New Costessey to Norwich and return
Walked by Sally and Richard, Sunday 3rd January 2021, along with the Wensum River Parkway
8.9 miles of walking (3.5 hours of walking, including break), 2.5 miles progress on the Marriott's Way, plus 1.5 miles progress on the Wensum River Parkway
For photographs taken on the Marriott's Way today click here
The day after we walked this route, the Prime Minister announced that England was going back into lockdown with almost immediate effect; by the middle of the week we were again banned from travel for exercise or stopping for picnics. So, with the benefit of hindsight, completing the part of the Marriott's Way (plus the walk through Norwich) that we needed in order to link the Wensum Way to the Wherryman's Way on the Cross Norfolk Trail, leaving it in abeyance at Norwich Station rather than the somewhat random point we just happened to reach when walking two days ago, was a very good idea. As we set off to drive back to the Gunton Lane Recreation Ground car park, on the outskirts of New Costessey, we weren't sure whether it was a good idea or not. The weather forecast wasn't great and we weren't at all sure whether flooding on the River Wensum would prevent us from walking along the Wensum River Parkway through Norwich. However we had a good drive to the car park (TG191108)); the access to the car park involves driving along a rough and somewhat bumpy track whichever way you approach it, but I think the best approach is via Olive Road which is the way we went.
The weather had been fine on the drive across Norfolk but it started to rain we were while walking back along Gunton Lane to rejoin the Marriott's Way. It wasn't heavy and we persevered without waterproofs for a while. The route of the Marriott's Way on the approach to Hellesdon Road is ambiguous: according to older maps and the signposting on the ground, the pedestrian route takes a fork slightly to the left whilst the current OS mapping (on the OS app) sends both the the cycle route and the pedestrian route along a tarmacked track slightly to the right, along the the edge of housing. A helpful runner advised us that the left-hand option was still used as the pedestrian route (and was - he said - nicer, if potentially muddy) whilst the right-hand option was the cycle route. We know that muddy might mean VERY wet and muddy given the current state of the rivers, but we still chose that option. The path was indeed flooded in places, but there were ways around the worst of it and we were rewarded by passing Hellesdon Station Platform.
We emerged onto Hellesdon Road and could see Hellesdon on higher ground to our left, but in between was the River Wensum and we walked down to look at the attractive Hellesdon Bridge. Back on the Marriott's Way we soon crossed the river, slightly flooded here as it had been further west, on another "A-frame" Bridge. We decided that the rain wasn't easing off so donned full waterproofs, over the top of our non-waterproof jackets, in my case resulting in a layered look as my black waterproof jacket is distinctly shorter than my maroon non-waterproof one. I'm pleased we didn't meet anyone we knew! However the rain wasn't a serious problem and we made rapid progress, now on a good tarmacked surface.
We passed Briar Chemicals on the left (I'm not selling this am I) but there was attractive common land on the right. We were definitely approaching a city centre and, if I'm honest today's brief walk along the Marriott's Way had less to commend it than the previous two legs. It did have plenty of interest though, and we passed the "Mile 1" marker which takes the form of a giant zip, and next to it there is pretty style of Marriott's Way waymark that we hadn't noticed before. Soon afterwards we crossed the Wensum for the final time on the Marriott's Way, on a striking modern bridge.
I'd wondered a bit why the Marriott's Way ends where it does, somewhat short of Norwich's historic centre, and in an unassuming location next to the inner ring road (A147) and with good views to...Halfords, but when we got there we realised that we were both right next to the river and at the former Norwich City Station, the terminus of the Midland and Great Northern (or "Muddle and Go Nowhere" railway). It's a highly appropriate end point.
We continued onto the Wensum River Parkway to Norwich's current railway station, then back by way of the historic city centre. I used to visit Norwich regularly when I was first employed as an Open University tutor, nearly 30 years ago, but it had been a long time since either of us were here and we very much enjoyed the potter. Back at the former Norwich City Station on our return leg, we stopped for what had, over the festive season, become a customary snack of Christmas cake. On the way back to Costessey and the car, the sun came out, and we returned home for a late lunch.