Appleton medieval and early post-medieval settlement
10 ha
Plan your visit
🦅Birds🦉Wildlife🦋Insects
Free entryDogs welcome10 ha
Getting here
52.81448, 0.53455
Open directionsv
Visiting this summer
Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now
- 🐦70+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Blackbird
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
🌤️ Visiting this summer
- 🐦70+ species recorded in this area — summer evenings are best for activity; watch for Woodpigeon and Blackbird
- ✦Historic character is a year-round quality here — summer brings its own atmosphere to the setting
- 🐕Dogs welcome — bring water in summer; the site has enough space to find shade on hot days
- £Free to visit — no entry charge
- 🐕Dogs welcome
🦅Bird watching
Very strong match
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin +67 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland — woodpeckers, warblers and woodland birds
Free
Birds — Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Robin +67 more · last seen 2025; Deciduous woodland priority habitat
Free
🦋Insect spotting
Strong match
Insects — Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White +50 more · last seen 2025
Free
🍂Seasonal nature
Strong match
Plants — Lady's Bedstraw, Red Dead-nettle, Cowslip +57 more · last seen 2025
Free
Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic
Varies
Trails nearby
Within roughly 5 km4 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
Elizabeth WayWalking route▾
Named routeRegional walking route
Harpley Circular WalkWalking route8 km▾
Named routeLength 8 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Houghton CircularWalking route4.5 km▾
This route circles one of Norfolk's most important Bronze Age landscapes.
Named routeLength 4.5 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Peddars WayWalking route74 km▾
Named routeLength 74 kmNational walking route
15 signed routes nearby
Signed route nearby
EuroVelo 12 - North Sea Cycle Route - part United Kingdom 2Cycling route▾
Norwich - Lincoln
Named routeRef EV12International cycle route
NCN National Route 1Cycling route▾
Named routeRef 1National Cycle Network
King's Lynn - FakenhamCycling route▾
Named routeRef Green (2)Local cycle route
Rebellion WayCycling route373 km▾
Named routeRef RebelLength 373 kmRound tripRegional cycle route
Regional Cycle Route 30Cycling route373 km▾
Named routeRef 30Length 373 kmRound tripRegional cycle route
Sandringham Explorer LoopCycling route▾
Named routeRegional cycle route
1 signed route nearby
Signed route nearby
Peddars Way Cycle RouteMountain bike route83.6 km▾
The Peddars Way with suggested detours to avoid footpath-only sections.
Named routeLength 83.6 kmNational Cycle Network
Photos
St Mary's Church, Appleton
Weather for this location
Next 14 daysNearby places
Useful places within 5 km
Events & activities nearby
Switch provider to compare local events, tours and bookable activities.
Wildlife to spot
5,576 records · National Biodiversity Network
Wildlife to spot
5,576 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds44 species
wintersummerautumn
2025▾
Jackdaw · Blackbird · Wren · Woodpigeon · Blue Tit +39
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Great TitParus major
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- MagpiePica pica
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
🦌Mammals3 species
autumnwinter
2025▾
Muntjac · Brown Hare · Grey Squirrel
- MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Meadow Brown · Speckled Wood · Blue-tailed Damselfly · Red Admiral · Gatekeeper +16
- Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
- Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
- Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans
- Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
- GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
- Green-veined WhitePieris napi
Common Sorrel · Creeping Bent · Common Bent · Tufted Vetch · Crosswort +35
- Common SorrelRumex acetosa
- Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
- Common BentAgrostis capillaris
- Tufted VetchVicia cracca
- CrosswortCruciata laevipes
- Common VetchVicia sativa
- Kidney VetchAnthyllis vulneraria
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
Wildlife to spot
5,576 records · National Biodiversity Network🐦Birds44 species
wintersummerautumn
2025▾
Jackdaw · Blackbird · Wren · Woodpigeon · Blue Tit +39
- JackdawColoeus monedula
- BlackbirdTurdus merula
- WrenTroglodytes troglodytes
- WoodpigeonColumba palumbus
- Blue TitCyanistes caeruleus
- RobinErithacus rubecula
- Coal TitPeriparus ater
- ChaffinchFringilla coelebs
- Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundus
- GoldcrestRegulus regulus
- Great TitParus major
- Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscus
- NuthatchSitta europaea
- PheasantPhasianus colchicus
- SkylarkAlauda arvensis
- Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorus
- Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatus
- RedwingTurdus iliacus
