It doesn’t matter the years since we’ve moved, our childhood home is always “home”. So, hop on a bus, then another, and come walk with me the woods and hills and lanes of my childhood.

We start with the woods. Formerly part of Costessey Hall estate, now parish owned and available to everyone, that’s not always the case in England.

25th April 2022

And straight away we’re climbing hills [not high but they can be step] to emerge into Bluebell Land! See Monday’s post for a glut of these wonderful flowers

25th April 2022

25th April 2022

25th April 2022

Leaving the woods and the bluebells [don’t panic, there’s plenty more to come on Monday] we head towards the Wensum Valley. We’ll be weaving back and forth across the Wensum for the rest of the walk

25th April 2022

25th April 2022

NOT the Wensum, but the diminutive River Tud, one of its tributaries, and Red Bridge which carries a mostly-muddy lane. Great river for paddling; usually noisy with toddlers and their mums but quiet today

25th April 2022

One of the several flooded gravel-pits which were quarried in days past. This used to be Costessey Common; it is still a parish recreation resource… and beautiful in all seasons

25th April 2022

We join the former railway track which now is Marriott’s Way dedicated to cyclists and walkers which will take us back into Norwich… but there’s plenty to see along the way. It’s recently been *surfaced* which means no more puddles and deeply mired places

25th April 2022

On outskirts of Norwich we cut across a meadow (lots of wetland flowers, see Tuesday Treat) and take the path beside the Wensum

25th April 2022

25th April 2022

First the river’s to our right, and then it’s to our left. The Wensum wends, and there are many bridges along the way!

25th April 2022

Old Man Willow. Although he’s not the one who says “Thou shalt not pass,” sure looks like he’s saying it here!

25th April 2022

One last shot (you can just make out the river to the left) then we’re back into traffic and heading for the bus to take us back “home”.

25th April 2022

I hope you enjoyed this homeland walk. I return to Costessey at least twice a year, for the woods – the bluebells and autumn colour – and for the pits – the flowers and the fungi in season (hush, the only place I know to find the scarlet elf-cup!). See Monday and Tuesday posts for the flowers and other delights seen on the way