Pedalling Through History: My Final Journey on Norfolk's Rebellion Way
ID: By Jonathan Thomson

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.
NORFOLK 25 - Daily Updates
DAY 1: Tuesday 3rd June 2025
This morning we dribbled out of Norwich, shook off the early traffic and entered a world of little lanes and rough tracks. A robust wind was mostly on the nose but when at our backs our tyres sang as we made good speed.
Rain showers prowled and occasionally made contact before seeking more worthy prey. By the roadside bright poppies stood defiant against a background of tall and straggly daisies.
Our route took us across a very large meadow carpeted with buttercups and into the dark and green forests of Thetford.
A very good day of startling contrasts.
For the record we cycled 99km, climbed 2,066ft and were in the saddle for just under seven hours, so a worthy day. Tomorrow we head north via King's Lynn.
Thank you for following us, Jonathan, with Jim, Jez, Matt and Bill.
DAY 2: Wednesday 4th June 2025
This morning we slipped away from our overnight lodgings and back into the green of the Thetford forest, down a tiny and near overgrown footpath. Early morning bird life was in full cry and in the distance a deer could be heard barking. US F-15 aircraft patrolled the skies but we were invisible to them under the forest canopy.
As we dodged round a sign telling us a tiny road was closed a cockerel voiced his disapproval. In a small village lay the ruins of an ancient castle. There was much to see.
Paying our respects to brave men of the 7th Armoured Division
It would have been fairly simple but for the deep gravel on the forest roads; farm tracks covered in slippery sand and other pathways with more humps than a camel farm, all of which made part of our journey slow and surprisingly arduous.
Tomorrow we head north to Wells-next-the-sea and beyond, a distance of some 101km. We'll need a good supper this evening.
Thank you again for following us, Jonathan, with Matt, Jez and Jim. (Sadly Bill, who we thought had fully recovered from a recent bout of Covid, has had to withdraw)
DAY 3: Thursday 5th June 2025
We headed north this morning in gentle, spitty summer rain and were soon by a huge beach from which the sea had apparently retreated it was so far away. But soon we were back on the arrow-straight lanes which had probably not changed much since the Legions left in 410AD.
To our right a field of wheat shimmered, caressed by a gentle breeze. Behind it a field of poppies leaked vibrant colour through the gappy hedge to give a rare spectacle. Turner would have loved it! Then a hare lolloped across our path. Did its ancestors grace a Roman pot all those years ago, we wondered?
The two mile entrance to Holkham Hall as our cyclists prepare to cycle down it. (Day 3, 5th June 2025)
At Holkham Hall, with its two mile driveway, we enjoyed a stunning ride around the lovely estate, half the size of the county (well, almost !!).
We suffered our first punctures. Tomorrow, we head for Norwich, our travels in this very different land complete.
Thank you for following our meanderings and for supporting us so well this week. Jonathan, on behalf of Jez, Jim and Matt.#
DAY 4: Friday 6th June 2025
We were slow to get off this morning but then our bodies warmed up, we found some fuel and we cycled well - first north to the sea then south back to Norwich. This took us into yet another big jungly forest with steep and narrow paths more suited to fell runners than cyclists. But we persevered despite torrential rain which soaked us.
John, a passer-by in a small village gave us this £10 which was credited to our Just Giving account that evening.
This was the last day of our little endeavour. We have cycled through near empty countryside that stretches forever until it meets the big skies. We took to paths inches wide with intimidating nettles on either side; stony, gravelly and sandy tracks which provided a real test of our tyres, bike handling and fitness; and we sped along endless little lanes with high hedges and lovely flowers. It has been a brilliant but surprisingly tough experience and one difficult to describe adequately.
In total over the four days we covered 377kms and climbed 9,041ft. Norfolk has lots of hills!
We stop by Blickling Hall an amazing Jacobean manor built in 1616.
Lastly, thank you for following and supporting us. You have allowed us to raise an astonishing amount that will be put to great effect by PTSD Resolution.
Thank you and goodbye, Jonathan on behalf of Jim, Jez, Matt & Bill.
PS. This really has been our last expedition. Huge thanks to all who have followed us over the years. You really have helped make a difference.
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