A VISITORS GUIDE TO WATTON & WAYLAND

in the Breckland District of Norfolk

A typical Norfolk sunset           © M Glibbery/WTA

20/03/13 ma This page is Published and Maintained by: The Wayland Tourism Association  c/o Wayland House, High Street, Watton, Norfolk IP25 6AR Tel: Administration 01953 884224    Comments on this site by e-mail welcomed:  Click here Our Tourist & Local Information Facility (Visitor Centre)  is staffed wholly by volunteers and is located in the The Dragonfly Gallery & Visitor Centre at the address above OPEN 18th March - 14th December  Mon-Fri 10am-4pm Sats & B/Hols 10am-1pm Tel (When Open) 01953 880212 Click WEATHER for 15-day local forecast

  GENERAL INFORMATION
ABOUT WATTON & WAYLAND

Wayland is an old 'hundred' area within Breckland at the heart of Norfolk  - click to see "What is a Hundred".
 The name has been re-adopted with a new identity in the form of the dragonfly 'marque'.

 The area has undergone a regeneration directed by the Wayland Partnership Development Trust.

The Partnership is made up of 13 parish councils, Watton Town Council, the local Chamber of Commerce
 and the Tourism Association as well as other representative organisations.
 The name 'Wayland' is not shown on maps but the thriving market town of Watton is at its centre.

The area contains many small villages and hamlets
 linked by narrow lanes and is noted for its traditional farmland and rural Brecks setting.

The Brecks covers 1015 sq kilometres of SW Norfolk and NW Suffolk.

 It is one of the great natural areas, and one of the driest parts, of Britain.
 The landscape is of tranquil forest open heathland and agricultural land.

Thetford forest is the largest lowland forest in the UK,
 The area is home to many unique or distinctive birds, plants and animals.

 Nearly a century ago, W.G. Clarke, wrote:
 "Few of the lowland districts of England have more striking individual

 characteristics than the area known as Breckland " 

The town of Watton is on the NE edge of The Brecks, and is central to Norfolk's many attractions, whilst

 the ancient Peddars Way route, now a National Trail passes just to the west.
Easily accessible by car, you will find us on the map some 20 miles west of Norwich

 at the intersection of the A1075 road, between

Thetford (A11) and Dereham (A47), and the B1108, an old turnpike road radiating from Norwich.
Coach services to/from London Airports and Central London, and rail links can be accessed at Thetford.
 An ideal area for cyclists and ramblers, visitors without cars

 can also explore much of Norfolk using the county's bus services.
A street market each Wednesday augments a remarkable range of small privately-run shops,
 some specialising in crafts and craft-wares and locally produced foods.
There is a Farmers' Market in Watton town centre on the first Saturday of each month, except January.
 Just south of Watton lies the ancient Wayland Wood noted for its bluebells

 and its association with the "Babes in the Wood" legend.

This is depicted on the Town Sign which occupies a prominent

 position in the High Street in front of the Clock Tower,
 which was built in 1679 after the 'Great Fire of Watton'.

Come and join us under the open skies of Norfolk in the lovely Wayland countryside.

FACILITIES IN WATTON & AROUND WAYLAND
 

Places to Eat & Drink

Most Wayland villages have an inn or public house, some of which are noted for their bar meals, which can be up to gourmet restaurant standards.
In Watton,  there is a good selection of restaurants, cafés, coffee shops, public houses and take-away establishments: [*Open times: see caveat below].

* Times/info supplied by proprietors or otherwise culled; we cannot be liable for any errors; check with establishment to be sure!

Events & Activities
Our home, The Dragonfly Gallery at Wayland House on Watton High Street, has regular exhibitions of a variety of artistic media. For 2013 there are exhibitions planned at least every other week from March until Christmas; see the Gallery website at www.thewaylanddragonflygallery.co.uk   Postcards, gift cards, artefacts and other items produced by local people are on sale in the Visitor Centre, which also stocks an extensive range of leaflets.

The Wayland Agricultural Society runs an annual agricultural show, The Wayland Show; it is one of the oldest in the country. It was all set up for Sunday 5th last year when a foul water flood caused by lightning striking a pumping station the night before meant last-minute cancellation. The Show is planned to take place on Sunday 4th August 2013. For further information and on-line ticket purchase see the WAS website: www.waylandshow.com.
Normally the Household Cavalry comes to Bodney, near Watton, for their annual Summer Camp. Because of the additional number of public engagements in London last year, the usual dates were brought forward and Bodney was not available. Instead, the summer camp was held at West Tofts in mid-July. We hope they will return to Bodney this year - when details are known, they will be posted here.

Sport & Leisure

Watton Sports Centre (01953 881281) welcomes visitors; located just off Dereham Road, the range of facilities include carpet bowls, badminton, squash, tennis and a fully-fitted fitness centre. Fully Licensed Bar with food available.
There is an 18-hole Golf Course at Richmond Park Golf Club, (01953 881803) situated about half a mile from Watton town centre. It has all the usual professional facilities and amenities. Non-members and non-golfers are welcome to avail themselves of the bar and restaurant facilities.

