This walk follows footpaths and minor lanes through the pleasant countryside around Mattishall and East Tuddenham one of our neighbouring villages. It is about 12 miles long, although it is possible to break it into shorter circuits if you do not want to walk all day.

The walk can be started at All Saints Church, Mattishall or at East Tuddenham Church.

Below is the map printed by Breckland in their leaflet 'Walk Three'

Below the map are details of the walk taken from the leaflet.....

Start at All Saints Church, Mattishall [1]and continue down Mill Street. (To start the East Tuddenham walk go up Burgh Lane and take the footpath past the church to join the walk at [7].

Mattishall Church [1] dates from mediaeval times when the local weaving industry was at its height. A great deal of wealth was spent at that time on building new churches, so that today Norfolk has the highest concentration of mediaeval churches in Europe. However, few have remained unaltered and Mattishall's is no exception. The church has an attractive hammerbeam roof, the remains of a 15th century roodscreen with paintings of the apostles and a Jacobean pulpit.

Take the footpath on the right.

One of Mattishalls three corn mills was once located just off Mill Street [2]. This one was the last working mill in the parish, being derelict by 1916. You will pass its three storey stump towards the end of the walk.

Follow the footpath across the road and between two houses. On reaching the next road, turn left then take the footpath on the right of Ivy House.

Ivy House [3] dates from the first half of the 18th century. It has a fine doorway surrounded by fluted Roman Doric pilasters and entablature. The stables have the date 1741 and the initials I.A.S. on the west gable.

The footpath continues across a further road at....

Old hall. [4] This was called Mattishall Hall on the ordinance survey map of 1838. It has a 17th century core which was refaced in the early 19th century.

Go diagonally across the first field, through the gate and over the stile at the top corner of the second field. On reaching the Yaxham Road turn right and then left up Stone Road towards Dereham, which runs alongside Badley Moor.

Badley Moor [5] was an extensive area of marsh adjoining the river tudd until it was enclosed by an Act of Parliament in 1764. It was drained and turned into agricultural land. Stone Road was laid out as a new road under the Act.

Take the track on the right just past Stone Road Farm. Follow the footpath around and along a track.On reaching the road, turn right. Follow the road taking the left fork to Hockering and continue past Clipping Green Farm on your left.

Clipping Green Farm is a grade 11 listed mid 16th century building which boasts an original west wall with kingposts and an eastern gable with original leaded lights and collartie beam. The adjacent mediaeval moat is yet to be investigated.

Take the right hand track on the bend towards Rookery Farm.

Rookery Farm [6] is another old farmhouse, dating back to the 17th century. To the north of here was "West Field" and "Coll's Green" two of the open fields of the mediaeval farming system.

Follow the track round to the left and on reaching the road turn left, then right along the footpath past Mattishall Burgh Church. Turn right on reaching the road to return to Mattishall.

Mattishall Burgh Church [7] dates back to the 13th century. "Burgh" probably derives from the Saxon for "hill", although it could come from "barrow" - the prehistoric burial chambers that are found throughout the country. The Church boasts an 18th century barrel-organ and sanctus bell turret (but no bell) as well as a mediaeval screen.

Follow the footpath and on reaching Bullmans Close Lane turn left.

At its northern end [8] the lane goes between two areas of farmland that used to be called "Burgh Green" on the left and "High Field" on the right - two more names from the mediaeval open field system.

Turn right on reaching the road and take the footpath just after Whitford Bridge.

The long footpath [9] along the side of the River tudd between Whiford Bridge is a particularly attractive part of the walk. It crosses meadows and small tributary streams, full of wildlife interest.

Follow the footpath past the farm crossing the bridge over the River Tudd. Turn left after the double stile and follow the path through the fields. At the end of the lane turn left and immediately right along the footpath. Turn right on coming out of the wood and follow the stream past East Tuddenham Church.

East Tuddenham Church [10] dates back from the 13th century with later alterations such as the unusual 15th century porch and effigy of Sir Edmund Berry holding his heart in his hands. Its west tower is off-centre and was built in about 1300. It contains a beautiful stained glass window, painted by the widow of the vicar, the Rev. Edward Mellish who died in 1830.

Cross the road and continue along the footpath towards Crinoline Lane.

Crinoline Lane crosses what was once part of Tuddenham Heath, which was enclosed and turned into farm land in 1802.

Turn left along Common Road and take the right hand track just before Mock Beggar Hall.

Mock Beggar Hall [11] was built in the 17th century. It was originally a U-plan building but the space between the wings has been subsequently filled in. The old dove cote is now used as a water tower, altough the nest boxes are still in place inside.

Pass Welborne Church on the left and go straight across Welborne Road.

Welborne Church [12] has a round west tower which probably dates back to the 12th century. The porch dates from the 15th century and the chancel and vestry were built in 1874-6. Most of the internal fittings are Victorian.

Go along the track and across New Lane and look out for the three story stump of Mattishall's last working mill. Then turn right along Mill Street and head back to All Saint's Church.