Pedalling Through History: My Final Journey on Norfolk's Rebellion Way

by Jonathan Thompson.

Following Ancient Footsteps
The Rebellion Way takes its name from two pivotal moments in Norfolk's history that echo across the centuries. The first recalls Boudicca's revolt against Roman occupation around 60-61 AD, when the warrior queen of the Iceni tribe led one of the most significant challenges to Roman rule in Britain. The second commemorates Robert Kett's Rebellion of 1549, when a local landowner led 16,000 followers in protest against land enclosures, establishing a remarkable, if short-lived, alternative government on Mousehold Heath outside Norwich.

As we pedalled through landscapes that had witnessed these seismic events, I couldn't help but feel a kinship with these ancient rebels. Not in any grandiose political sense, but in the simple human determination to push forward despite the odds, to challenge the status quo when principle demands it. Our small rebellion was against the conventional wisdom that adventure must cease with advancing age, that the fight for veterans' mental health could wait for younger champions.

Four Days of Discovery
Our expedition began on Tuesday, 3rd June, as we "dribbled out of Norwich" in the early morning. The transition from urban to rural Norfolk is remarkably swift—one moment you're navigating morning traffic, the next you're immersed in a world of narrow lanes and rough tracks where time seems to move at a different pace. A robust headwind met us face-on, though when it shifted to our backs, our tyres sang as we made good speed along arrow-straight roads that had probably changed little since the Roman legions departed in 410 AD.

The contrast was startling and immediate. Bright poppies stood defiant beside the roadside against a backdrop of tall, straggly daisies. Our route carried us across vast meadows carpeted with buttercups before plunging us into the dark, green embrace of Thetford Forest. On that first day alone, we covered 99 kilometres, climbed 2,066 feet, and spent just under seven hours in the saddle—a worthy introduction to Norfolk's deceptive challenges.

Day two proved that Norfolk's reputation for flatness is thoroughly undeserved. We slipped away from our overnight lodgings and back into the Thetford forest down a tiny, nearly overgrown footpath. Early morning birdsong filled the air whilst in the distance a deer barked its territorial claim. US F-15 aircraft patrolled overhead, but we remained invisible beneath the forest canopy. 

The 93 kilometres we covered, climbing 1,896 feet, would have been straightforward on tarmac, but deep gravel forest roads, farm tracks covered in slippery sand, and pathways with more humps than a camel farm made our progress surprisingly arduous.

The third day took us north towards the coast, through countryside that seemed to stretch forever until it met Norfolk's famously expansive skies. We encountered paths inches wide with intimidating nettles on either side, testing both our bike handling skills and our nerve. 

At one point, we found ourselves beside a vast beach from which the sea had apparently retreated so far it was barely visible. But the real spectacle came as we rode the arrow-straight lanes: to our right, a field of wheat shimmered in the gentle breeze, whilst behind it a field of poppies leaked vibrant colour through the gappy hedge. Turner would indeed have loved it. A hare lolloped across our path, and we wondered whether its ancestors might have graced a Roman pot all those centuries ago.

Our route through Holkham Hall, with its two-mile driveway, provided a stunning ride around an estate that seemed half the size of the county. That day's 100 kilometres and 2,765 feet of climbing brought our first punctures—a reminder that even the most reliable equipment eventually succumbs to Norfolk's surprisingly challenging terrain.

The Final Push
Our fourth and final day dawned wet and windy, but our bodies had found their rhythm. We headed north to the sea before turning south for the homeward stretch to Norwich. This led us into what felt like a vast, jungly forest with steep, narrow paths more suited to fell runners than cyclists. Torrential rain soaked us through, but we persevered, driven by the knowledge that this was truly our last day of cycling together for this cause.

The statistics tell their own story: 85 kilometres on the final day with 2,313 feet of climbing, bringing our four-day total to 377 kilometres and 9,041 feet of ascent. Norfolk, we discovered, has far more hills than its reputation suggests.

More Than Miles
But as with all our expeditions, the true measure of success wasn't in kilometres covered or feet climbed. It was in the astonishing support we received, allowing us to raise over £6,000 for PTSD Resolution—funds that will provide life-changing therapy for veterans struggling with the invisible wounds of military service. We anticipate a substantial top-up too from our friends and followers during the Big Give  (December 2nd – 9th, 2025), when all donations to PTSD Resolution will be doubled. It’s never too late to help!

Every pound raised represents hope for someone who might otherwise suffer in silence. Through PTSD Resolution's network of 200 therapists across the UK, veterans, reservists, and their families can access free, prompt, and effective treatment using Human Givens therapy. With treatment costing the charity an average of £940 per person, our Norfolk expedition will fund therapy for several veterans, potentially saving not just their lives, but transforming their families and communities as well.

A Fitting Farewell
As we completed our circuit back to Norwich, I was struck by the appropriateness of ending our fundraising adventures on the Rebellion Way. Like Boudicca and Robert Kett before us, we had staged our own small rebellion—against age, against the assumption that the fight for veterans' mental health belongs to others, against the idea that adventure must have an expiry date.

The landscape we traversed—from medieval Norwich to the Norfolk Broads, from ancient market towns to the dramatic North Norfolk coast—reminded us that England's story is written not just in its grand monuments but in its quiet lanes and forgotten paths. Every mile we pedalled was a mile walked by countless generations before us, each facing their own challenges, their own rebellions against circumstance.
This truly has been our last expedition. Over the years, your support has allowed us to make a genuine difference, and for that, we are profoundly grateful. The memories we've gathered—from Scottish highlands to Pyrenean peaks, from Orkney shores to Norfolk forests—will sustain us long after our cycling days are done.~

But perhaps most importantly, we know that our efforts will continue to resonate in the lives of the veterans who will receive therapy through PTSD Resolution. In their recovery, in their return to family life, in their renewed ability to face each day with hope rather than despair, our small rebellion will find its truest victory.

The Rebellion Way taught us that sometimes the most profound journeys are circular—they bring you back to where you started, but with a deeper understanding of both the landscape and yourself. As we hung up our helmets for the final time, we carried with us the satisfaction of knowing that every turn of the pedal had turned towards something worthwhile: the mental health and wellbeing of those who have served our nation.

Thank you for following our meanderings over the years, and thank you for helping us make a difference when it truly mattered.

Jonathan Thomson is an ex-Royal Marine and finalist for the 2024 Soldiering On Awards 'Inspiration Award'. Over six cycling expeditions, he and his team have raised over £159,000 for PTSD Resolution, the charity providing free mental health therapy to veterans, reservists, and their families.