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St Margaret's Church, Cley in north Norfolk

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About

Cley-next-the-Sea to Walsingham – 16 miles, 1 day (Alternative start from Morston, 11 miles.) 

Cley/Blakeney Harbour was the most used port on the Norfolk coast in the medieval era, and therefore many pilgrims would have stepped off boats here onto land in order to walk the final stage of their journey to Walsingham. This route starts at the great church of St Margaret’s in Cley, a harbour next to Blakeney, then heading on to Blakeney at the threshold point of the sea shore. It turns inland at the Freshes, where the River Stiffkey meets the sea, then it’s through the stunning landscape of Cockthorpe Common. Pass thorugh disused WWII airstrips before meeting Binham Priory, a ruined Benedictine monastery that would have given hospitality to passing pilgrims just before they arrived at Walsingham. Then you take the final stretch to the destination, the marked spot on the ground where Richeldis de Faverches had her vision of the Holy House of Nazareth, in Walsingham Abbey Gardens.

About The Walsingham Way:

The Walsingham Way is a community and ecumenical partnership enabled by Norwich Cathedral, part of their contribution to the European Green Pilgrimage Network. The heart of the project is a safe to walk pilgrim path – on green lanes and footpaths – from Norwich to Walsingham. Established in 1061, the Holy House and Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham was to become medieval England’s premier pilgrim destination, drawing pilgrims from far and wide. Many on their way to Walsingham passed through Norwich, second only in population and importance to London. Suppressed at the Reformation, the Holy House, Shrine and pilgrimages were re-established in 20th Century. Today, the imperative of developing low carbon tourism and renewed interest in walking pilgrimages combine to makes the Walsingham Way a project for our time.

Pilgrims can extend their Walsingham Way experience by a further 38 miles, if they set out from Great Yarmouth on the Wherryman’s Way. Alternatively, the Great Yarmouth to Norwich leg can be walked as a pilgrim route in its own right – tracing Christianity’s journey from 7th Century mission stations by the seaside, to the modern cathedral city Mother Julian called home.

Facilities

Routes

  • Length of route (miles) - 16
  • Typical duration of route - 1 days

Map & Directions

Public Transport Directions

To the starting point, the nearest train station is Sheringham in the Bittern Line, then catch Coasthopper bus to Cley/Blakeney.

Cley to Walsingham Way

Type:Walking Route

Common Place, Walsingham, Norfolk, NR22 6BP

What's Nearby

  1. Ruined Augustinian Priory, place of medieval and modern pilgrimage. Gardens, woodland,…

    0 miles away
  2. The Shrine is an Anglican place of pilgrimage rebuilt in the 1930's following destruction…

    0.02 miles away
  3. Visit the chapel styled on the Byzantine model with icons, an icon screen, tower and…

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  4. Guided Tours of Walsingham.

    0.64 miles away
  1. National Shrine of Our Lady for Catholics in England. 14thC wayside chapel, also Chapel…

    1.27 miles away
  2. 2.56 miles away
  3. Thursford Steam Museum, houses the world’s largest collection of steam engines and organs.

    3.13 miles away
  4. Set in a beautiful, tranquil churchyard amid fields, All Saints’ Waterden Church is a gem…

    3.2 miles away
  5. Binham Priory was founded in 1091 and was home to a Benedictine community of monks for…

    3.43 miles away
  6. Come and visit us at The Pumpkin house, set within farmland we are fun for all the family…

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  7. Narrow Gauge Steam Railway, operating a timetable service between Wells and Walsingham.

    3.87 miles away
  8. At Langham Glass you can watch live glassmaking demonstrations and even have a go…

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  9. The original church was built in the thirteenth century next to the ancient harbour.

    4.33 miles away
  10. A beautiful wildlife haven. Boardwalks, visitor centre and hides accessible to all.

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  11. Arts, heritage and community at the heart of Wells-Next-The-Sea

    4.42 miles away
  12. Medieval church between Lynn and Norwich.

    4.46 miles away
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