🥾 Walking route
Castle Acre Circular (Short)
Norfolk
- 📏 2.6 km · 1.6 mi
- ⛰ +44 m
- ⏱ 45 min
- 🐕 On lead
Walk stats
- Distance2.6 km · 1.6 mi
- Elevation+44 m
- Duration45 min
- DifficultyEasy
- Route typeCircular
- TerrainVillage lanes, grassy paths and earthwork tracks; mostly level with one gentle climb.
- Best seasonSpring to autumn, when the ruins and earthworks are easiest to explore.
- DogsDog-friendly on lead through the village and around the historic sites.
About this walk
This short circular walk packs a remarkable amount of history into less than an hour. Starting near the imposing Gatehouse of Castle Acre Priory, the route follows quiet village lanes past the Prior's Lodging, one of the best-preserved parts of the ruined monastic complex, before climbing gently towards the grassy ramparts and deep moats of Castle Acre Castle.
From the castle earthworks the path leads back through the village, passing the flint-built church of Saint James on St James's Green. Beyond the green you wander by Abbey Cottage and return to the priory precinct, with views opening across the Nar valley towards South Acre on the far bank.
At just 2.6 km with only 44 m of ascent, this is an easy stroll suitable for most walkers, and a good way to link the three great medieval sites of the village in a single loop. Allow longer than the 45 minutes suggested if you plan to explore the priory ruins or the castle interior properly.
Route map
Route line drawn from OpenStreetMap footpath data. Numbered markers are waypoints on the route; amber star markers are points of interest a short detour away.
Waypoints along the route
5 waypoints along the way
- 1
Gatehouse of Castle Acre Priory
- 2
Prior's Lodging
- 3
Castle Acre Castle
- 4
Saint James
- 5
Abbey Cottage
Worth a short detour
Points of interest just off the route, look for the amber markers on the map.
moats
~372 m off the route
Saint George
~449 m off the route
St James's Green
~330 m off the route
South Acre
~492 m off the route
Route & waypoint data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).