To Beccles on the Angles Way

Image: © Evelyn Simak Taken: 24 Oct 2010

The river here forms the border between Norfolk and Suffolk. The path seen in the foreground forms part of the Beccles Marsh Trail, a series of walks through Beccles’ ancient marshes, some of them suitable for wheelchair users. The trail was established by volunteers of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and handed to Beccles Council to be officially opened in 1987. The area had been given by Queen Elizabeth I to the people of Beccles in the towns charter of 1584. The area today has been recognised as an integral part of the Norfolk Broads. The marshes are below the water level in the river Waveney and are drained by a network of dykes, with water pumped into the river. A section of the trail is part of the Angles Way long distance footpath. In combination with the Peddars Way, Norfolk Coast Path and Weavers Way, the Angles Way forms the 227-mile Around Norfolk Walk. The route leads from Great Yarmouth by Breydon Water, along and near the River Waveney, passing around Oulton Broad, Beccles and Bungay, and Harleston and Diss, and then by the Little Ouse and onwards through heathland and marsh to Knettishall Heath in the Suffolk Brecks. Less than a mile distant to the west across the heath is the start of the Peddars Way and finish of the Icknield Way Path. At Bungay, there is a link into the waymarked Bigod Way (10 miles) which is a circular route around the town, the site of Bigod's Castle.

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