- GoldfinchCarduelis carduelis
- DunnockPrunella modularis
- YellowhammerEmberiza citrinella
- House MartinDelichon urbicum
- ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybita
- Marsh TitPoecile palustris
- SiskinSpinus spinus
- TreecreeperCerthia familiaris
- Meadow PipitAnthus pratensis
- FieldfareTurdus pilaris
- Pink-footed GooseAnser brachyrhynchus
- WoodcockScolopax rusticola
- Pied WagtailMotacilla alba
- Stock DoveColumba oenas
- Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufa
- StarlingSturnus vulgaris
- SwallowHirundo rustica
- Golden PloverPluvialis apricaria
- Grey WagtailMotacilla cinerea
- BlackcapSylvia atricapilla
- Herring GullLarus argentatus
- MagpiePica pica
- Song ThrushTurdus philomelos
- Grey PartridgePerdix perdix
- KestrelFalco tinnunculus2024
- Collared DoveStreptopelia decaocto2024
🦌Mammals3 species
autumnwinter
2025▾
Muntjac · Brown Hare · Grey Squirrel
- MuntjacMuntiacus reevesi
- Brown HareLepus europaeus
- Grey SquirrelSciurus carolinensis
Meadow Brown · Speckled Wood · Blue-tailed Damselfly · Red Admiral · Gatekeeper +16
- Meadow BrownManiola jurtina2024
- Speckled WoodPararge aegeria2024
- Blue-tailed DamselflyIschnura elegans
- Red AdmiralVanessa atalanta2024
- GatekeeperPyronia tithonus2024
- Green-veined WhitePieris napi
Common Sorrel · Creeping Bent · Common Bent · Tufted Vetch · Crosswort +35
- Common SorrelRumex acetosa
- Creeping BentAgrostis stolonifera
- Common BentAgrostis capillaris
- Tufted VetchVicia cracca
- CrosswortCruciata laevipes
- Common VetchVicia sativa
- Kidney VetchAnthyllis vulneraria
Species observations from the last 10 years via NBN Atlas
2024
2024
Four-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataFour-spotted ChaserLibellula quadrimaculataRed-eyed DamselflyErythromma najasRed-eyed DamselflyErythromma najasBlack-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatumBlack-tailed SkimmerOrthetrum cancellatumCommon Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerumCommon Blue DamselflyEnallagma cyathigerum7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctata7-spot LadybirdCoccinella septempunctataCorizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyamiCorizus hyoscyamiEmperor DragonflyAnax imperatorEmperor DragonflyAnax imperatorBanded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendensBanded DemoiselleCalopteryx splendensSmall Red-eyed DamselflyErythromma viridulumSmall Red-eyed DamselflyErythromma viridulumRuddy DarterSympetrum sanguineumRuddy DarterSympetrum sanguineumCartodere bifasciataCartodere bifasciataCartodere bifasciataCartodere bifasciataBirch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2024Birch ShieldbugElasmostethus interstinctus2024Oak Bush-cricketMeconema thalassinum2024Oak Bush-cricketMeconema thalassinum2024Small WhitePieris rapae2024Small WhitePieris rapae2024PeacockAglais io2024PeacockAglais io2024Yellow Oat-grassTrisetum flavescensYellow Oat-grassTrisetum flavescensCommon Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatusCommon Bird's-foot-trefoilLotus corniculatusFairy FlaxLinum catharticumFairy FlaxLinum catharticumCock's-footDactylis glomerataCock's-footDactylis glomerataCommon KnapweedCentaurea nigraCommon KnapweedCentaurea nigraBladder CampionSilene vulgarisBladder CampionSilene vulgarisCommon BroomrapeOrobanche minorCommon BroomrapeOrobanche minorHairy St John's-wortHypericum hirsutumHairy St John's-wortHypericum hirsutumRed Dead-nettleLamium purpureumRed Dead-nettleLamium purpureumFalse Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatiusFalse Oat-grassArrhenatherum elatiusSelfhealPrunella vulgarisSelfhealPrunella vulgarisLady's BedstrawGalium verumLady's BedstrawGalium verumSpiny RestharrowOnonis spinosaSpiny RestharrowOnonis spinosaMeadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensisMeadow VetchlingLathyrus pratensisQuaking-grassBriza mediaQuaking-grassBriza mediaField Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensisField Forget-me-notMyosotis arvensisLesser TrefoilTrifolium dubiumLesser TrefoilTrifolium dubiumHairy TareErvilia hirsutaHairy TareErvilia hirsutaRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataRibwort PlantainPlantago lanceolataMeadow ButtercupRanunculus acrisMeadow ButtercupRanunculus acrisHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumHogweedHeracleum sphondyliumPyramidal OrchidAnacamptis pyramidalisPyramidal OrchidAnacamptis pyramidalisAgrimonyAgrimonia eupatoriaAgrimonyAgrimonia eupatoriaRed CloverTrifolium pratenseRed CloverTrifolium pratenseYorkshire-fogHolcus lanatusYorkshire-fogHolcus lanatusMintMenthaMintMenthaGermander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrysGermander SpeedwellVeronica chamaedrysCowslipPrimula verisCowslipPrimula verisOxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareOxeye DaisyLeucanthemum vulgareRed CampionSilene dioicaRed CampionSilene dioicaWild MarjoramOriganum vulgareWild MarjoramOriganum vulgareField ScabiousKnautia arvensisField ScabiousKnautia arvensisBee OrchidOphrys apiferaBee OrchidOphrys apifera