This site was produced by: LOCAL AUTHORITY PUBLISHING
Publishers for local authorities throughout Great Britain. View more Official Guides at www.officialguides.co.uk

High Lodge & Thetford Forest

The large plantations of conifers that surround Thetford were planted in the years following the First World War. The forest comprises several distinct areas although the most extensive is to the west of the town, planted on former warren and heathland. Numerous picnic sites and car parks are dotted around the forest but the major forest centre is at High Lodge 4 miles west of the town along the B1107 Brandon Road. High Lodge offers walks, cycle hire and trails, the high wire forest adventure Go Ape and for two weekends a year is a concert venue for many well known performers.

The Lynford Lakes and Arboretum near Mundford is another Forestry Commission site and offers lakeside walks through a collection of some 200 types of tree. The former quarry site, Lynford Water has recently been opened to public access. The adjoining Lynford Hall Hotel was the setting for the popular BBC series Allo Allo.

Grimes Graves

Grimes Graves is the only Neolithic flint mine open to visitors in Britain. There are over 400 shafts besides pits, quarries and spoil dumps that give an impression of a grassy lunar landscape. They were first named Grim’s Graves by the Anglo-Saxons - meaning the pagan god Grim’s quarries, or ‘the Devil’s holes’. It was not until excavations in 1870 that they were found to be flint mines dating from the late Neolithic and early Bronze Ages, over 5,000 years ago. The prehistoric miners sought the high quality jet-black flint ‘floorstone’, which was prized as an easily ‘knapped’ material for axes and other tools. Red-deer antler picks were used to dig vertical shafts from which radiated gallery-tunnels, following the seams of flint. Today visitors can descend 9 metres by ladder into one of the excavated shafts. Flint working continued in the area until the mid 20th century even though the introduction of the percussion cap had made the use of flints in guns almost obsolete.

East of England Military Museum

Situated 3 miles south of Thetford, the museum is in the area where the very first 75 tank crews trained in secrecy prior to the machine’s fist deployment on the Somme in 1916. The museum traces the evolution of mechanised warfare from the first tanks through to the present day. Items on display include all aspects of a soldier’s equipment from personal effects to a collection of over 50 tanks and artillery pieces.

Brandon Country Park Brandon Country Park,

7 miles to the west of Thetford, offers 30 acres of tree lined trails and parkland including a walled garden, cafe and visitor centre.

Knettishall Heath & The Peddars Way

About 6 miles east of Thetford, Knettishall Heath Country Park is at the hub of the long distance paths in the region. The Peddars Way follows the Roman Road north to the Norfolk Coast. The ancient Icknield Way, claimed to be the oldest route in Britain, dates back to 4,000BC and makes its way from Buckinghamshire. The Angles Way goes east following the Little Ouse and Waveney rivers to the coast. The park has a visitor centre and picnic facilities.

West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village

The West Stow Country Park, 8 miles south-west of Thetford contains a visitor centre which is the entrance to the reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village which once existed on the site and exhibition area. Regular re-enactment events bring history to life. Nearby the Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve is a haven to wildlife.

St George’s Distillery

Sitting on the banks of the river Thet 7 miles north-east of Thetford, the St George’s Distillery is England’s only registered distillery. Visitors can take a tour round the distillery and visit the shop which offers whiskies from around the world.

ILPH

The International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH) has its headquarters at Snetterton, 9 miles north-east of Thetford. The adjoining Hall Farm rescue centre is very popular with visitors. The centre offers guided tours of the stables as well as an opportunity to learn about the work of the ILPH in the centre's information area.

Euston Hall

Euston Hall, 3 miles south-east of Thetford, has been home of the Dukes of Grafton since the 17th century. The hall was remodelled in the 1750’s and the surrounding parkland was designed by William Kent. The hall contains paintings of Charles II, his family and court, with works by Van Dyck, Lely, Kneller and Stubbs. Visitors can enjoy the gardens, river walk and restored watermill, church, tearoom and craft shop. Open Thursday afternoons June - September.

Elveden Estate Shop

The Elveden Estate Shop and Café Restaurant is becoming a regular stopping off point for travellers on the A11 and offers local produce as well a number of speciality shops in an alfresco courtyard.

Snetterton Circuit

Snetterton Motor Racing Circuit is only 10 miles along the A11 from Thetford and is a major venue for motorcycle and car racing. Used regularly as a test track, the circuit is one of the fastest circuits in the country. Further improvements and expansion of the facilities are currently being planned.

Combat Paintball

Situated only 5 miles from Thetford along the A11 is one of East Anglia’s premier paintball sites offering a unique opportunity for team building in the idyllic setting of Thetford Forest.

Fantastic Days

Fantastic Days offers outdoor activity days and team building events, centred around driving a wide range of military vehicles at their site only 6 miles north of Thetford.