Norfolk is flat in many places so it’s ideal for cycling. Cycling is a great way to enjoy the gentle rolling countryside, quiet country roads and pretty villages. Cycling gives you the freedom to enjoy the pretty views and scenery at your own pace.
In Norfolk you’re never far from a quaint tearoom, seaside café or village pub. There’s plenty of time to explore your surroundings, stop for lunch and have a rest or charge ahead at a fast pace – the choice is yours!
The Norfolk Coast Cycleway
The Norfolk Coast Cycleway was launched at Felbrigg in July 1998 and continues to prove a very popular route with high demand for maps and route information. It follows the Sustrans National Cycle Network (NCN) which is from Hull to Harwich.
Route 1 is between Kings Lynn and Wighton (Sustrans red 1 symbols) where at Copy’s Green (close to Wighton) the regional route 30 (blue 30 symbols) commences. This regional route follows quieter more suitable roads on to Cromer before passing through the Quiet Lanes network. Finally, following the coast down into Great Yarmouth, the whole route is signed with regular route markers to guide users.
Cycling on the Norfolk Coast Path
The ‘Peddars Way National Trail’ forms part of the stretch of the Norfolk Coast Path that runs from Hunstanton to Cromer and is a public footpath. The Norfolk Coast Path is not suitable for cycling (or horse riding).
The preferred route for cyclists is the Norfolk Coast Cycle Way (see above). This route is well signed and follows the roads that are more suitable for cyclists. The coast road is very busy during the summer months, so this route is more inland and it runs parallel to the coast for the majority of its route.
As it is an inland trail, parts of it are often quite high up from sea level and thus reward your cycling efforts with stunning views across the countryside and out to the coast beyond. The signed links to the coastal villages will help to guide you directly to them.
The Norfolk Cycle map is simple to follow and clearly shows the country lanes that link the many beautiful places to explore by bike.
Marriott’s Way
This route was named after William Marriott who was the chief engineer and manager of the Midland and Great Northern Railway. It’s a 26 mile off-road trail and it can also be used by cyclists. If you are lucky, you may spot owls, hares, otters and kestrels along the way.
Marriott’s Way follows the route of two disused railway lines that run from Norwich to the market town of Aylsham. The route takes you through the villages of Drayton, Lenwade, Cawston and Reepham. Some of this route forms part of the Sustrans National Cycle Route No. 1.
Peddars Way
Peddars Way cycle route follows a Roman road that was constructed along the line of an ancient trackway. The name ‘Peddars Way’ is said to come from the Latin ‘pedester’ which means on foot. This National Trail combines a coast trail (Norfolk Coast Path) with a trail that comes inland. Peddars Way meets The Norfolk Coast Path at Holme next-the-Sea and continues onto Rushford.
The trail is approximately 93 miles (150km) long, with the majority of the trail running through the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Three Rivers Way on the Norfolk Broads
The Three Rivers Way, upon completion will be a 9 mile cycle route connecting the Norfolk Broads villages of Horning, Ludham, Hoveton and Potter Heigham.
The route will be built in stages using existing footpaths, lanes and bridleways. Its aim is to promote a more active lifestyle as well as helping visitors and residents travel safely between the four popular Broads villages.
The cycle route avoids one of the county’s busiest and most dangerous roads – the A1062, it’s perfect for less experienced cyclists and for holiday makers to enjoy the beautiful countryside that surrounds the Norfolk Broads.
Hoveton to Horning
The first part of the route from Hoveton to Horning has been completed. It’s 2.4 miles long and links the popular villages of Wroxham and Hoveton to the picturesque village of Horning (known locally as the ‘Jewel of the Broads’). This recently launched section is popular with less experienced cyclists and the Tour de Broads used it during their cycle race.
The launch of the first part of the Three Rivers Way makes it easy to cycle to the popular BeWILDerwood children’s adventure park from Hoveton opening the tourist attraction to a full day out by bike.
PlusBike
If you want to cycle and travel by train PlusBike is a free resource tool that helps plan your train journey. It has all the information you need to plan ahead, whether you have your own bike or want to hire one at the train station. It allows you to access information about facilities offered at the station, bike hire schemes and information about taking your bike with you on a train. PlusBike is easily accessible Online.
