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Family friendly walks
Become history hunters in the Norfolk countryside and medieval quarter of Norwich.
All walks have free activities to keep children engaged and to spark their curiosity about the Pastons and the natural world.
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Check out our 'WALKER' tool to get more from our walks and explore how walking can improve your wellbeing.
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A countryside walk starting at Paston church and taking in Paston village which has a lovely playpark. This walk is near the seaside and is walking distance from the sandy Blue Flag beach of Mundesley.
A countryside walk through magical Broadlands and past the grand home of the Pastons. It has lovely picnic spots by the river and at certain times of the year can be reached by steam train.
A buggy and pram friendly walk exploring the medieval city of stories. The family friendly Norwich Castle is on the route for picnics (book ahead for Castle entry) and also the iconic Norwich market with its tempting street food stalls.
Walk activities for children
Download our fun Explorer Hunt activity and see if you can tick off all the Paston family related things as you do the walk. Or try out one of our simple, prep-free walk activity ideas.
Simple activities to do on a walk with children
Get the most out of your family walk and spark children's curiosity and creativity with these simple, prep-free activity ideas from our Education Consultant Georgia Knee.
Follow the leader
Hand navigation over to the children and see if they can use the map and instructions to follow the route. Reading the facts and information provided, they can become your very own tour guide.
A Paston's view
Ask children what they think the Pasotn family would have seen on the walks that we can still see today? Point out both natural and man-made features (eg: trees, rivers, buildings) and discuss their thoughts and ideas.
Drawing with nature
Take a bag on your walk and collect natural materials as you explore. Use them to create a self-portrait on the ground at the end of your walk or when you get home.
Rainbow hunt
Try and spot an object for every colour of the rainbow. Maybe you can collect several or put them in coloured bags!
Sound hunt
Ask children to listen out for sounds. Create a list to tick them off or ask older children to record them as a soundscape for the walk.
Dissection!
Collect acorns, flower, pine-cones etc to take home and dissect to see what they look like on the inside.
'WALKER' tool
Use our 'WALKER' acrostic to get more from our walks and help children and young people explore how walking can help improve their wellbeing. Richard Calle, balliff to the Paston family, explains more.
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W
'W is for the wellbeing benefits of walking for mind and body. Walking is free exercise and a chance to rest the mind and find peace in nature.
A
'A' is for taking action on your walk to enjoy it more: take a photo, do some creative writing, do an activity, develop map reading skills, invite a friend.
L
'L' is for landscapes: remember to take a moment to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful Norfolk landscapes on the walks
K
'K' is for the keepsake you will bring back from your walk. What will it be? A leaf? A new historical fact? A new memory?
E
'E' is for caring for the beautiful Norfolk environment by doing a bit of litter picking or scattering wild flower seeds.
R
'R' is for re-imagining the lives of the Paston family by listening to their stories and finding out more about what life was like for them