Weavers', Boudicca, Marriott's Way and the Holy Trail

The Weavers’ way is a 61 mile long distance path from Great Yarmouth to Cromer. In this race you will run the whole distance in the 100km or the last 50km of the path from Stalham to to Cromer.

The path is named after the Flemish weavers who used this trail to go from farm to farm collecting wool during the medieval period. This accounts for the rather zig-zag nature of the path.

The big yarn making centres of East Anglia were at Aylsham, North Walsham and Worstead. Aylsham linen was once famous across the UK and was made from the wool of local black sheep. 

WHAT TYPE OF TERRAIN IS ON THE WEAVERS' WAY?

The paths are a mix of farmers fields, riverside paths, tracks and fields is through woodland and along the riverside. It can be very slippery and muddy, especially if there has been rain before the race so we recommend trail shoes and please mind your footing. It is tempting to go fast at the start of the race but please take care here. 

After crossing Acle bridge you will be running on riverside paths alongside the river Bure. At Potter Heigham you cross over the River Thurne via a medieval bridge and run on another path that follows the river to Heigham sound, this is usually pretty good running but in wet weather can be slippery and the grass can be long in places.  Hickling Broad is a pretty part of the course and a bird watcher's paradise, so keep your eyes peeled for herons, birds of prey and wildfowl.

The path exits onto quiet roads at Hickling and you will stay on quiet roads all the way to Stalham. After Stalham the path is a disused railway which is an excellent surface in all weathers. Then back onto some country roads to North Walsham. The trail goes off road again but on good surfaces to reach the A140 above Aylsham. After Aylsham the route is superb. After the village of Silvergate you will enter Blickling Hall estate. The hall is stunning, the grounds beautiful and it is a real privilege to run through here. After Blickling you pass through Erpingham, Thwaite and Hanworth all delightful quiet villages and will eventually arrive at Aldborough. This marks the start of your last push to the finish. The trail leads from here to Felbrigg hall. If you are here in daylight you are doing well, if you are here in the dark you haven’t got far to go. 

You enter the grounds via an old woodland and then alongside the lake to then run across the front of the hall and out into the village of Felbrigg. After Felbrigg the running is easy and with a nice bit of downhill into Cromer for tea and medals..

When you reach Cromer you can stop running. You will have conquered the Weavers’ Way!

The Boudicca Way passes through the beautiful, unspoilt rural countryside of South Norfolk and the Waveney Valley. It is named after the legendary warrior Queen of the Iceni, whose tribes once inhabited the area, and runs for approx 36 miles between Norwich and Diss. Running roughly parallel with the old Roman 'Pye' Road, now known as the A140. A detour can be taken to view the remains of Venta Icenorum Roman town at Caistor St Edmund and picturesque villages such as Shotesham, Saxlingham Nethergate and Pulham Market are also visited.  

The Way starts and finishes at mainline railway stations so makes it perfect for those looking for sustainable travel options. The route is way marked with pink arrow.

We use the Boudicca Way for 2 of our races, one going from Diss to Norwich (South to North) and one going from Norwich to Diss (North to South). The terrain is a mix of quiet country lanes and beautiful trails. The villages are pretty and the trail is surprisingly rolling by Norfolk standards. 

It is one of the easiest routes logistically as the start and finish are on the same trainline with a journey time of 15 minutes and parking at either end.

Marriott's Way is a long distance path that run from Norwich to Aylsham. A very popular cycling, running and walking path with mixturea  of tarmacs paths and tracks

Combining Coastal Trails, the Via Beata and the new Kings Charles III England Coastal Path. You will pass beautiful churches and areas of religious significance- hence the 'Holy Trail'.

A new trail marathon for Norfolk, starting and finishing in Diss. Combining the Angles Way, Boudicca Way and local connecting footpaths.