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United Kingdom

Norfolk - Rebellion Way

Guided Leisure Bike Tour

Grade

1
2
3
4
5

Duration

7 days

Prices from

$1,880 P.P.

E-BIKE HIRE AVAILABLE

This tour is well-suited to both regular bikes and pedal assist e-bikes, and you can choose to hire either when you book your holiday with us. Confident cyclists will enjoy the boost from a battery for those cheeky climbs, and with less effort required on the bike, you’ll have more energy at the end of the day for off-the-bike activities.

You may choose to hire an e-bike on a group or supported tour but bear in mind that the pace will be set to riders without an e-bike.

BOOK NOW
Join Skedaddle on the Rebellion Way, one of the newest additions to our range of UK Cycling Holidays. 
Our trip takes place in England’s eastern county of Norfolk. A particularly flat part of the country, characterised by a tranquil pastoral charm and ancient sites, bursting with superb views.
This circular clockwise 232 mile (373km) route starts and finishes in Norwich and along the route we enjoy overnight stops in the towns of Thetford and Kings Lynn before we reach the coastal charm of Wells-next-the-sea and Sheringham. 
 From here we head inland once again to finish in historic Norwich. Spread out evenly over 5 days of riding we'll find ourselves meandering along a varied mix of quiet, country lanes, byways, cycle paths and bridleways on a leisurely yet rewarding ride.
Although the majority of the route takes place on sealed roads a proportion takes place on unsurfaced tracks. These are non-technical and have been included to aid the flow and enjoyment of your cycling journey. 
The Rebellion Way takes its name from the turbulent history associated with the Warrior Queen Boudicca who led a revolt against Roman rule and landowner Robert Kett who instead of fighting a rebellion joined its cause. During our days on the saddle we’ll be delving into this rich history and exploring the stories and sites associated with it.
In addition, we’ll visit Norfolk’s loveliest villages including the gorgeous Burnham Market and delightful Diss as we embrace and enjoy this tranquil part of the UK. 
We're proud to offer this new cycling holiday on one of Cycling UK’s seven long distance routes. When you book on this holiday you’ll have an option to donate to Cycling UK to help with the upkeep of this route and others like it. Skedaddle will also be making a donation for every mile ridden on the Rebellion Way for each of our customers.
The Rebellion Way is also available as a private departure for groups of friends, colleagues, families or anyone else! If our standard dates don't work, if you'd like a slightly altered itinerary just for your group please give us a call for a chat.
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Highlights

  • Coastal cycling, beach houses and British seaside sights
  • Majestic manor houses and villages full of character and charm
  • Varied terrain from rolling country lanes to wooded ways
  • Tales of Boudicca and rebellions
  • Delightful Diss and stunning Holkham Hall
  • Miles of gentle pedalling through the Norfolk Broads
  • Posing with Captain Mainwaring in Thetford

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Love the combination of coastal and rural riding all melded together with superb sites each and every day and the most amazing country houses imaginable

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival - Norwich
Non Cycling Day

We begin our Rebellion Way in Norwich. With excellent rail connections, Norwich makes for a great starting point and we will arrange to pick you up from the station if you choose to travel by train. For those arriving by car, we can provide info on parking if required.

Norwich is a fascinating, historic city, and those choosing to arrive early will have time to visit some of the sights. As well as being the most complete medieval city in the UK there’s a good balance of the modern too and the city centre is quite compact and very pleasant to explore on foot. Our accommodation tonight is in Norwich itself, with the evening meal taken at a nearby restaurant or pub.

During the evening as we meet the rest of the group we’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have and provide a general overview of the next few days of cycling.

Day 2
Norwich to Thetford
49 Miles / 79 Kms Approx.
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch
  • Ascent: 500 Metres Approx.

