After passing through the company's headquarters at Dereham station, the line runs through the town and open fields, passing over the River Tud, before arriving at the nearby village of Yaxham. This was the first section of the railway restored by the Mid-Norfolk Railway, when a temporary halt was provided at Rash's Green (since abolished). The single track line continues through the one operational platform at the station, passing the Yaxham Light Railway, then running through a sequence of cuttings and embankments before reaching a level crossing at Garvestone where a station has previously been proposed. The line then descends to pass through the head of the Yare valley, dividing into double track for the extended passing loop and storage siding at Thuxton.