A stay in Taverham can be planned around a range of interests: Taverham Mill combines lakes and riverside scenery with birdwatching, while the Marriott’s Way offers a former railway line as a route to explore. Golf and the Parish Church of St Edmund add further interests. Before your trip, you can decide whether nature watching, exercise, fishing, golf or architectural history should be your main focus.
Riverside scenery and birdwatching at Taverham Mill
The Taverham Mill nature reserve covers 100 acres in Norfolk. The site includes four lakes, as well as an old weir and a millpond on the River Wensum. Its riverside location and lakes give the area a distinctive scenic character, while the bird hides put the local birdlife in the spotlight.
Purpose-built hides allow visitors to watch birds in their natural habitat. The paths at Taverham Mill are well signposted and offer good access for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Permits for the nature trail walk are available from the visitor centre. When planning your visit, you can choose between birdwatching, a walk and a visit to the nature trail.
On foot, by bike or on horseback
The Marriott’s Way is a 26-mile route for walkers, horse riders and cyclists. It follows the tracks of two disused railway lines and runs between the historic market town of Aylsham and the medieval city of Norwich. The route also passes through the urban area of Taverham. For orientation, it is helpful to think of this local stretch as part of a longer route: Taverham lies along the way, while Aylsham and Norwich mark its endpoints.
There is public art along the Marriott’s Way connected with the route’s railway history, including signs made from old railway tracks. As you follow the route on foot, horseback or by bike, you will also encounter visible references to its former railway line. The route thus combines exercise with a history reflected in its course and the artworks along the way.
Fishing on the River Wensum and at the lakes
Anglers will also find a variety of water features at Taverham Mill. The three-quarter-mile fishing stretch on the River Wensum includes two weir pools, deep pools and shallow gravel runs. Water lilies and reeds are also found along this stretch, as well as areas with many snags. This description covers not only the length of the fishing stretch but also the changing character of the water.
Taverham Mill also has four fishing lakes. Mills Lake covers 22 acres and is fully fenced to keep otters out. Those looking at the fishing options can choose between the river stretch, with its pools and gravel runs, and the large Mills Lake. These details give the fishing area its own character within the Taverham Mill waterscape.
Golf and architectural history
Wensum Valley Golf & Country Club in Taverham has two golf courses set in a picturesque 250-acre landscape. Alongside walking paths and nature watching, golf is another option in its own right. The number of courses and the size of the grounds describe the golf offering in more detail; they do not imply any further information about facilities or accommodation.
Another way to explore local history is to visit the Parish Church of St Edmund. The medieval church, which was later extended, has a two-stage round tower. The octagonal upper stage dates from the 15th century. If you are interested in historic architecture, this tower offers a clearly identifiable detail through which to read the church’s building history.
Discover more destinations: Blakeney, Downham Market, Fakenham, Stalham, Acle, Snettisham, North Burlingham, Caister-On-Sea.
For the broader travel overview: Norfolk.
