Away Walk June 2025
Probus Away Walk – Blakeney, Norfolk 10th – 12th June 2025
On Tuesday morning, 10th June, five members of the Wyvern Probus walking group with cases packed and passes signed were ready to depart to the Manor Coastal Inn in Blakeney. They were Michael Stephens, Gordon Squires, Patrick Holligan, Chris Mitchell and Richard Ward. At this point it must be mentioned that a sixth and key member of the group, Charles Stewart, who should have been with us was lying in hospital following an unfortunate incident with a horse.
Patrick, Michael and Gordon drove to Richard’s house in Oakham where Gordon transhipped into Richard’s car for the onward journey. Where was Chris? He was travelling independently in case, during the three days, he would have reason to return to Houghton. The plan was to meet at Worzells, a Garden Centre with a large café just off the A47 Wisbech bypass at approx. 9.45am for breakfast. It worked, within a matter of minutes of each other, all three vehicles had arrived and in we went. Some of the party had used this venue previously and were looking forward to the breakfast. Sadly, service was slow and the breakfasts were not exactly piping hot. A shortage of staff appeared to be the problem.
Leaving Worzells about an hour or so later we carried on to Blakeney. Again, all three cars arrived at the Manor more or less at the same time, at around midday. The weather in Leicestershire when we left had been damp and cloudy. Here the sun was shining with not a cloud in the sky. We checked in but were told it would be later in the afternoon before we could get into our rooms. At this point, as has been the routine for many years past, we checked out the bar. Wherry was the beer of choice, an excellent pint. We took or beers into the beer garden, a delightful sun trap where we relaxed and thought about our next move which would be an afternoon circular walk.
The walk was the Cley loop, a five mile walk over the salt marshes to Cley and back to Blakeney. We stopped at various points to admire the view, out to sea and of Cley Windmill, a prominent feature in the landscape. Leaving Cley we walked up the hill heading for the café at Wiveton Hall. Anyone who watched a BBC programme called ‘Normal in Norfolk’ would be familiar with the Hall. On the way we stopped to be photographed by the ‘Slow You Down’ road sign on Wiveton Road! A walnut cream cake tea was enjoyed at the café, sitting outside with a lovely view over to the sea. After our tea we walked through a wooded area known as the Wilderness and back to the Manor where we were allocated our accommodation and shown into our rooms.
It should be noted that this year our choice of venue was a step or two above our usual pub accommodation. This came about because when Charles spent last Christmas in Norfolk, he and his family enjoyed a very nice cream tea at the Manor. He phoned Richard telling him where he was and how suitable it could be as a base and here, we were. Each room had a Roberts Radio softly playing Radio Three and all the table lamps were lit, setting the right ambience. Having unpacked we then had a walk around the village, looked at the markers on the wall of the Bla
kney Hotel which indicate the height the water reached during a number of floods.
Thereafter followed the usual first night routine, meet in the bar at 7.00pm, table booked for dinner at 7.45pm. Whilst in a pub, or hotel everything spent goes onto one room tab and then divided equally when we settle up. 502 was this year’s room. Two colleagues were a little late into the bar and one said to the others, which room? One of the other three shouted out 502 Immediately two men at the bar waiting to be served, said ‘there we are, put it on 502!’ They were, of course joking but the final bill was carefully scrutinised! A pleasant and enjoyable evening ensued with a nice meal accompanied by a reasonable quantity of wine followed by coffee in a very comfortable lounge area.
Day two started and continued with bright sunshine and a cloudless sky. We had breakfast and donned our walking gear. The plan was to catch the 10.05am Coastal Hopper bus to Wells Next The Sea. and walk back to Blakeney along the North Norfolk Coastal path. The bus was about 10 mins late but using our bus passes we boarded, eventually alighting in Wells. We walked down Staithe Street, passing the old Maltings building and arrived at the Quay. We walked along the Quay to the Fish Dock and then out onto the Coastal path. Apart from us there were a number of other walkers on the route- some who made us feel young! We took our time; it was warm but with a cooling breeze. We came across five tiny ducklings (?) – we were not quite sure what they were. No sign of parents or nearby water. Gordon tried to give them some water but we didn’t have a suitable container. Eventually we arrived at the Greenway carpark. One of three routes up to Stiffkey. Our Navigator decided that the nearest path into Stiffkey and the Red Lion would be Hollow Way Somehow, we missed the turn off and ended up walking into the Village up Bangay Green. Way, the furthest point from the pub! Before leaving the coastal path Gordon had to make running repairs to a sore spot on the side of his foot by applying a plaster. We had to walk some distance along the main road but got to the pub safely to enjoy a pint straight from the barrel. After some ‘umming and ahhing’ we all ended up having a ‘light bite’ sitting out on the patio. It was hot and an element of weariness was evident. Gordon suggested we catch the bus to Morston and continue our walk to Blakeney from there - unanimous approval.
