3 Tracks run North to South between South Creake and Sculthorpe.  All are OK for a beginner on an Adventure bike.   Here I am at the end of what appears to simply be called 'Old Roman Road', the third track furthest West out of the 3.

3 legal routes run almost parallel to each other running west between South Creake and North Creake in North Norfolk.  A mix of easy going 2 track to rutted overgrown grass meant I only did some of it but enough to add as a link when plotting a route into North Norfolk.  Here is the water crossing I had tackled previously with Kevin Hammond at Adventure Bike Training in April 2015.

Nice bit of road which stretches for a few miles and is a mix of tarmac, broken tarmac and packed stone as well as a bit of mud.  Very pretty, quiet and easy going for novices with big adventure bikes.

Got a bit lost exploring here and ended up in a private road network of a local farmer.  This particular part of the track is OK to do and was flat, open and easy.  Nice long link piece when putting a route together.

Another section of the Felthorpe route done previously.  There are 3 sections to this route. This is a very pretty stretch.  The other end is the stretch I did previously.  In the middle is a very small narrow section which disappears into nothing but undergrowth that I managed to get stuck in.  15 minutes of push, pull and sweat before I managed a U turn. Won't be trying the middle bit again !

Quite a few bits of track round this area of North Norfolk.  All close to Peddars Way.  This one seems to provide access to a pump house and farm lands.

About 3/4 of this was pretty easy.  Even the harder bit wasn't that difficult.  Long enough to be fun with enough bumps to keep it interesting.  The slightly harder bit even had an obstacle !

Another shot a bit further along.  Single track becomes 2 track and enough wiggle space to avoid the puddles if required.  Left is an unnamed track which continues to Whitwell.  Right is Cawston Lane which isn't far from picking up the next tarmac road.

My fall was actually not on Cawston Lane but Back Lane just north of here (a mile or so).  A wet muddy rut got the better of me.  Cawston Lane is very nice.  A good mix of easy to moderate (for me and/or beginners and/or adventure bike riders - all subject to level of ability to start with !).  I picked up the track at St Faith's Church, Little Witchingam.  There are 2 or 3 variations on the route.  The parts I did were a mix of solid 2 track, single rutted semi-overgrown grass track, muddy 2 track (slippery when wet....as I found out!), and then out of Cawston Lane and into Back Lane which is a single narrow pathway (no 4x4s) with overhanging shrubs and trees.  Nothing too dangerous (provided you take it steady or make sure you go on a day after a dry period).

Double track.  Bit sandy.  Bit rutty.  The section nearest the A11 is through a very pretty wooded area with plenty of undulations to keep things interesting.

A stretch of tarmac between Thetford tracks has a stretch of track running along the side of it.  Seems common practice to ride the track rather than the road.  Good fun.  Not very difficult and nice and open.

Nice and open and not too technical.  One to get some off road practice in without too much drama.  Day I tackled it a lady in her Mini Clubman was driving it.  Can't be too difficult.

Low bridge is only about 5 feet high.  Met 3 adventure bikes coming the other way just before I took this picture.

Peddars Way joins Hereward Way (I think) just before you duck under the railway bridge and reach the A11.  Turn up Hereward Way to head towards Brandon (not tackled that stretch yet).

Thompson has an easy link to the Peddars Way.  The first stretch heading South is relatively easy (in the dry) and not too long before picking up a bit of tarmac which links the next section of the Peddars Way.

I liked this one.  Was maintained enough not to be too tricky but had greenery, twists and dips to keep it interesting.  Long enough to bother with but short enough to get out the other end without difficulty. A good link road when planning a route.

Went exploring.  This one is a council maintained unpaved road.  Reckon would have been difficult for walkers to do it let alone a motorcycle.  I decided against doing it today.

This picture shows the easier middle stretch by the pig pens.  The slightly harder end bit had got significantly more undergrowth since last month, most of the 2 track was covered and I rode in the middle.  The really overgrown bit at the other end still eludes me!