Bring your own bike to Norfolk, by train
You can bring your own bike on to the train to Norfolk; read the Abellio Greater Anglia ‘Bikes on trains’ page.
If you prefer, you can hire cycles once you are here. There are lots of bike hire centres to choose from. They offer bike hire rates per day, per half-day, hourly and family packages to suit all budgets.
Cycling In Thetford Forest
Thetford Forest is a great place to cycle as there are so many different trails to be followed. These will take you all around the forest; they vary in difficulty from easy to more challenging courses with steep inclines and rough terrain.
High Lodge Park is the best place to start your cycling expedition as you can get advice on where to go. Also visit our Thetford Forest page for more detailed information.
Norfolk Cycle Hire Centres
Here are some cycle hire centres. The list below is by no means a definitive list. Other cycle hire places can be found by searching the internet.
It’s advisable to contact the cycle hire centre directly, prior to your planned bike ride to confirm that their services have not changed and that they have all the equipment you need.
East Norfolk (including the Broads)
(Wroxham, Waxham, Hemsby and Great Yarmouth)
- Broadland Cycle Hire (located in the car park at BeWILDerwood), Hoveton – 07887 480331
- Clippesby Hall (near Great Yarmouth) – 01493 367800
- Riverside Tea Rooms, Stokesby with Herringby – 01493 750470
- Sea Palling Bicycle Hire (stockists for Norfolk Coast Cycleway map/guide) – 01692 598592
- The Canoe Man, Wroxham – 01603 783777
Poppyland & nearby
(Cromer, Overstrand and Sheringham)
- Electrifying Cycles (stockists for Norfolk Coast Cycleway map/guide) – 01263 513631 , 2 Church Street Cromer, Norfolk NR27 0AH
- Huff & Puff Cycles – Kelling Heath Holiday Park (near Weybourne) 07788 132909 or 07500 865095
- Sheringham Black Bikes, 28 Beeston Road – 01263 822255
- Woodland Holiday Park , Church Street, Norwich, NR11 8AL – 01263 579208
Blakeney & nearby
(including Holt)
- On Yer Bike – Wighton (near Wells-next-the-Sea), located on the Norfolk Coast Cycleway route 30, close to the junction with National Route 1 – 01328 820719
- Overland Cycle Hire – Holt 01263 713293, 0773 3445511 or johnoverland@hotmail.co.uk
West Norfolk
(Wells-next-the-Sea, Burnham Market, Hunstanton and King’s Lynn)
- Open Sky Cycles (between Snettisham & Heacham) – 01485 493255
- A E Wallis, Heacham (stockists for Norfolk Coast Cycleway map/guide) – 01485 571683
- Deepdale Bike Hire – 1 Deepdale Granary, Burnham Deepdale, PE31 8DD – 01485 210256
- Holkham Hall (close to Wells-next-the-Sea) – 01328 713111
- Cockle Bay Electric Bike Hire, Wells – Nicky 07958 327622 or Marie:07913 187251
South Norfolk
(Thetford Forest and Diss)
- Bike Art, High Lodge Forest Centre, Thetford Forest – 01842 810090
- Black Park Country Park Forest Biking, Thetford Forest – 0845 0948634
- The Cycle Shack, Diss – 01379 641212
Once you have hired a bike there are many glorious places to visit. Below, in our Related Links box, we’ve listed just some of the organisations that you can get in touch with to help plan your route, so that you can explore the beautiful county of Norfolk by bicycle.
Good luck and enjoy!
With kind thanks to the Forestry Commission for providing and granting permission for use of photography displayed on this page. © All rights reserved.
Useful Links
- Norfolk Coast Cycleway (Norfolk Coast Partnership)
- Sustrans National Cycle Network
- Purchase the 19. Norfolk Cycle Map (Sustrans)
- Marriott’s Way
- Peddars Way cycle route (National Trails)
- CycleStreets, Cycling intelligence for Norwich
- Find a route on the National Cycle Network (Sustrans)
- Boudicca Sportive
- BikeArt, Thetford Forest
- Norwich Cycle Map
- The Broads By Bike
- Tour of Britain
- Norfolk County Council | Cycle Routes