The Pingo Trail walk is an really extraordinary and fascinating walk. I expected to see a few Pingo ponds, but nothing like as many as there were. This part of Norfolk has the highest density for Pingo ponds and I can guarantee you certainly won’t be disappointed with what you’ll see. Pretty much everywhere you walk, there’s water!
Along with the very picturesque Thompson Water, a man-made lake, this is a very beautiful walk in amongst marshy woodland and wetland, walking on part of the Peddars Way and across Thompson Common and finishing up along a disused railway line.
What are Pingo Ponds?
Before I get on to this Great Eastern Pingo Trail walk, let me explain about Pingos because you’ll be walking amongst a bit of history here. Also known as kettle ponds, these pingos date back to the ice age, and Pingo is the Eskimo word for “hill”. As the glaciers retreated, they left hard masses of ice which eventually had soil over them. Then, as the climate became warmer and the ice melted away, the soil on top formed depressions, leaving a hole filled with water – hence the Pingo was formed.
Most of the Pingos that were in the Brecks area have now disappeared due to the land being ploughed up for farming, so the ones remaining are historically, ecologically and internationally important for the wildlife.
The Pingo Trail walk is an really extraordinary and fascinating walk. I expected to see a few Pingo ponds, but nothing like as many as there were. This part of Norfolk has the highest density for Pingo ponds and I can guarantee you certainly won’t be disappointed with what you’ll see. Pretty much everywhere you walk, there’s water!
Along with the very picturesque Thompson Water, a man-made lake, this is a very beautiful walk in amongst marshy woodland and wetland, walking on part of the Peddars Way and across Thompson Common and finishing up along a disused railway line.
What are Pingo Ponds?
Before I get on to this Great Eastern Pingo Trail walk, let me explain about Pingos because you’ll be walking amongst a bit of history here. Also known as kettle ponds, these pingos date back to the ice age, and Pingo is the Eskimo word for “hill”. As the glaciers retreated, they left hard masses of ice which eventually had soil over them. Then, as the climate became warmer and the ice melted away, the soil on top formed depressions, leaving a hole filled with water – hence the Pingo was formed.
Most of the Pingos that were in the Brecks area have now disappeared due to the land being ploughed up for farming, so the ones remaining are historically, ecologically and internationally important for the wildlife.
Start
Note
Coordinates
The Most Beautiful hikes in the United Kingdom
Statistics
- Waypoints
- Waypoints
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Photos from others