A calm night but overcast so quite a bit of due on the 10th as I
packed up thought I was on my way before 7 a.m. and set off east
along the road which I had to share with commuter traffic. I soon
reached the Country Park area which also advertises an Anglo Saxon
Village reconstruction. The gates were locked and it doesn’t look
like it’s been open for a while. I passed through West store turning
right to ride to the south of Dicksons Covert. When planning my
route I'd found some narrow lanes which were excellent riding as the
service was good and no traffic. The gradients were very easy and I
made good progress into Great Livermere.
The Old Forge
I stopped briefly by the Old Smithy building where there was a
wheelbarrow full of old horseshoes. I continued on to Troston and
more quiet lanes into Sapiston. I took the left fork and stopped
briefly by the bus shelter. The Narrow lanes continued to Coney
Weston. As I approached some woodland on my left I noticed a
memorial set back from the road. It was for American aircrew who
were killed during the war.
Old horseshoes
I turned left and out into open countryside where the map shows the
site of the old air strips. There was no indication no that it ever
existed. The road was dead straight and following the line of the
old Roman Road. I was riding through Suffolk and the road surface
was some of the best so far. The worst has been through Oxfordshire.
War memorial
I reached the village of East Harling which was big enough to have a
post office and a shop. I called in the shop to buy a cheese
sandwich for £1. Outside was a bench where I sat and enjoyed the
sandwich. I continued North towards Snetterton motor racing circuit
and where I planned to turn off right I noticed a dead end sign for
the road. Although the surface was rather rough the map shows it as
adopted so I wrote down and soon found out why the sign was there. I
came to a pedestrian crossing of the main railway line where I
wheeled my bike across and just afterwards two trains came from
either direction. I turned left along a narrow lane and then left
again where the road had been closed for roadworks. It was still
open to pedestrians and a another crossing of the Railway where I
was able to wheel my bike across. There is also a railway station
here I think it is called Eccles Road. For the next few miles the
road continued roughly parallel to the railway line until I reached
the town of Attleborough. The town was quite busy with plenty of
shops but it was too soon to pick up supplies for tonight’s camp. I
continued through the town on the B1077. It soon crossed over the
main A11 and my road continued parallel to it.
Picturesque chimneys
Level crossing
It later turned into the B1172 and even though a B road it was still
quite busy. I was heading towards Wymondham and on the outskirts I
turned left onto a very minor lane which took me to the Wymondham
Abbey railway station. This is a minor station and is mostly for
tourists. I stopped to have a look on the platform and chat to some
of the volunteers. Back on the road I could see my objective which
was Wymondham Abbey. It looked extremely tall and I can’t remember
seeing a tower that high since Lincoln.
Wymondham Station
Wymondham Abbey
Wymondham Abbey
I cycled up the hill and in to the front of the Abbey where I left
my bike and walked inside. Being so big and important there were
several visitors walking around. It was ok to take pictures inside
and one of the attendants showed me a panel of statues which were
fitted as a war memorial in the 1920s. The older parts of the church
structure or 1508. I wheeled my bike around the outside trying to
get a good view point but I was restricted on how far back I could
get to include the towers. I cycled around the local Lanes to get a
view across the fields to the south. A sign at the gate said private
no access. I returned into the town and up the main street which was
partly one way so I had to wheel my bike on the pavement.
There was a very impressive Timber building in the centre called The
Cross which is on the site of the Old Market. Apparently it is 400
years old. There were some external wooden steps going up to the
higher level and inside was an information centre and a man there
giving advice. We chatted for a while and then I left to ride the
short distance to Morrisons superstore where I stopped to buy water
and food.
Wymondham Cross
Information Centre in the Cross building
I returned the way I come and on the corner was a Heritage Museum
how’s in the old prison. I stopped for a while and had a look in the
entrance foyer and chatted to the assistance. Admittance to the full
Museum was £3 but I didn’t have enough time to do it justice. The
lady filled two of my water bottles for me before I left I left the
town on a minor road to the east which crossed over the A11 and out
into the countryside where I joined the B1113 that took me into
Braconash.
Old Prison and Heritage Museum
I took a right turn down a minor road into Hull Barton where I
passed a supermarket and then turned North to head back to the main
road. I’d originally planned to camp at Silverstone about a mile
further north. However to my left was an open area of common land
which seems to be used for Recreation and was big enough for me to
get far enough away from the road. I continue to the church at the
North End and rode back to a clump of trees where I pitched my tent.
Return to
Whittle Wanderer