Today’s ride is a great introduction on what to expect over the next few days both in terms of terrain and scenery. After winding our way out of Norwich, within just a few miles we’ll soon be in rural Norfolk and embracing its beauty. This meandering route glides us through small villages, dotted with thatched or half-timbered houses. Impressive churches and bold manor houses add to the mix on a ride that takes in beautiful back lanes and trackways. It’s an area brimming with historic sites from the Iron Age to the Romano-British period with the church at Caistor St. Edmund particularly impressive.

Diss is delightful and we’ve lunch scheduled here with some time set aside to have a wander around its narrow streets. From here we skirt into Suffolk before some lovely sections through open pastures that link our lanes.

Our day ends in historic Thetford after our first taste of its famous forest and its fun, well-surfaced tracks.

Day 3
Thetford to King's Lynn
54 Miles / 87 Kms Approx.
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch
  • Ascent: 600 Metres Approx.

A little more remote than yesterday, our day today starts with some wooded trails, taking in Grimes Graves and Lynford Arboretum as we edge our way through Thetford Forest. Oxborough with its beautiful manor house marks the end of our forest foray.

Our ride now takes in the open fields of the Brecklands and pops out at the Georgian town of Swaffham. Here it’s time for a well-deserved coffee before continuing though the Nar Valley to the wonderful Castle Acre. We’ll have lunch here and for those interested we can take a quick visit to see its impressive priory.

A few pedal strokes on the Peddars Way follow before flint farmhouses and windmills guide us to Bawsey Country Park and its lagoons. Soon after we navigate our way along a series of Kings Lynn’s mazy cyclepaths in order to reach its historic riverfront where we end today’s ride.

Day 4
King's Lynn to Wells-next-the-Sea
42 Miles / 68 Kms Approx.
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch
  • Ascent: 500 Metres Approx.

A day of deserted backroads and very minimal off-road riding taking in the distinctive rolling landscapes of north Norfolk. With the local cycle paths leading us out of King’s Lynn before we know it, we’ll be at the royal holiday home of Sandringham where the Queen regularly spent Christmas. After a short peek at the grounds and the house we head north via the Admirals Way. This section is more undulating (in a Norfolk way) especially around Dersingham and Ingoldsthorpe and you might even have to look for an extra gear or two.

Hunstanton is next and with its colourful beach huts and garish noisy amusements it couldn’t be more of a traditional English seaside town. In stark contrast a short distance away is the beautiful village of Burnham Market. With its posh coffee shops, eateries and boutique shops it’s the perfect place to wander around and where we’ll take lunch. Our afternoon treat is the sumptuous Holkham Hall. Set in wonderful grounds it’s a real highlight of the day, if not the whole route. Following a spot of easy off road at Holkam Pines Nature Reserve we arrive at the lovely Wells-next-the-Sea where we end the day.

Day 5
Wells-next-the-Sea to Sheringham
38 Miles / 60 Kms Approx.
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch
  • Ascent: 450 Metres Approx.

Our first point of interest today is Norfolk’s Nazareth – Little Walshingham. This quirky village is a place of pilgrimage and is bursting with religious icons, sites and significance. It’s a compact place so a ride around the village won’t take us long, and for those interested a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Walshingham is a must. Feeling suitably blessed we continue eastwards through Great and Little Snoring, past Gunthorpe Park and Bullfer Grove and Bayfield Brecks to pop out at Holt. It’s a small place and with a few lovely places for a late-morning flat white it would be rude not to indulge.

Post caffeine-hit, the medieval village of Baconsthorpe is soon ticked off before an obligatory photo op at Sheringham Hall. From here it’s just a few miles to Sheringham itself. Hanging on to its traditional seaside-ness it’s a fun place to hang-out for the evening and is where we’ll end the ride today.

Day 6
Sheringham to Norwich
49 Miles / 79 Kms Approx.
  • Meals: Breakfast, lunch
  • Ascent: 550 Metres Approx.

Without doubt today offers up the most diverse section of the Rebellion Way and one that promises to be a great day on the bike. We start the day with some great coastal riding up onto Beeston Regis Common before passing by the lovely Felbrigg Hall and the oh so English Aldborough.

