Paston Pathways - Walks & Rides
The Paston Footprints project is creating a series of leaflets to help you explore parts of Norfolk through walks and cycle rides. You'll find printed copies at several of the locations featured on this web site - click on the leaflet pictures on the right to download PDF copies from this page. In due course the walks will also be presented on a smartphone app.
The cycle route can be joined at any point, but Mannington Hall is recommended for the start. The route follows quiet lanes and travels through some of Norfolk's most attractive landscapes. The places of interest provide an excellent introduction to the remarkable history of the Paston family.
Our walk starts at the parish church of St Peter and St Paul and passes through some of the finest farming land in the country. The route drops down to the lower level land that once formed part of a great estuary between Mautby and Great Yarmouth. The homeland of Margaret Paston and the magnificent Caister Castle are the main points of interest.
Norwich, the second largest city of England in medieval times after London, was a base for the Pastons. As well as their country houses, the family had a series of town houses and had friends, associates and enemies in the city. In the 21st century, Norwich is rich with history, and our walk takes us round several of the places with which the Pastons would have been familiar.
Today Gresham castle is seen as a clump of trees and vegetation in the middle of a field. Margaret Paston was ejected from the castle by armed men. A good view of the castle site can be had from the road. Starting at the church, with its own links to the Paston family, we can imagine that the village, now split into two, was once centred on these two buildings.
A walk around the north Norfolk village of Paston, home of the family as they grew in importance. This walk is largely on country roads; one section by the church is on the main coast road for about 50 metres and needs particular care because of the winding nature of the road.
The parish church of St Peter and St Andrew at Blofield is rich with monuments and memorials to the Pastons. A short walk leads beyond the church and across fields to Braydeston Church, then round through the village and back to St Peter and St Andrew.
