The Peddars Way: A Roman Road to the Sea
Forty-six miles of Roman road running dead straight across Breckland to the sea. It is one of the quietest National Trail sections in England, and the half of the Norfolk trail that far fewer people walk.
Published 18 August 2026
The Peddars Way runs 46 miles from Knettishall Heath on the Suffolk border north-west to Holme-next-the-Sea on the Norfolk coast, where it meets the Norfolk Coast Path. The two together form the 129.5-mile Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path National Trail.
It follows the line of a Roman road, and it shows: long stretches run absolutely straight for miles at a time, which is a strange and quite specific walking experience. The road was probably built after the Boudican revolt of AD 60–61 to move troops through the territory of the Iceni, and it ran to the coast at Holme where there was likely a ferry across the Wash.
The stages
| Section | Roughly | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Knettishall Heath to Little Cressingham | 15 miles | Breckland heath and forest, the driest, sandiest ground |
| Little Cressingham to Castle Acre | 11 miles | Farmland and open country into the best village on the route |
| Castle Acre to Sedgeford | 12 miles | Long straight miles, big skies, few landmarks |
| Sedgeford to Holme-next-the-Sea | 8 miles | Down to the coast and the junction with the Norfolk Coast Path |
Castle Acre
The one unmissable stop. A village built inside a Norman planned settlement, with a castle earthwork, a surviving bailey gate you walk through, and the ruins of a Cluniac priory whose west front is still standing to full height. It is one of the most complete Norman landscapes in England and it arrives about halfway.
Breckland
The southern half crosses Breckland, a sandy, heathy, unusually dry landscape that feels nothing like the rest of East Anglia. It has its own microclimate, its own specialist wildlife, and long stretches of forestry. Parts border Ministry of Defence training land at Stanford, which is closed to the public and worth respecting properly.
Why walk it
- Solitude. It is one of the least-walked National Trail sections in England. On a weekday out of season you may see nobody.
- Archaeology. Roman road, Bronze Age barrows, Norman Castle Acre, and Grime’s Graves neolithic flint mines a short detour away.
- It is easy. Flat, well waymarked, and short enough to do in three days.
- It sets up the coast. Finishing at Holme means you can walk straight onto the Norfolk Coast Path and turn 46 miles into 129.
Practicalities
Accommodation and transport are the constraints. Villages along the route are small and buses are infrequent. This is not a trail where you can easily bail out mid-stage. Water and food need planning, especially on the Breckland sections where there can be long gaps between shops.
Where to stay
We list 6 sites within ten miles of the route, out of 32 across Norfolk. Most of the county’s accommodation is on the coast rather than inland, which is worth knowing before you plan the southern stages.
Sites near the Peddars Way
Within ten miles of the route between Knettishall Heath and the coast.
Common questions
- How long is the Peddars Way?
- 46 miles, from Knettishall Heath on the Suffolk border to Holme-next-the-Sea on the north Norfolk coast.
- How many days does the Peddars Way take?
- Three or four days for most walkers. It is flat and well waymarked throughout.
- Is the Peddars Way a Roman road?
- Yes, it follows the line of a Roman road, most likely built after the Boudican revolt of AD 60–61 to move troops through Iceni territory.
- What is the best stop on the Peddars Way?
- Castle Acre, roughly halfway, a Norman planned village with a castle earthwork, a surviving bailey gate and the ruins of a Cluniac priory.
Keep reading
- Long-distance trailsThe Norfolk Coast Path: Route, Stages and StaysA guide to the Norfolk Coast Path, 83 miles from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea, the salt marsh and dune sections, the seal colonies, and where to stay along it.
- Long-distance trailsThe Cleveland Way: Moors to CoastA guide to the Cleveland Way National Trail, 109 miles from Helmsley across the North York Moors and down the Yorkshire coast to Filey, with stages and stays.
- Long-distance trailsThe Cotswold Way: Walking It in SectionsA guide to the Cotswold Way National Trail, 102 miles along the escarpment from Chipping Campden to Bath, broken into stages, with sites near the route.
- Long-distance trailsThe Coast to Coast Walk: Stages and Where to StayWainwright’s Coast to Coast, now a National Trail, around 190 miles from St Bees to Robin Hood’s Bay through three national parks, broken into stages, with stays near the route.