On your bike? Stay at Cycle UK accredited Heacham Manor

Quiet country lanes, coastal views, charming villages and (while not entirely flat!) gentle gradients that are easy on the legs – North Norfolk is a pleasure to cycle, and Heacham Manor, recognised as a ‘Cycle Friendly Place’ by Cycle UK, is the perfect stopover for lunch with our Bike and Dine Package. Don’t worry if you can’t bring your bike to Norfolk, you can hire one of ours for just £10 a day … but where to explore? Follow our handy cycle routes guide and discover Norfolk at your pace!

Go the distance with the Rebellion Way

If you are a keen cyclist and love long-distance riding, you may already be aware of the Rebellion Way, a 373km/232-mile circular cycle route around Norfolk. Named in commemoration of Iceni warrior queen Boudicca and landowner rebel Robert Kett, two of the county’s historical legends, the route aptly takes in Boudicca Way and Kett’s Heights, where Robert led his rebellion. 

The north-west section of the Rebellion Way trails through King’s Lynn and North Wootton – incorporating part of The Elizabeth Way, a 15.8-mile off-road route – before joining the coast road, branching off at Sandringham and through the villages up to Heacham, making Heacham Manor the perfect stop to refuel with a meal and a drink before you spin your wheels again. 

With a mixture of on- and off-road cycling, an adapted route can be undertaken by trikes, hand cycles, recumbents and trailers and the beauty of the route is that it incorporates an ever-changing landscape, from saltmarshes and sand dunes to woodland and heathland, with plenty of scenic views and wildlife to spot along the way.

Coastal cruise: cycle routes to explore in North Norfolk

You could also follow the Norfolk stretch of National Cycle Route 1 from King’s Lynn to Wighton, just past Wells-next-the-Sea. The full 231-mile circular route goes as far as Great Yarmouth before dipping to Eye, back to Thetford, Brandon, Downham Market and finally Lord’s Bridge in Watlington, or shorten the loop via Fakenham and Norwich. 

Or head to Holme-next-the-Sea on the coast road and join the Peddars Way, an Ancient Roman road which journeys 46 miles to Knettishall Heath in Suffolk. Largely suitable for cycling, there are some unsurfaced country roads at either end of the route, but the quiet lanes and stunning beauty of the scenery more than compensate for a few stretches of pushing your wheels along.

Keep it local: short cycling routes from Heacham Manor

If your pace is more moderate and you fancy a series of shorter rides, there are several easy routes straight from our front door.

Smooth, simple with superb seaside views, especially early in the morning when the path is your own, the promenade from Heacham’s North Beach to Hunstanton is just under eight miles each way. You’ll need to dismount just before the ramp at Hunstanton, but a cuppa in the café there provides a natural break before you enjoy the journey back.

Also from Heacham Manor, an easy loop is to cross the A149 just before Norfolk Lavender and take the back road through Ringstead, rejoining the A149 at Old Hunstanton and then turning off at Cliff Parade to ride along the seafront, or returning along the A149 to the hotel.

Slightly further afield, Holkham has seven cycle routes, ranging in length from one to six miles, over a choice of tarmac, gravel, woodland and grassland. And don’t forget that a ride from Heacham Manor through the villages to Sandringham, along the Avenue of Trees, leads on to Houghton Hall or into the parkland with some fun, muddy off-road woodland trails to adventure.

There are hundreds of wonderful miles to cycle in Norfolk, and if you hit any mechanical problems or encounter a dreaded puncture, AE Wallis in Heacham High Street is an Aladdin’s cave of bicycle equipment and repair expertise. 

So what are you waiting for, book your stay at Heacham Manor and plan where your two wheels will take you!