We’ve featured individual walks in the forest many times, and it is a special place for us. We both just love the quietness of it, the fresh clean air, and the generally unspoilt nature.
Spanning over 18,000 hectares (roughly 47,000 acres) across Norfolk and Suffolk, Thetford Forest is the largest man made lowland forest in England. It was created just after World War I to provide a strategic timber reserve for the country at the time. However, since then it has evolved into a massive outdoor playground for hikers, bikers, and families alike.
Over time some parts of the forest have turned into very popular leisure destinations. Probably the best known of which is High Lodge. Alongside High Lodge you also have other well established walks such as Lynford Arboretum and Lakes that are very popular. However if you want a quiet unspoilt walk, you are in luck still.
Due to the fact that Thetford Forest was originally man made, it was planted with regular fire breaks throughout it’s vast area. These are maintained today like the rest of the area by Forestry England. The big benefit of these ‘fire breaks’ is that they form a fantastic network of paths to follow through the forest, with them forming a grid like pattern every few hundred metres.
A great choice for a quiet unspoilt walk
If you want a quiet and unspoilt walk these make a great path for a walk in nature. They are also very popular with local dog walkers too. The other big benefit with the majority of these, is that there is parking for a small number of cars by the roadside at the entrance. This means you can just pull in and explore. However, please do make sure to park responsibly and not block the gates. These are needed for emergency access, particularly in the summer when the risk of forest fires can be very high.
Hopefully you will have a great time exploring the area, and see the many types of wildlife and tress on offer. In particular there are large populations of Red, Roe, and Muntjac deer to see especially at dawn and dusk.
One final request, if you are going to come and enjoy a walk in Thetford Forest, please be responsible. In recent times, dog mess on the footpaths seems to be increasing – as does litter. It doesn’t take long to pick it up and take it home. If you don’t then it will either stay rotting forever or have to picked up by local volunteers which is hardly fair
Happy exploring all!
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