Well this trip turned out to be a disaster in more ways than one! I had awoke about 04:00 and had planned to drive to Kings Lynn and catch the bus to Hunstanton and then walk back to Kings Lynn. Unfortunately I wasn’t feeling very well, my stomach felt upset and I was also feeling quite tired. I should have just gone back to bed there and then. Instead I drove on, knowing that I was not feeling 100%, hoping that I could just “walk it off”.
I caught the 07:23 bus to Hunstanton, which dropped me off at the bus station. At that time of a Sunday morning the town was almost deserted. I made by way down to the promenade and headed south, still not feeling that good. It was a very grey overcast morning, but with reasonable visibility and I could may out part of the shoreline down to the head of The Wash. I walked past the small town of Heacham and continued onto Shepherds Port. I passed a dead seal on the beach before Shepherds Port, but I did not investigate, as it had turned black afer being exposed to the sun.
The section south of Shepard’s Port I knew from previous reports was difficult. Previous walkers had faced confrontation from beach hut owners and some ‘officials[?]’. I had planned a route which I thought would be able to get me inland to bypass this area of no public access. I had read a sign back in Shepherds Port with a map indicating public rights way in the immediate area. The map was probably the worst map I had ever seen, upside down and with a multi-coloured sections cross-hatched (God help you if you were colour-blind) denoting variety of restrictions. I did see a sign for Dersingham, which I was planning to head for. However, on getting the end of the first lagoon, signs disappeared and there appeared to be an additional lake not on my map. I headed for the sea bank, but was confronted with signs telling me that this was not a public Right of way. I spoke to a local who advised that getting to Decoy Wood (where I knew a public footpath was) would not be easy and would involve some trespassing. I pondered what to do, I could see a lagoon disappearing to the south with no visible means to cross over. It gradually dawned on me that I would have to get to the road that ran to Shepherds Port from A149. This new route would involve quite an additional mileage to my journey, plus I would need to walk along the A149. Most of the land around Shepherds Port is owned by the King Lynn Angling Association who look to be constructing more lakes for fishing close by.
I reached the A149 and donned my hi-vis vest. There was a reasonable verge to walk along, as the constant procession of cars in either direction passed me at break-neck speed. After an additional two hours I arrived at the point on the A149 where I would have emerged from, if my original route was available to me. I’d had enough of the A149 by this point and headed into Dersingham, passing the long closed Dersingham railway station. As I walked through the small housing estate; fatigue, not feeling so good and the effects of the large detour began to have their toll and I doubted I would be able to complete the walk. I found a seat by a bus stop close to the co-op and decided to call it a day. Fortunately, there is a regular bus service, even on a sunday and I had only had a 10 minute wait until the next bus.
These things happen and although disappointed I live to fight another day!
Distance today = 12 miles
Total distance = 4,419 mile
Walking the Coast of Great Britain 
I think we’ve all had to cut at least one walk short at some point due to some reason or other, I know have! I did wonder if those lakes were the nature reserve, I know it got damaged during storms a year or two back and perhaps they are now in a different place but then you mentioned angling lakes, so perhaps there are more than one set of lakes around here.
Having said that, at this time of year and that time on a Sunday I doubt any of those chalets owners would have been there to have noticed you sticking to the coastal route (though of course, I cannot be sure). Still you are passed it now and survived the A149!
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Hi Jon, I think the issue with the chalet owners has been resolved with a public footpath extending along the sea wall past their wooden huts. Other people where talking past there and no signs. The Reserve, the sailing club and the KLAA all seemed merged together. This section of the coast is due to be opened up by the England Coast Path, but this is still at the Develop and Propose stage and not due to go to the Sceretary of State before Winter 2019 and open in 2020. Too late for us!
BTW 2 cars pimped their horns at me while I was walking along the verge with a hi-vis vest on and facing oncoming traffic. They either knew me or were just assholes with one braincell between them!
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The public footpath actually runs along the coast to the bottom of those lakes. The local cabin owners contested the public right of way, but lost (I went to the public hearing in Snettisham where this was decided, maybe 4 years ago now!) I think they’ve designed some deliberately misleading signs. Unfortunately, you cant get any further along the coast from the lakes, without trespassing, so it’s a dead end anyway.
Hope you’re feeling better and sorry your walk was cut short.
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