Great Bircham offers a range of experiences for visitors: Bircham Windmill, with its climb and bread-making; St Mary the Virgin Church, with its various building phases; and named cycling, pilgrimage and walking routes. You can focus your visit on culture and local history, or include a route on foot or by bike.
Windmill and bread-making
Visitors can climb the five storeys of Bircham Windmill and bake bread in the original bakery. The windmill remains open and fully accessible during the ongoing renovation work; access arrangements may change while the work is underway. Check them before your visit. The windmill was built in 1846 by George Humphrey. The Windmill Including Attached Bakery, Millers House and Humphrey Cottage in Great Bircham is a Grade II-listed tower windmill. This brings an active visitor attraction and a clearly dated building history together in one place.
Church and local history
St Mary the Virgin reflects several building phases: the tower doorway dates from the 12th century, and the north doorway from the 13th century. The chancel dates from the early 14th century; the nave and aisles date from the mid-14th century. Above the entrance to the chancel is the carving known as the “Wolfman of Bircham”, for which the church is known.
The church is open daily from about 09:00 to about 16:00. Volunteer staffing may mean opening hours vary. The floor is level throughout and suitable for wheelchair use or assisted walking. Opening hours and accessibility may change; check both before your visit.
Nearby, Bell Hill lies 600 m south-east of Finger Post Plantation. It is the northernmost of four earthworks of the Great Bircham Barrow Group that survive above ground and lie within 700 m of one another. Its arrangement is unusual for its class: an outer bank surrounds the ditch. The King’s Head Hotel is an inn dating from 1860 that incorporates an older building.
Cycling and walking routes
The Bircham Cycle Route starts at the entrance to Bircham Windmill. The Sandringham to Bircham Cycling: Off-road Rides route links Bircham Newton, Great Bircham and Bircham Tofts, and crosses the Peddars Way several times. It runs across open farmland and along long, unsurfaced paths lined with hedges. Route conditions may change and vary; take this into account when planning.
There are different options for walking routes: Great Bircham is a midway point or access point on the King’s Lynn Walsingham Way pilgrimage route. By contrast, the Great Bircham & Fring Circular includes a section of the Peddars Way along a former Roman road. This distinguishes a pilgrimage route with a midway access point from a circular walk that includes a section along a former Roman road.
Farm shop and café
A farm shop with a delicatessen section and café adds a food option to the cultural and route highlights. If you plan to stop, check the latest opening hours and offering in advance.
Discover more destinations: Watton, Burgh Castle, Lingwood, Wighton, Colby, Freethorpe, Northrepps, Foulsham
For the wider travel overview: Norfolk.