Next on the hit-list is Aylsham where we join the Bure Valley Path. This well-packed singletrack route runs alongside the Bure Valley Railway between Aylsham and Wroxham and is a fun way to take in a few miles. We might even be lucky enough to have a steam train for company!

In complete contrast to the previous few miles our route from here on in takes in the Norfolk Broads. These waterways are popular with holidaymakers and locals alike but we’ll be skirting the busier areas and taking in Wroxham and Hoveton Great Broads to the viking-named Woodbastwick. This pretty village even has its own brewery so even if you aren’t quite ready to sample its wares, they do export to Norwich!

Edging closer to our end point we take in Ranworth, before rolling into Norwich.

Congratulations! You’ve ridden the Rebellion Way. Now time to celebrate your achievements!

Day 7
Departure - Norwich
Non Cycling Day
  • Meals: Breakfast

Following breakfast it’s time to depart. For those travelling by train we offer transportation to the nearby train station. For those extending their stay, Norwich makes for a great place to explore.

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The Cycling

Terrain

Norfolk isn’t totally flat and whilst the route never climbs above 100m you will enjoy some gradual ups and downs. The route is pre-dominantly on road (around 80% of the time) but does involve some stretches on off-road surfaces that tend to ride well in most conditions. These are non-technical but can become slippy and/or sticky if it has been raining.

The non-technical, rolling nature of the route makes it perfect for a hybrid bike. Also suitable are gravel or touring bikes with appropriate tyres. Whilst it would be ok to bring a mountain bike along we recommend front suspension models with tyres with some tread rather than semi-slick tyres. Please contact us if you are unsure that your bike is suitable.

If you are looking for the boost of an e-bike to help cover the distances on this holiday, we have electric bikes available to hire. You will need to be comfortable handling the bike on loose surfaces and manoeuvring the bike at the occasional gate. For more information about riding an electric bike on our holidays please click here.

The Rebellion Way uses one of Cycling UK’s seven long distance routes. Cycling UK is a charity organisation that campaigns for a cleaner, happier and healthier world. Their aim is to encourage people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to cycle safely, easily, and enjoyably throughout the UK. Public campaigns and route development are just a few of the ways that Cycling UK looks to support cyclists across the country.

When you book on this holiday, you’ll have an option to donate to Cycling UK to support the charity’s work, including the upkeep of this route and others like it. Skedaddle will also be making a 5p donation for every mile ridden on this holiday for each of our customers.

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Leisure Cycling Grade

1
2
3
4
5
Grade 3 : Moderate

Distances generally between 20-45 miles / 32-72 kms per day

For the leisure cyclist with a good level of physical fitness

May include some steeper, cheeky climbs

Possibly sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc).

Our grading guidelines have been carefully created based on our many years of cycling experience, as well as customer feedback from our trips. Of course, if you're still struggling to figure out where you fit on the scale, do feel free to give us a quick call and we'll be more than happy to help!

For more information about our grading system click here.

Is this suitable for you?

Although you may not cycle everyday, you do keep yourself relatively fit and maybe enjoy an afternoon out on your bike at the weekend. Your preference is perhaps for flatter terrain but you don’t mind tackling some hills, and the occasional steep climb if you can take it at your own pace. For those happy to tackle some ups and downs, and possibly some sections of varying terrain (eg. forest tracks, gravel paths etc) we’d recommend our grade 3 trips. We’d generally expect those on a Grade 3 trip to have a decent level of physical fitness and be comfortable with some longer days in the saddle.

For more information about the grading of this holiday in particular, please check out the terrain section which will give you some specifics of what to expect on this tour.

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Dates & Prices

Secure Your Holiday With A Deposit

Book now with a $250 deposit and nothing more to pay until 60 days before departure. Choose a date to start your booking and see all prices, including bike hire and single room supplements.

