Access

The walks around the grounds are a mix of boardwalk, gravel paths, earth paths through woodland and alongside the river, and mown grass paths across the meadow.

All the paths can become muddy and slippery especially in snowdrop season or after rain at any time of year and especially where they run close to the river.

Wheelchair and mobility scooter users can reach some, but not absolutely all, of the site, but this can depend on the type of chair/scooter and also the ground conditions.  There is level access from the High Street but there is sloping ground, particularly in the woodland, and unmade paths which do become muddy.   The main areas of the Shirehall Museum and Courtroom are accessible to wheelchair users however there are steps to one exhibit room and a narrow staircase to the public gallery.

There is level access at the entrance.  From the entrance the site slopes gently downhill towards the river as we are in a valley. We have a mix of gravel, grass, and some boarded pathways. The meadow grass path is mown regularly, the woodland paths are mostly unsurfaced trodden earth. The site slopes gently as it spans a river valley, with uphill slope on the return to the entrance.

There are benches of various kinds around the grounds on which to take a rest.

We have one manual wheelchair available to borrow. You can phone or email ahead if you would like to use it, or ask on arrival at admissions (bearing in mind it might be in use).

Open water, the Stiffkey River and bridges

The river Stiffkey, one of Norfolk’s unique small chalk streams, runs through the Abbey Grounds, so please be aware.

There are several bridges over the river. The historic Packhorse Bridge is as original, a humpback bridge with a flint surface and without rails. Next to it there’s a second wooden bridge offering level access and guard rails.

The river can flood beyond its banks especially in winter. When it does so it fills the area of what was an ornamental lake up to the early 20th century, and here the ground can be soggy all through the year. There are also several open water ponds within the grounds, this includes the Monk’s Bath within the Well Garden.

Stout outdoor footwear as for a country walk is highly recommended. Best to wear wellies in snowdrop season!