Watton & Wayland Heritage.
Of interest to local people and visitors alike are the local 'Word Journey' and Heritage brochures. They give some new, dynamic, and unique insights into the gems of the area. Click here for details.  Watton and the 12 Partnership Villages each has a Heritage Book; they were published [in bound paperback and DVD formats]  in Dec 2011 following a 3-year project led by a lottery-funded Heritage Officer.  All these publications are available in the Visitor Centre, and also from the Partnership Office at the front of Wayland House, which is open during office hours all year round.

WALKING - Watton Area Walks

A series of  walks suitable for various levels of ability and fitness are available in the area. Details  from the Wayland Partnership Office or the Visitor Centre at Wayland House. Click here for details of the walks based on Watton.  A set of 3 local walks leaflets is also available in the Visitor Centre (50p the set, or 20p each singly). A Sustrans "Portrait Bench" on STANS WALK was opened in February 2013, details in the Visitor Centre.
 

CYCLING
Five special routes for cyclists are available in a handy A5 size folding out to A3; they are laminated (waterproof) and cover several of the most interesting aspects of the area - click here. Other cyclists' maps, based on National Route 13, are also available.
 

PEDDARS WAY This National Trail runs through the heart of WAYLAND. Click here for details.
 

Riding Eden Meadows Riding Centre is situated on Sandy Lane between Lower Stow Bedon and Fen Street (Rocklands).  Tel 01953 483545.

Medieval Churches. The Wayland area boasts 18 medieval churches; a book and information about tours are available in the Visitor Centre, and guides to each church are available to download from www.watton.info

Nearby Attractions
Our local attraction is Melsop Farm Park, situated at Scoulton on the Ellingham Road off the B1108 Watton to Norwich road, it offers 'Family Fun down on the Farm'. This venue is especially suitable for families with young children and has an extensive range of animals and rare breeds, including pigs, cattle, sheep, goats (with lambs and kids in season),  rabbits,  guinea pigs, ducks and geese. There is a Gift Shop, Café, a picnic area and ample parking. Private parties are catered for, and Children's birthday parties are a special treat! Group and school visits are most welcome welcome. Call 01953 851943 for further information and to book.
Other attractions within easy reach include the Mid-Norfolk Railway,  Thetford Forest (High Lodge), Cockley Cley Iceni Village, Banham Zoo, Bressingham Steam Museum & Gardens, Grimes Graves (English Heritage), Rural Life Museum at Gressenhall,  Oxburgh Hall (National Trust) and Gooderstone Water Gardens. Not much farther away are Sandringham, HM The Queen's Norfolk Residence, and other stately county homes. The unique North Norfolk Coast is, on average, about 40 miles on an arc from northwest to northeast with coastal scenery varying from mudflats to cliffs, and shingle to glorious miles of fine sandy beaches!
 

Shopping & Leisure
Specialist shops in Watton include fashion (Doves), an antiquarian bookshop and picture gallery (JC Books), Maggies (second-hand furniture, household and all sorts!). There's an excellent DIY, hardware and household goods store and mini garden centre (Myhills), and also another general & household goods store with the meaningful name of  "Spoilt for Choice". Gallery Gift Vouchers are available in denominations of £5 and £10.

The Visitor Centre carries a range of local postcards, giftware and unique souvenirs, some of which are available by post (click here for details & order form). Our postcards, also on sale in Edwards Newsagents, include one of the Watton Ceramic Mural. The Mural (click to view) was on a wall high up on Chaston Place having been commissioned jointly by the local Rotary & Inner Wheel Clubs to depict the history of Watton. It was inaugurated during the town's millennium celebration on 11 June 2000; regrettably, due to deterioration of the wooden surround, the mural has been dismantled and is now undergoing refurbishment.

In accordance with their international credentials, the Rotary & Inner Wheel Clubs welcome member visitors, contact 01953 884224 or 884044.
 

Public Transport & Taxis
There is a good bus service, operated by Konectbus, between Watton and Norwich, and also Dereham, and Kings Lynn via Swaffham. Less frequent services operate to Thetford and there are a number of weekly and occasional services. We produce a compendium leaflet showing every local bus service to, from and through Watton; it is available from the Visitor Centre or Wayland House Reception. Local taxi firms include:
    Anns Cars 01953 881420;    Home James Ltd 0800 732 6322;    Prestige 01953 883108;  Robin's 07902 724426;  "2 and Fro" 01760 442536.

Further Information
Further information about Wayland, its central town of Watton, and its 13 individual villages see the Wayland Partnership website and to access the Wayland News and Watton History go to WattonInfo.
For a full listing of places to stay -  Hotels, B&Bs, Self Catering, and Campsites click on Accommodation.
Information for other places nationwide can be found through Visitor Centres and Tourist Information Offices accessible by clicking HERE.
 

HOME PAGE

WHERE TO STAY

VISITORS GUIDE

ACTIVITIES

For further tourist information about The Brecks or the rest of Norfolk, click under the logos below

click here

click here