Fen Rivers Way

This route provides a great opportunity for an easy walk surrounded by fields, giving a wonderful sense of open space. The St Edmund’s churchyard and cemetery site is largely neutral grassland (both mown and unmown) with some scrub area. Grassland species found here include sheep’s sorrel, creeping buttercup and common mouse-ear. Common bird’s-foot trefoil, tufted vetch and lady's bedstraw can also be found in the unmown area of grassland. St Edmund’s Church is seen on your left as you approach Cannon Square from Rabbit Lane, the church having Norman origins.

The range of soft, grassy and tree-lined paths cleverly designed in to this predominantly built-up environment makes this an ideal door-step walk. Paradise Road was named so as it is thought that the Town Gallows were sited here and that it was the closest that the poor souls who were about to suffer this fate would get to paradise before passing on. Cannon Square takes its name from the ancient cannon that was kept in front of Cannon House at the Northern end of the High Street. Two smaller cannons were also kept by the front door of the Castle Hotel.

With stunning views across the Fens, this route follows the Fen Rivers Way along the bank of the River Great Ouse before returning to Denver Sluice along the Relief Channel. This is a great walk for spotting birds.

A peaceful walk around the pretty village of Denver. The windmill is a fascinating feature of this walk, even if currently under ongoing refurbishment.

Enjoy a lovely riverside walk along the River Great Ouse in this attractive Norfolk town of Downham Market. The town has a busy market square, a medieval parish church and a Victorian clock tower, constructed in 1878. Several rivers and long distance footpaths runs through the area surrounding the town, giving lots of nice waterside walking options. The walk starts from the train station and heads to the river where you pick up the Fen Rivers Way long distance footpath. The waymarked trail heads north along the Great Ouse towards Stowbridge and Watlington. At Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen you can cross the river on the Magdalen Bridge. Footpaths then return you to Downham Market on the west side of the river. To extend your walking in the area continue north along the river into King's Lynn. Just to the east of Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen you can pick up the Nar Valley Way and enjoy a walk along the River Nar.

The Fen Rivers Way runs for nearly 50 miles between the historic settlements of King’s Lynn and Cambridge. The distance between King’s Lynn and Denver Sluice is 14 miles, tracing the course of rivers that drain slowly across the Fens into the Wash. The distinctive fenland landscape has been heavily influenced by man, its fertile agricultural land dissected by dykes, rivers and embankments, constructed over centuries in the struggle to reclaim the land. The area is dominated by dramatic open landscapes and vast skies.

This is a pleasant, easy route starting from The Howdale, one of Downham Market’s popular open green spaces. The Roman Catholic Church of St. Dominic a little further down Howdale Road at The Towers is unusual in that it was created out of a former stables and coach house. The Towers used to be the location of a great house that was once the dwelling of James Scott who donated the Town Clock to Downham Market. There was also a hospital and residential home on this site until it caught fire in 1966.

Discover The Willows Nature Reserve on this short, easy walk around the Town. The Willows is a peaceful environment, ideal for escaping the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Stride out along quiet, tree-lined tracks from the peaceful village of Wimbotsham. A very pleasant and uplifting walk