We caught the next bus, alighted in Morston and walked down to the lookout point overlooking Morston creek. Ice creams were purchased and consumed. The tide was out and although bookings were being taken for trips to see the seals it would be some time later before the tide was high enough. We carried on along the coastal path passing both Morston and Blakeney Downs to finally reach Blakeney. A quick change of footwear before we set off in two cars to visit, firstly Wiveton Church. Having viewed the church interior, we then looked over the churchyard wall at where, in the sixteenth century sea going vessels would moor to load and unload having arrived from the sea at Cley along the river Glaven We then drove the short distance to Cley Church. As Richard put his hand out to open the Church door, it opened. Behind it stood a very pleasant lady who, apologetically, said that the church is locked at 5.00pm and it is now 5.15pm. Richard explained why we were there and she allowed us in to have a quick look at this magnificent Parish Church. She was not English and from her accent we deduced that she was German. We were all too polite to ask her! She was able to answer questions about the church including why the large incomplete ruin on the west end of the church was never completed. The money ran out due to the plague in the Middle Ages. She then showed us on the ashes memorial wall on the edge of the sports field the plaques commemorating James Dyson’s parents.
Gordon had asked Richard if he knew where ‘Old Woman’s Lane’ was. It happens to be a stone’s throw away. His son in law and a partner had developed an old derelict barn into a holiday let and Gordon was curious to see it. Thanks to a local lady’s knowledge we discovered that it was not on ‘Old Woman’s Lane’ but down a track a little further on, off the Cley Road. We found it and Gordon was suitably impressed - not a let for one family! We then returned to the Manor, to meet at 7.00pm for dinner at 7.45pm. We enjoyed our meal but by now the days excursions had caught up with the Quintet and after dinner it was back to our rooms.
On Thursday morning prior to breakfast Chris had received a call from Sue’s carer to say she couldn’t manage Thursday. After breakfast and the paying of our dues Chris left for home. The, by now a quartet, left for Salthouse. The first thing we did was to place our orders for crab to be collected later before leaving for home. We set off for our mornings walk at 10.15am, first stop being Salthouse church, another large building set on a hill overlooking the village. An Art exhibition was being set up in the church that morning. After spending a short while in the church we set out up the hill, over a field of barley to walk towards Pinfold Hill. We stopped at the top of the barley field to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the church, the village and the distant sea. Continuing an ascent along the quiet road our navigator took the wrong turn and we spent, just a short while to sort the problem out before rejoining the road. Now on the correct route we turned off the road, joining the long descending path from the Hangs down to the Walsey Hills, with views over the countryside and the sea in the distance. We paid a quick visit to the NT Walsey nature reserve where we met a very pleasant young lady from the NT who had been strimming the area that morning. Not a native of Norfolk but originally from Dumfries and Galloway. The final leg was an undulating path via Sarbury Hill and into Salthouse, arriving at 12.45pm. The plan was to have a drink/light lunch at the Dun Cow in the village but suddenly Gordon realised he had not emptied his bedside drawer. The decision was made to return to the Manor Hotel, locate Gordons belongings and have a drink and lunch there. We collected our crabs, went to the Manor .and Gordon went straight to reception and there espied a box containing the contents of his bedside drawer. Ploughman’s lunches were ordered by Mike and Gordon; Patrick and Richard were content with a drink. Gordon transferred his baggage into Patrick’s car and Richard set off for Oakham. The consensus was that it had been a splendid three days, the only downside being the absence of Charles who we did keep informed of our activities backed up by photographic evidence.
Richard Ward