Another TRF chap, who couldn't do Saturday's run, was having a go Sunday.  Only he and I went out.  Slightly different route although some common ground from the day before. The heavier sandy areas were hard work on both days.  This shot was taken soon after a small wooded single track which was more 'trials' than green lane. Another half loop.  Ran out of steam by lunch time so headed home after 3 hours.  Think Ian carried on by himself.  Thanks Ian for showing me the route.

The Thetford Loop appears to consist of various green lanes around Thetford in Norfolk which you can do in any sort of order and can take you in a  big 'loop'.  Today's loop (for me) was more of a half a loop as went home early knackered after 3 hours of green lanes with some new chums from Norfolk TRF.  All went significantly quicker than me and this group was 'taking it easy'! Luckily they waited at the next junction for me to catch up - thanks everyone for showing me some new routes (and ones to maybe avoid next time).

Another council maintained unpaved road. Love the 30mph speed limit sign.  Narrow but easy going, level, no ruts.  Can't imagine any 4x4s go down this one.  Only about 1/2 mile long but a good link when putting a few bits together for a run out.

A local council maintained unpaved road.  Wouldn't want to go down an unmaintained one !  Not too bad really.  About 1 mile or 2 long with tarmac at either end.  Through a wooded area.  No narrow ruts but a few dips to keep it interesting (or harder after some rain!)

Found a few legal unpaved routes round Sedgeford and Ringstead - North Norfolk (just to the right of Kings Lynn and Hunstanton).  

Ran out of energy so didn't get them all done.  Did a bit of the Peddars Way on the way home. 27 degrees - bit hot.  4.5 hours of exploring.

Met up with DRZ400 Steve, clearly an experienced green laner, ex TRF, and very knowledgable.  

We did a few assorted routes north and south of Thetford.  A mix of open and tight single and 2 lane tracks.  

We picked a dry day but some puddles and some of the sandier tracks did keep us on our toes.  

Steve had a slight mishap due to his worn out front tyre but all very minor and a good morning had by us both.  

Highlight off the day........riding through a gated field full of sheep.  Quality bike kept me safe.  

Still less than 500 miles on the clock, glad I didn't drop it.

Small stretch of public access road ranging from tight gnarly rutted single/double track which crosses a small unclassified road to continue along a more open sandy 2 lane track (definitely the easier bit!).

The end is deep enough sand to feel the bike wander but the bike, knobbies and rider managed OK.  At the next unclassified tarmac road crossroads the track continues but is clearly very unused and overgrown.  Didn't tackle this bit as rain was setting in and wrong end of the day (plus I was scarred !).  

The KTM certainly felt less intimidating than the GSA.  Think a mix of smaller, lighter and knobby tyres all gave it the advantage I wanted to be able to build confidence off road.

To be honest for me this could be the first best thing (whilst running a GSA with 80/20 road biased tyres).  Green lanes take skill, patience, control and the right kit.  

Finding plenty of small back roads in Norfolk is relatively easy.  With grass growing up the middle and grit, mud and sand spillages they provide plenty of excitement as well as getting off the main roads.  Most are not even classified as 'B' roads.  Think the map classes these as 'Roads narrower than 3 metres'.  Great fun for big adventure bikes and riders with little green lane off road experience or ability.  A good place to get some practice in.  

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I found the best way to pick a route was to download Garmin's basecamp and plot waypoint routes on that before downloading to the bike satnav.  Great if you have a Garmin.  No idea if the likes of Tom Tom or whatever offer this same sort of software.  Not particularly user friendly but you get used to it if you stick with it.

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My fellow GS chum Chris and I have done quite a few of these routes.  We are lucky to get over 50 mph but there are still plenty of challenges and obstacles to keep you alert.

There are a few stretches of the old Roman road which go through North Norfolk, just to the east of Kings Lynn, where you can take motorised vehicles.  I did some on my training days and had a go at bits myself.

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The picture shows me having just finished a nice wide open flat stretch.  So full of confidence I pushed on the the track you see in front of the GSA.  This narrowed quite quickly.  Whilst the track wasn't long (although felt it at 5 mph when you don't know where you are going ) it was narrow with a single mud rut in the middle.  Makes you realise how big a BMW GSA is, what sort of a muddle you would be in if you had an incident all on your own, and how much sweat you can produce in a very small space of time.  Was glad to come out the other side.  

