The first day of my holiday and it’s raining.

After a morning of chores Dolly and I headed out later than planned towards Shouldham Warren.

I’ve never been to Shouldham Warren before.

I’d discovered Shouldham Woods a couple of weeks earlier when driving from work to Thetford for a meeting.

As I was driving along the A road I thought “oh this looks like a nice woods” and then noticed a forestry commission sign with the name of the woods. I mentally made a note to look it up later once home.

A week later I was talking with a friend/colleague about where Dolly and I were planning to walk next. Strangely for me I remembered the name of the wood. The friend said it was a nice woods. They had often gone there with the kids.

Apple Maps took us across country as the fastest route. One or two of the roads travelled were the typical fenland back road, single lane and bumpy.

I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived. Not a main road in sight or ear shot. A fairly spacious car park.

With the light rain I decided we would not stop for a brew. We would just use the walk as a reconnaissance walk. I’d only take the Pathfinder canteen and Dolly’s collapsible water bowl.

Once ready we headed to the trail head.

We were given a choice of two signed routes round Shouldham Warren. The Range Walk was a mile, and the Warren Walk was two miles.

An executive decision was made. We were going to follow the Warren Walk.

As the photos show the woods themself are diverse in the trees growing there. A sign at the car park listed nine species planted as part a restock program. Plus I recognised oak, beech, rhododendron.

It’s strange what two or three weeks make. Our last walk at Whitehills Wood the rhododendron were not flowering. But now here at Shouldham Warren they were. I really do love the rhododendron flower.

As we followed the yellow disks marking the route there were paths going off to the sides. I had to resist going off to explore. That would be for another day.

We saw only the odd person in the distance following other paths. The rain obviously discouraging people from going out. No car sounds or talking, just bird song, the odd cuckoo. It was peaceful.

The Warren Walk does take you to the edge of the woods and a lovely man made stream. I say man made because it’s too straight and long to be natural. Sadly the banks of the stream are too steep to get down and paddle for Dolly.

However odd spots looked like wildlife had dug routes (still steep) to the water. In some mud I thought I saw what was a badger paw print. Had it been the one making the route down?

The only drawback on this walk were the two blankets/rugs left discarded by the side of the path in a couple of spots.

There were obvious signs that some of the route was a bridle path. And I’m not talking just hoof prints.

At the return to the car park I examined one or two of the signs there. The woods themself are part of the Nar Valley Way, a 34 mile route between Kings Lynn and Gressenhall.

There was also a sign post pointing towards Pentney Abbey, apparently two miles away. Plus a sign for a ten mile circular walk that had no disk. So I’m not sure if the route has any sign posts now to follow.

Once home I did a bit of google research and found an official council pdf with os maps for the circular walk (which I printed out).

It would also appear from my googling that Shouldham Warren was the site of a Second World War rifle range. Something for me and Dolly to look for traces of next time we visit.

I can see Dolly and me returning here a lot. Not to just explore the side paths. It really is a beautiful woods. Plus it’s about the same travel time as going to Roydon Common or Whitehills Wood.

Not sure where Dolly and I will go tomorrow.