Glade
← Back✦ Historic site

Site of St Helen's Church with adjacent earthworks and holy well

1 ha

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

Plan your visit

WildlifeBirdsHeritage
Public accessFree entryDogs welcome1 ha

Getting here

52.45347, 0.70631

Open directionsv
Google Maps↗Driving directionsApple Maps↗Driving directionsWaze↗Live driving navigationGoogle Transit↗Bus, rail or tramApple Transit↗Bus, rail or tram

Visiting this summer

Seasonal nature notes and what to look for now

  • 🌞Midsummer — early morning visits most comfortable; look for deer fawns in quieter clearings
  • ✦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

Good to know

  • £Free to visit — no entry charge
  • 🐕Dogs welcome

Best for

8 activities

Wildlife

Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals; Multi-group wildlife — Amphibians, Birds, Mammals

Free

Bird watching

Birds — Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit +68 more · last seen 2025; Birds — Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit +68 more · last seen 2025

Free

Heritage

Historic site with public access

Free

Insect spotting

Insects — Common Ground-hopper, Stripe-winged Grasshopper, Field Grasshopper +57 more · last seen 2025; Insects — Common Ground-hopper, Stripe-winged Grasshopper, Field Grasshopper +57 more · last seen 2025

Free

Dog walks

Dogs allowed with public access

Free

Foraging

Deciduous woodland — fungi, berries and wild garlic

Varies

Trails nearby

Within roughly 5 km
🚶

Walking

32 signed routes nearby · 4 public paths nearby

Signed route nearbyPublic paths
Icknield Way PathWalking route169 km

long distance footpath 169 km

Named routeLength 169 kmRegional walking route
Hereward WayWalking route
Named routePoint-to-pointRegional walking route
Santon Downham CircularWalking route4 km
Named routeLength 4 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Thetford Architecture TrailWalking route2.5 km
Named routeLength 2.5 kmRound tripLocal walking route
Fir Trail (5km route)Walking route5 km
Named routeLength 5 kmLocal walking route
Fire Road 17public footpath · 1.1 km
Public pathpublic footpathLength 1.1 kmSurface dirtPath type: track
🚴

Cycling

46 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Shepherd Cycling TrailCycling route8 km
Named routeLength 8 kmLocal cycle route
Thetford Cycle LoopCycling route
Named routeRegional cycle route
Two Rivers Cycle RouteCycling route
Named routeRef 30Regional 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
Route 13Cycling route
Named routeRef 13National Cycle Network
🚵

Mountain biking

4 signed routes nearby

Signed route nearby
Lime Burner TrailMountain bike route
Named route
Beater TrailMountain bike route
Named route
Poacher TrailMountain bike route
Named route
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
🐴

Horse riding

4 public paths nearby

Public paths
Santon Streetrestricted byway · 367 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 367 mSurface gravelPath type: track
Santon Streetrestricted byway · 334 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 334 mSurface compactedPath type: track
Santon Streetrestricted byway · 465 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 465 mSurface gravelPath type: track
Santon Streetrestricted byway · 683 m
Public pathrestricted bywayLength 683 mSurface gravelPath type: track

Wildlife to spot

Photos

St Helen's Oratory (site of)

📷 N Chadwick · Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0

St Helen's Oratory (site of)

1 / 15

Weather for this location

Next 14 days

Loading local forecast…

Nearby places

Useful places within 5 km

✦Grimes Graves, including round barrow in Grimes Graves PlantationHistoric site3.4 km→✦Thetford Cluniac priory including a World War II ‘Blacker Bombard’ spigot mortar emplacementHistoric site4.8 km→🌱Two Mile Bottom Picnic AreaUrban park900 m→✦MoatHistoric site1.2 km→✦Santon moated site and associated medieval settlementHistoric site1.3 km→✦The earthworks and buried remains of the western boundary banks of Thetford Warren, including linked trapping banks and enclosures, along with an associated warrener's house known as Reed Fen LodgeHistoric site2.1 km→

Own or manage this place?

Claim this listing to keep details accurate, add photos, and highlight what makes it special — free.

Claim this page

How was your visit?

How useful was the information on this page?

id: 4234fd40-65a5-4db8-a81a-8a0a056a0954