Having seen YouTube clips and looking back I think it would feel a lot more relaxing knowing where you are at any 1 point and being with a friend or 2 for a bit of moral support.  Both me and the GSA made it fine without incident.  

More my ability, confidence and nerve which let the side down here, definitely not the bike which did everything asked of it without incident.  It's a great piece of kit and I'd recommend it to anyone tall enough and fit enough to cope with its weight and size.

How does it go...Don't do this sort of thing on your own.  So off I set, all on my own!  

The part of the Ickneild Way I tackled was just outside Thetford and south of Elvedon.  Didn't get very far before the ruts put me off.  Having watched YouTube clips since I think it is all quite manageable but not knowing if it was getting better or worse put me off a bit.  After a short detour I picked it up again from the B1106 at the memorial and followed it all the way to the first tarmac road junction at West Stow.  Success !  Phew.

Returned a few months later to repeat the experience.  I would class this as a good 'green lane' adventure bike route for the inexperienced.

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Update: Tackled the first part again, approx 12 months later, with DRZ400 Steve and me on my KTM.  Seemed much easier.  Mix of more suitable bike, bit more experience, knowing what to expect and having someone for company made things a lot easier.

Having had a successful 2 days on Kevin's bike I thought I ought to try my own to make sure I could handle it.  It definitely felt bigger (GSA compared with GS).  Here I am tackling the sand trap.

Day 2 involved a refresher from day 1 followed by some real riding experience on parts of the Peddars way in North Norfolk and additional tracks in the area including a water crossing.  

We did the water crossing twice and on the second go bumped into quite a few TRF type chaps.  They all watched as Kevin and I trundled through the water obstacle.  Luckily I didn't fall and make a complete nob of myself.

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Check out ABT Facebook video clips for a real unexciting clip of me 1 foot deep in water.  

A bit of training school was good fun and in a controlled environment provided an element of safety and confidence inspiring.  ABT have plenty of space.

Here I am tackling a small hill.  It's bigger than it looks, and I'm not talking about my butt.

Soon after getting my second GSA I decided to sign up with Kevin Hammond at Adventure Bike Training for a bit of professional tuition.

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Web:https://www.adventurebiketraining.co.uk

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Adventure-Bike-Riders-123671207748554/?ref=br_tf

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Kevin has years of experience and oodles of enthusiasm (and he's not a bad chap either!).

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2 days on a 1-2-1 course in North Norfolk using Kevin's BMW GS1200 included training school exercises and Peddars Way follow the leader tuition.  A very useful experience for someone as vague about going off road as I was.  Far to old to start damaging myself so anything to help confidence and skill before trying to get in the actual practice and experience.

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Here's the great man himself.

We all have our own ideas.  As far as I'm concerned the last thing I want is confrontation with landowners, ramblers, or the police so picking the right roads took some effort.  I won't plod through all the ways of checking this out but your local TRF, Ordnance Survey maps and local council websites do help.

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There are byways (BOATS) as well as unpaved public highways.  It's just a question of finding them and putting an enjoyable route together which takes them all in.

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On speaking with the TRF I understand they can spend a whole day doing about 150 miles on green lanes.  Sounds a bit tiring to me but that's the problem with not being very fit.

As at 2015 to be honest not a lot.  Parking on some grass was exciting as it got.  Having been an enthusiastic sports bike rider on both road and track (track days only, not 'proper' racing) for many years I got to the point where I fancied a new challenge.  

I didn't really fancy charging round a muddy track racing but the thought of being able to go 'off road' exploring definitely appealed.

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My first suitable bike (although I appreciate from some stories and YouTube clips that you can almost do anything on anything) was a BMW GSA.  My friend and I were going to be the next Ewan and Charlie but after buying the bikes we never did much with them and I chopped mine in for an R1 (still had the sports bike bug at this stage).

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Moving on a few years and obtaining another BMW GSA pushed me to the next stage.  I got some training, found some routes and tried to get in some practice.  Most involved unclassified tarmac roads although a few green lane excursions did happen.