Local recommendations Thorpe Forest

Dog-friendly dining, proper pubs and one-of-a-kind spots. Take your pick from our top pubs and restaurants close to the forest to get a taste of the local.
 
 
Harriet's Cafe Tearooms
Take a 33-minute drive to visit Harriet’s Café Tearooms for some family-friendly light bites and gluten free options.
 
The Golden Fleece
A little further afield on the coast, try the dog-friendly The Golden Fleece. It’s an hour, 15-minute drive but well worth it for the views and space for paws to explore.
 
The Mulberry
Just a 10-minute drive away, try The Mulberry for locally-sourced fine dining.
 
The Nutshell
Drive 33 minutes to grab drinks at The Nutshell – Britain's smallest pub!
Pubs and restaurants
There's lots to do in the forest,  but take a trip out and discover what the area also has to offer.
 
 
Banham Zoo
Visit Banham Zoo for a day out close to the forest – it's just a 14-minute drive.
 
Gravity
A little further away, try Gravity, an indoor trampoline park 40 minutes away.
 
The English Whiskey Company
Enjoy distillery tours with The English Whiskey Company, a 10-minute drive away.
 
The Light Cinema
Great for rainy days, visit The Light Cinema, Thetford (12-minute drive).
Places to visit
Bury St Edmunds
In Bury St. Edmunds, there’s a lovely two-hour walk that takes in a 12th Century bridge, an aviary, the smallest pub in England and the site where barons plotted to get St. John to sign the Magna Carta.
 
 
Norfolk Coast Path | 134km
It’s an hour or so drive to the coast but worth it for a complete change of scenery and fresh sea air. The Norfolk Coast Path runs for 134km from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea. Much of the walk is within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Choose a section and start sightseeing! From seaside towns to wildlife-rich tidal marshes, from open sandy beaches to statuesque pine woodlands, it offers some of the most satisfying walks in Great Britain.
 
 
Peddars Way | 74km
Got your walking boots? Peddars Way is a National Trail walk, wending its way through 74km, from just outside Thetford at Knettishall Heath to the beach at Holme-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk Coast. It takes in some of the Pingo trail before heading across the Brecks, following the straight lines of an old Roman route. The landscape is ever-changing and you can pick sections of it and circular routes for a day’s walking.
 
 
The Great Eastern Pingo Trail | 8km
The Great Eastern Pingo Trail is a gentle 8km walk along the route of the old Crab and Winkle Railway line. The pingos of the title are shallow pools, teeming with wildlife, that were formed over 20,000 years ago in the last ice-age. This walk also takes you past a nature reserve, a meadow which is kept in check by Shetland ponies, and an MOD firing range, which is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
 
 
Thetford Forest | various
For walks in Thetford Forest, start from High Lodge Visitor Centre on one of the themed trails. The Pine Trail and the Nature Trail are just 1.6km long and the Beech Trail and the Fir Trail are 4.8km. There's also an orienteering course and the Sculpture Trail, a short, wheelchair accessible, 1.6km walk with five play sculptures along the way.
 
 
Thetford to Brandon | 9km
This pleasant 9km riverside walk starts in Thetford town and follows the Little Ouse Path to Brandon. The walk takes you along peaceful stretches of river, into the heart of Thetford Forest and through the pretty forest village of Santon Downham. The area around you is the Brecks, a unique heathland landscape created by the practices of Stone Age farmers.
Walking trails
National Cycle Network Route 13 | 60km
The National Cycle Network (sustrans) Route 13 also runs through Thetford, close to your cabin. Here you can cycle 60km on-road through Watton and East Dereham to Gateley, where it meets National Route 1 to Fakenham. Ideal for a spot of long distance cycling.
 
 
The Green Shepherd Trail | 8km
The Green Shepherd Trail runs through the nearby Thetford Forest. A safe, off-road trail with plenty of room to learn, it’s 8km of mostly good surfaces. Perfect for families (including little ones who need a little more practice).
 
 
Thetford mountain biking
The 18km red Beater Trail at Forestry England's High Lodge, Thetford, combines open routes with fast-flowing single-track. It’s a reasonably challenging ride through beech woods and pine plantations, suited to experienced bikers. The red Lime Burner Trail at Forestry England's High Lodge features crests and dips, bomb holes and single-track. Near the end, 'The Beast' takes you on a roller coaster of a ride. Hardest of all are the Black 'Mountain Bike Pits'.
 
 
Cycle the Norfolk coast
Drive to the Norfolk coast where routes 1 and 30 take you the entire length, from Kings Lynn to Great Yarmouth, via a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Cycling trails
Bring your furry friend on an adventure and explore one of the many forest trails, where acres of woodland and country roads make a great spot for a scamper.
 
 
Horsey Beach and village circular walk | 5.8km
Head to the Norfolk Broads to enjoy the Horsey Beach and village circular walk, an easy dog-friendly trail, which spans 5.8km. Take in spectacular coastline views paired with iconic broadland as you explore Horsey Beach, famous for its seals, before walking around Horsey village.
 
Or you could try the Horsey Windpump and beach walk, a moderate trail of 4.8km that will take up to two hours to complete. You might even get a glimpse of Grey Seals along this trail!
 
 
The Great Hockham walking trail | 3.5km
Take an easy amble through Great Hockham on the Great Hockham walking trail and join the Peddars Way Roman Road, if you and the tails are feeling more adventurous!
Dog-walking trails

Take a trip through the trees, full of adventure! Save 10% on your Go Ape experience when you stay with us, including on Saturdays. 
 
Look out for our emails with offers and activities to book before your stay – they'll include your unique discount code. Go Ape Thetford is just a short, 10-minute drive away, and as the very first Go Ape, you can experience lots of different adventures:

  • Go Ape forest segway | from £38
  • Go Ape tree top adventure | from £21
  • Go Ape tree top challenge | from £36
Go Ape

Discover local activities and adventures further from the forest.

Activities nearby