The walk begins at the imposing church of St Mary in Surlingham, which is one of Norfolk's famous round-tower churches. From the start, the route follows a northeast course to Surlingham Broads, passing the church ruins of St Saviour's on the way (originally built in the 11th century, the church has a remarkable history).
From Surlingham Broads, the walk reaches the River Yare at the attractive 19th-century Ferry House Inn, a favourite place for the numerous boats plying the Yare in summer as a busy holiday route to and from Great Yarmouth.
From the Ferry House Inn, the route follows the River Yare inland (westwards). Soon on the left are RSPB public birdwatching hides overlooking RSPB Surlingham Church Marsh. The public are welcome to walk within the reserve (main entrance reached on foot from Surlingham Church), where various species of birds can be found, including kingfisher, bittern, little grebe, marsh harrier, and reed, sedge, and grasshopper warblers.
Many wetland plants thrive on the marshes, including bogbean, marsh orchids, sow thistle, and the red-flowered marsh cinquefoil (whose name comes from the French word meaning "five leaves").
Frogbit is a floating plant with white flowers and is a wild cousin of the water soldier found in garden ponds. All these and other plants attract dragonflies, especially large-winged hawkers in late summer, and along this part of the route there are panoramic views of the countryside.
The walk continues through woodland to the Water's Edge Inn. Built in 1884 with a frontage leading down to the river's edge, it is a spot where you can usually see plenty of waterfowl such as swans, ducks, and great crested grebes diving and swimming under the water for food.
From the Water's Edge Inn, the route turns away from the river (where red campion grows along the banks) and continues through woodland carpeted with bluebells in May, along with white dead nettle (so-called because, unlike the ordinary nettle, it does not sting).
Before the route turns back to the finish — including a section retracing your steps along the river — you will see to your right Bramerton Hall, a late Georgian house built in 1830.
