Rush Hill Scrape.

[Andrew]

Recently I read a suggestion that you could WALK to Rush Hill Scrape in Hickling Broad from Potter Heigham church instead of paying over £7 to go out on a boat.

Is this correct and could anyone give me more details including a grid reference if possible?

[James]

Can you still walk on water?

James

[dbradnum]

You can indeed walk out from Potter Heigham church. Park at TG419199, <here (http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&X=642000.000856238&Y=320000.906696273&width=700&height=400&gride=641900.000856238&gridn=319899.906696273&srec=0&coordsys=gb&db=grid&addr1=&addr2=&addr3=&pc=&advanced=&local=&localinfosel=&kw=&inmap=&table=&ovtype=&zm=0&scale=10000&out.x=6&out.y=9)>, and walk on the footpath due north, through a small belt of (often wet) woodland. You then reach the Weaver's Way footpath - turn right and continue for about 1/3 mile to reach a hide - this overlooks Rush Hills. It's the building marked on the map linked to above, directly below the 'i' of Hill!

The waders can be a little distant (IDing peeps can be tricky), and generally commute between here and Swim Coots, to which there is no access other than by boat. If there's not much about when you first arrive, it's usually worth a wait to see whether there's any birds flying about - there's usually a Marsh Harrier about to flush things quite regularly!

It's an excellent little site - the vast majority of good records in the Hickling area seem to come from here these days. When I'm staying with parents in Norfolk (Repps with Bastwick), it's my local patch!

Hope this helps,

David

[Andrew]

Thanks for that David, brilliant info. I have printed it all off to take with me in May. Hoping for a Temminck's!

As for walking on water Smurf, yes I still can when it's frozen! ;)

[Reader]

Recently I read a suggestion that you could WALK to Rush Hill Scrape in Hickling Broad from Potter Heigham church instead of paying over £7 to go out on a boat.

Is this correct and could anyone give me more details including a grid reference if possible?

Hi Andrew

You can get onto Weavers way at the other end but until I get home I couldn't get you the co-ordinates. It certainly was a nice walk, not too long, and eventually you reach a hide with no doors on (very basic - or it was last year). Can be very quiet there at times but ometimes it can be excellent. It regularly gets reported on the pagers so if anything good is about you usually get to hear about it.

One frustrating part about the walk is the amount of Cetti's you hear but never see.

[dbradnum]

Oh yes, should have mentioned that last summer there was an enormous hornets' nest in the hide... Best to view from outside! No idea if the hornets will be active yet, but even if they are, they're very docile (compared to wasps) - just don't disturb!

[Andrew]

Look forward to the details later, Reader. Thanks. :t:

[Reader]

Oh yes, should have mentioned that last summer there was an enormous hornets' nest in the hide... Best to view from outside! No idea if the hornets will be active yet, but even if they are, they're very docile (compared to wasps) - just don't disturb!

I forgot about them. Yes, they were definitely very evident when I went as well. Hopefully they will re-locate to somewhere else this year.

[Reader]

Look forward to the details later, Reader. Thanks. :t:

Here is the link Andrew.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=641250&y=320750&z=3&sv=641250,320750&st=4&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&dn=785

When you open it up you will see where the arrow is pointing. You can also see where the walk is where dbradnum has mentioned. There is not a lot of difference distance wise. The difference is from where I start you go straight onto the Weavers Way and it is reed strewn virtually throughout. There are the odd small water channels to look at as well so you never know what you may find. I have used the Potter Heigham route as well but much prefer the other route.

Still you pays your money and takes you choice.

[Andrew]

Thanks very much for that, just had the idea of using both routes in a circular route in the morning or afternoon with Hickling Broad in the other half of the day or even Horsey if there is a Red-footed Falcon as I am hoping! ;)

[Karl J]

Thats a nice circular route Andrew (i assume you'll have a car for the trip) ... from West Somerton & Martham Broad, up through Horsey, turn off at Sea Palling along the minor road (419 269)to Hickling.

then you have some quiet lanes to follow round to Potter Heigham church which is the shortest walk i know to Rush Hills scrape (Davids post #3)

Should make a good day out.

OS134 ... Norwich & The Broads

[Andrew]

Will have the use of a car so won't be doing the whole thing on foot, thank goodness, although that would be a nice thing to do.

[Steve Lister]

Good area for Swallowtail butterflies too if you are interested. Should be around in May if the weather is owt like.

Steve

[Karl J]

I biked round that circlular route in August (hornets and all !) and put this up. Probably not the best day ever but it was ok ....

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=21756

[Andrew]

Thanks for the reference Karl, did some research and it produces the goods in May hence my desire to know about getting there.

I suppose if there should be a tern of some good on Swim Coots I can see it flying over it from the Weaver's Way can't I?

[dbradnum]

Thanks for the reference Karl, did some research and it produces the goods in May hence my desire to know about getting there.

I suppose if there should be a tern of some good on Swim Coots I can see it flying over it from the Weaver's Way can't I?
Only distantly, and with difficulty - Swim Coots is mostly obscured by reeds from the Weaver's Way footpath. Indeed, at times, Rush Hills has been difficult to view from the hide, due to reeds growing up too high, though this seems to be less of a problem recently. I have seen people scoping from the on top of the roof of the hide here - definitely a good vantage point, but no idea how they got up there!

If anything really good turns up in an inaccessible area like Swim Coots or the back end of the broad (e.g. 2 White-winged Black Terns last spring), then Hickling NWT Reserve usually take boat trips out. Their regular boat trip to Rush Hills and Swim Coots also takes in a trip to the top of a huge tower, with views over the whole Broads area, and out to the coast. I've not been up, but it looks pretty impressive.

If you want to see Swallowtail butterflies, send me a PM for details of an outstanding site away from the masses - very good for dragonflies including Norfolk Hawker as well.

[Andrew]

Thanks for that, if anything really good turns up on Swim Coots I shall opt for the boat option.

Duly PM'ed you about the Swallowtails.