HPB Barnham Broom: Colton walk

From the entrance to the Barnham Broom complex turn right, along the road as far as a road junction in a very short distance (the road can be avoided by using the roadway beside the tennis courts, then along the top of a grass bank).


Turn right to take the minor road signposted to Colton. Follow this very quiet road, Church Lane, with the golf course to the right, soon ascending
a modest hill.

Turn left at a road junction, signposted to Honingham and East Tuddenham. (as a short addition to the route, carry on a little further, passing the Old Rectory before reaching St Andrew’s church Colton, a neat little flintstone structure with one or two interesting internal features). From the junction walk along the roadside to The Norfolk Lurcher. With or without a refreshment stop, continue to the next junction.

Turn right to follow the road, signposted to Easton. At the next junction, with seat and parish notice board, turn right to take the road signposted to Marlingford. Pass a fine barn, with some decorated brickwork and a column, ‘Colton 1992’. Church Lane joins from the right.

At the next junction, in 30m., go left towards ‘Marlingford’. In approximately 200m. fork right to follow a good broad track between fields, with a ‘public footpath’ signpost. At a waymarked post turn right to take a track along the edge of Colton Wood, soon entering the woodland. Pass a junction of tracks, soon bearing right as to follow a delightful path weaving among the trees. Leave the wood as the track goes between fields, passing a large house. 

Go through a gate at the end of an access drive and cross the public road to a signposted gate/stile opposite. A grass path leads into more woodland, cross a plank bridge over a ditch before a wider track is jointed. Turn right, there is a waymark on a post. In about 40m., at another waymark on a post, turn left along another broad track, used by farm vehicles. At a waymarked fork go right, there are occasional waymarks along the way. Reach the golf course, keeping to the right hand boundary, marked by white posts. Turn right up a bank, to leave the course, bearing left along the edge of a field. At the far boundary turn right then, in 40m. turn left through a waymarked gap in the hedge to cross a meadow, rising steadily.

Look out for a waymarked stile on the left, with a plank bridge and a reserved path behind a large house. Go through a little gate and follow a drive past another house to rejoin the outward route. Turn left to return to HPB Barnham Broom.