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 LITTLEPORT (STATION)TO DOWNHAM MARKET (STATION)
Leaving Littleport Station, head out along Station Road towards the A1101, past the Fen House Restaurant. (Left out of the station). Continue along the road, and then pavement, towards the A1101 bridge. When you reach the bridge, cross over the road and just before the roundabout, turn left on to the south bank of the river. Continue for about 3.3 miles/5.3 kilometres along the wide grass bank to Brandon Creek with the river on your left and the A10 on your right. Except for one or two places, there is no barrier between you and the road, although you are high up on the bank so take care if you have dogs or children with you. As you approach Brandon Creek, the road begins to divert away from the riverbank, making for much pleasanter walking. In the lay-by just before Brandon Creek, there are toilets (open during the day only), a picnic area and usually a mobile snack van. There are also a couple of tables right down by the riverbank, so a good place for a coffee/lunch stop. Just before the bridge,which crosses the Little Ouse, loop around the front of the Ship Inn (which also serves food) and go down the Inn's access road to the A10. Turn north (left) by the A10 and cross the bridge. Once over bridge, you pass the county sign for Norfolk. The path then leaves the A10, but keeping on the riverbank, runs along beside a minor road before rejoining the A10 a little further up. As you come to a small group of houses, you have to leave the bank again and walk along the road for a short distance past a stretch of private moorings where there is no access to the bank. Just past a bungalow (before the road sign for Sedge Fen), look out for a signpost which points left up a path away from the road and back on to the river bank. Go up on the bank, pass the old pumping station on your right (which still has its old machinery visible through the windows) and go through two wooden gates and pass the sign to Southery. Here, at last, the riverbank and the A10 part company. Follow the signs which lead past the moorings and through the wooden gates. Continue along the riverbank for about another 3 miles/4.8 kilometres until you reach Modney Bridge Road and Hilgay Bridge. At the new bridge (still being constructed at the time of writing Feb 2004), follow the path around the embankment to the road, then cross the bridge and river. Cross Hilgay bridge and continue the walk along the west bank of the River with a quiet, but still well-used minor road immediately on your left. This takes you out of Ten Mile Bank village. It is 2.5 miles/4 kilometres to Denver Sluice from here. For part of this stretch, you will have to walk on the road, under the railway bridge, returning to the bank after Whitehouse Farm. Continue straight along the bank and you will begin to see the impressive machinery of Denver Sluice lock ahead of you and Vermuyden’s Hundred Foot Drain or New Bedford River coming in from your left with the Ouse Washes beyond it. Follow the bank and the road, past the Jenyns Arms and the Hundred Foot Drain (coming in from your left) with interpretation board (which gives more details about the 17th century draining of the Fens) and then cross over the first Denver Sluice and bear left, following the signposts, to continue your walk to Downham Market on the east bank of the river. From here, the old course of the Great Ouse which we’ve been following, has now re-joined Vermuyden’s diversion and is tidal up to King’s Lynn. (If you want to visit Denver Mill, follow the sluice road from the lock towards Denver village) As you continue along the Ouse Valley Way after Denver Sluice, you’ll see a sign for Salter’s Lode Lock which is where Vermuyden’s original Old Bedford River now feeds into the main River Ouse. After 1.5 miles/2.4 kilometres, cross over the A1122 next to the road bridge and continue along the riverbank, passing through the double wooden gates. The river is on your left and the A1122 to your right You will pass behind some houses and other buildings. At the end of the buildings, you’ll see a track coming in from your right. Go straight on to continue along the Ouse Valley Way to Watlington and Kings Lynn or turn right here to get to Downham Market Station. To get to the station, follow the track down to the road and climb over the metal stile. Turn left and cross over the bridge over the Relief Channel. The station is just ahead of you to your left opposite the flour mill. | |||||||||
| This section of the walk ends here. Return to top of page. To continue along the Ouse Valley Way, go to next section: Downham Market to Watlington | |||||||||
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