Select a date to view prices and book
Start Date
End Date
Duration
Price p.p.
Start Date
28/04/2024
Fully Booked
Return Date
04/05/2024
Duration
7 days
Price
$1,880.00
Start Date
01/09/2024
Fully Booked
Return Date
07/09/2024
Duration
7 days
Price
$1,880.00
Start Date
29/09/2024
Return Date
05/10/2024
Duration
7 days
Price
$1,880.00

Whats Included Tick

A) Accommodation (shared twin / double en suite rooms)

B) Meals as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)

C) Full tour service, including Skedaddle guides

D) Unless stated, at least one leader qualified in first aid

E) Support vehicle and luggage transfers

F) GPX files available on request

G) Train station transfer on scheduled arrival day from Norwich train station

H) Train station transfer on scheduled departure day to Norwich train station

I) Financial Protection through ABTOT

What's not Included Cross

A) Bike rental (available if required)

B) Meals not stated in the itinerary

C) Single room (available if required)

D) Travel insurance

E) Personal clothing and equipment

F) Personal expenditure (souvenirs, bar bills, hotel facilities etc.)

G) Entrance fees to museums and other attractions en route

H) Train station transfers on days other than the scheduled arrival / departure days

I) Airport collections / drop-off from / to Norwich Airport.

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Private Departures

Private Departures

Are you keen to only travel with your family or friends? Struggling to find the right date? Well, we can organise a private departure for this tour and tailor aspects to suit your group's specific needs. Contact our friendly team and we'll help you turn your dream into reality.

The Essentials

Travel Options

If you‘re travelling by train your destination is Norwich. Group train station transfers are included in the holiday price and there will be a Skedaddle transfer at 18.00 on Day 1 from Norwich train station to our accommodation.

Please let us know if you’d prefer to drive and we can let you know about parking options near the hotel. If you are planning to arrive into Norwich airport let us know and we can help arrange a transfer.

At the end of the holiday we’ll provide a transfer at 09.30 to Norwich train station (5-10 mins) and then to Norwich Airport. We recommend not booking any onward trains before 10:00 or flights before 12:00 on the final day.

Please check with us before making any travel arrangements to make sure we have reached the minimum number required to guarantee your holiday and to ensure your arrangements fit with our scheduled transfers and logistics.

Please note If you make alternative travel arrangements, which fall outside of the planned train station transfers, there may be an additional charge for individual transfers.

Accommodation

In the UK we use good quality 3 or 4 star hotels, B&Bs, inns and family-run guesthouses that are cycle friendly, located close to the cycling route and showcase the style and hospitality of the area you are visiting.

Where possible we prioritise locally owned businesses and those offering locally sourced food, drink and speciality products. This all promotes sustainability in-line with our responsible travel policy.

All our UK trips are operated on a double/twin-share basis. Single occupancy rooms can be provided for a supplement and are subject to availability at the time of booking.

Bike Hire

If you would like to rent a bike we have both hybrid and electric bikes available.

The hybrid bikes are generally Giant Roam (male frame) or Liv Rove (female frame) with a wide gear range suitable for the route and terrain, semi-slick tyres, hydraulic disc brakes and a relaxed riding position.

Our electric bikes are generally Giant E+ pedal assist bikes with batteries suitable for the daily distances on this holiday and hydraulic disc brakes. E-bikes come with step through frames as standard but some cross bar frames may be available if preferred. Please let us know if you have a preference.

A rack and two panniers, and one bottle cage are provided with all our rental bikes, along with an emergency repair kit in a seat-post bag containing a puncture repair kit, a multi-tool, a spare innertube and a bike pump.

We are also able to provide helmets, if you’d like one to be provided, please request this at the time of booking.

You are welcome to bring along your own saddles, or own pedals if renting a hybrid bike, but please let us know if advance if you plan to do so.

If you are planning to bring your own e-bike, please let us know the make and model of your bike and we can check its suitability.

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