(Last visited October 2019)
Ladybelt Country Park is one of my go-to, favourite local-to-Norwich walks. It is a great location all times of the year – a fabulous mix of woodland and grassland, sculptures and an old icehouse. It’s brilliant for a nice dog walk too.
The Park has been carefully nurtured back into a wildlife haven by the parish council. It’s mainly grassland and generally flat, so fine for pushchairs. I did notice the ground was starting to get a bit boggy in the winter between the icehouse and pond areas so you may have to navigate off the path to slightly higher ground after heavy rain.
The route is 1.5 miles round – with a toddler, be prepared for multiple stoppages for some of the lovely things on offer… picnic benches, wooden sculptures, trees to climb in and the old ice house that you can’t get inside, but is great for echoes!
In the summer it’s perfect for a picnic. There are no other facilities there (it does have a recycling plant hidden away in the middle so watch the lorries when crossing the main drive) but it does have its own little car park (free parking).
It is dog friendly, but they need to be on leads in spring and summer due to nesting wildlife.
There is an abundance of nature and open space with great views.
🌿Start point (postcode): Car park – NR14 8HX (what3words ///beamed.dishes.comply)
🌿Length of walk: 1.5 miles
🌿Facilities: None – but the Orangery Tea Room at Ketteringham Hall is nearby, and the villages of Mulbarton, Eaton and Hethersett are c.2-3 miles away
🌿Accessibility: Accessible for pushchairs – but prone to effects of bad weather
🌿Surfaces: A mix of woodland and grassland
🌿Play area: No
🌿Toilets/baby change: None
🌿Seating: Yes
🌿Picnic area: Yes
🌿Opening times: Always open
🌿Entrance fee: Free
🌿Dogs: Yes – but on leads in spring during nesting season
🌿Other features: Restored icehouse, sculptures, bug hotel
🌿More info at: https://ladybeltcountrypark.wordpress.com/
