Churches Cycle Ride

By Mike Johnson

It's my belief that Cycling is one of the best ways to explore Norfolk. Having recently moved into the vicinity from Essex, the Churches cycle ride gave me the perfect opportunity travel around the area. I duly reported to the Aylsham Meeting building one overcast Saturday morning in September, accompanied by cycle and ordinance survey map. Felicity Cox greeted me at the door. She slapped a yellow coloured Church's cycle sticker on my chest, stamped my log sheet, and cheerfully waved me off promptly at nine o'clock.

I intended to take in the seven of the Aylsham's eight Churches first, so I headed directly for White Hart Street to visit its three churches. Swiftly calling in at these churches and with four stamps already on my log I proceeded for St. Michael Church, an imposing church overlooking the towns market square. After having my log stamped I navigated my way to the Cawston Road Chapel, followed by the Salvation Army premises in Hungate Street. Having visited the local churches I retraced my tracks to St. Michael's Church yard and picked up the Ingworth road, just as it started to lightly drizzle.

A strong tail wind whisked me to Ingworth Church where a chatty man greeted me and asked after my route. “Erpingham, Calthorpe and Aldborough,” I stated. He agreed with the route, provided me with exact location of Calthorpe Church, and then with his good wishes I departed for Erpingham. The light drizzle continued to fall as I pumped the pedals uphill towards Erpingham. One thing I learnt from this ride is that Norfolk isn't flat.

I found Erpingham Church up a little side road, just before reaching the village proper. There a lovely lady welcomed me and supplied a refreshing glass of lemonade. Despite the dampness and chilly air I had sweated up considerably. She also enquired as to my route and suggested I take in Thwaite and Alby churches.

Liking her proposal I set off for Calthorpe church, where another lady met me and initialled my log. I may my way back to Erpingham and there I took a delightful narrow back lane to Thwaite. Half way along this lane the rain started to fall harder, so I stopped to put on my waterproof jacket. While doing so a woman cyclist passed me wearing just jeans and jumper and displaying a yellow Church's cycle ride badge. I muttered something about the rain and her lack of waterproof. Without stopping she laughingly replied, “I'll have a shower and change of clothes when I get home.”

Donning my waterproof I resumed my journey and soon caught her up. We chatted briefly and taking pity on an ex-Essex boy she agreed to let me join her, acting as my guide until we reached Aldborough. She was good company, easy to chat with and as we talked the miles rolled by effortlessly.

We arrived at Thwaite church without any problems and shortly afterwards we were walking into Alby church. After that we pushed on to Aldborough. By now the rain had ceased and I began to sweat inside my waterproof. As we rode into Aldborough, the first time I'd been there, the sight of the large village green surrounded by houses took my breath away. What stunning and beautiful place I thought. My companion led the way to the Chapel, tucked away behind some houses. I would never have found this brand new looking chapel without help. The Chapel staff marked our logs and we made for Aldborough Church. On the way we over took an elderly gentleman also doing the church's ride, one of the few people I saw doing the ride. On leaving the church my newly found companion suggested I take in Wickmere Church, where she would leave me, and from there I could cycle to Little Barningham church on my way to Saxthorpe. Why not, I thought.

At Wickmere Church, after the customary paperwork procedure, I said good bye to my friend and headed for Little Barningham. Parking my cycle at the bottom of the grassy drive I climbed the steep hill to the church. Part way up I passed a young girl coming down the hill towards me and I congratulated her on her fashion, she wore knee length green and white hooped socks outside her trousers. She laughed and thanked me. Inside the church I interrupted to staff doing the monthly cleaning, they paused from their work to complete my form and supplied a lemon drink.

Leaving Little Barningham I made my way along peaceful country lanes to Saxthorpe Church. The wind now hit me head on and made the cycling harder. At Saxthorpe another stamp was added to my log. I elected to seek out Corpusty Church and having obtained directions I puffed my way uphill to it. On arrival, I met with disappointment on discovering the church sealed off by builders fencing and inaccessible, in fact closed. Unable to find anyone, I free wheeled back downhill and took a small narrow isolated back road leading to Oulton, passing by Iramingland Hall on the way. Later, I learnt that Oliver Cromwell's daughter and son in law once lived at this hall. At Oulton I checked in at the unman church and then sought the nearby chapel. This chapel, built in 1725, I found fascinating and well worth a visit on its own. You can almost smell its history seeping from its wall. I wondered what tales it could tell about past times of religious upheaval.

After departing Oulton Chapel I went onto Blickling Church before heading back to Aylsham by way of Silvergate and Abel Heath.

I thoroughly enjoyed my ride, finding it full of interest places, some to revisit and explore at a later date. I cycled 29 miles during my four hours in the saddle. Reflecting upon the ride I can't but be truly grateful for living in such a beautifully and friendly place as North Norfolk with its hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Thank you all those people who sponsored me to do the ride, raising £90 (some still to come in). Roll on next year, more churches to explore in more interesting villages. Westward Ho next time, I think!

Mike at John O'Groats - a previous cycle ride