshing escape through the gentle landscapes of North Norfolk, perfect for runners looking for a mix of surfaces without the burn of heavy elevation. Starting on the western edge of North Walsham, you’ll quickly find your rhythm on the Weavers' Way, a well-maintained trail that provides a flat, traffic-free start. The route transitions from quiet minor roads into the sheltered canopy of local woodland, leading you toward Swanton Hill. With only 33m of total ascent, this is a fast, flowy course where the firm tracks along Perch Lake Plantation allow for a consistent pace before looping back to the familiar gravel of the rail trail. It’s an ideal distance for a solid midweek session or a scenic weekend 10k effort.

Steeped in Norfolk’s textile history, the "Weavers' Way" section of this run follows the old trackbed of the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway, once a vital link for the local weaving industry. As you navigate the perimeter of Perch Lake Plantation, you’re running through an area that embodies the quiet, rural charm of the Disused Railways network. North Walsham itself is an ancient market town, and this route captures its transition from an industrial hub to a gateway for coastal and countryside exploration. Keep an eye out for local wildlife near the plantation—deer and buzzards are frequent spectators for runners along these less-trodden paths.