Burgh Castle Roman Fort and Breydon Water Walk
Norfolk
Burgh Castle Roman Fort, known to the Romans as Gariannonum, was built around 260AD to guard the coast against Saxon raiders, and three of its original flint and brick walls still stand up to 4.6 metres high, among the best preserved Roman remains in Britain, with dogs on a lead throughout, including inside the fort. This short circuit of around 3.6km leaves the free car park on Butts Lane, crosses the open grass within the fort walls, and drops down to a level path along the edge of Breydon Water, the tidal estuary where the Yare and Waveney meet before reaching Great Yarmouth. The path follows the old river wall back towards the fort, with wide, open views over reed fringed mudflats important for wading birds. The ground is flat and well drained, with one short, unavoidable slope up to the fort itself.
This is a dog friendly walk, and dogs on leads are welcome throughout the site, including inside the fort walls. There is no livestock within the fort itself, though grazing marsh borders the path along Breydon Water and livestock can be present there, so keep dogs on a lead on that stretch. The riverside path gives a dog a good sniff of the tidal marsh, though the water is muddy estuary rather than a place to swim. There is little shade, so bring water for a dog in summer. Dog waste bins are provided at the fort, and a holiday park cafe and village pub are a short walk away. The car park is pay and display.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 3.6 km (2.2 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 1 hr 5 min
- Walk Type
- Historic, River
- Route Type
- Circular
- Off Lead Potential
- Low
- Livestock Risk
- Moderate
- Facilities
- Dog waste bins at the fort; cafe at a nearby holiday park and a pub in Burgh Castle village.
- Parking
- Butts Lane car park, Burgh Castle, pay and display.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Burgh Castle Roman Fort and Breydon Water Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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All dog friendly stays in NorfolkFrequently Asked Questions
Is Burgh Castle Roman Fort and Breydon Water Walk dog friendly?
Yes, dogs are welcome throughout this walk, including inside the fort walls themselves — which makes for a pretty special outing. The route combines the historic fort with a level path along Breydon Water tidal estuary, and we've given it a dog friendly rating of 7 out of 10. Dog waste bins are provided at the fort, and there's a cafe at a nearby holiday park and a pub in Burgh Castle village if you fancy a break afterwards.
Can dogs be off lead at Burgh Castle Roman Fort and Breydon Water Walk?
Dogs need to be kept on a lead throughout the entire walk, both inside the fort and along the Breydon Water path. The stretch beside the estuary in particular borders grazing marsh where livestock can be present, so leads are important there. It's worth noting that the riverside path offers plenty of interesting smells from the tidal marsh, even if a swim isn't really on the cards — the water is muddy estuary rather than somewhere suitable for a dip.
What should I know before visiting Burgh Castle Roman Fort and Breydon Water Walk with my dog?
The route is around 3.6km and largely flat and well drained, with just one short slope up to the fort itself, so it's a manageable walk for most dogs. There's very little shade along the way, so bring water for your dog in warmer months. Parking is pay and display at Butts Lane car park, and livestock may be present on the grazing marsh beside the estuary path, so keep your dog close on that section.
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