James McAvoy slept in abandoned tent in Norfolk Broads

James McAvoy, known for his roles in Last King of Scotland, the Chronicles of Narnia and Xmen, said he cleared out cobwebs and spiders before settling in under canvas for the night. 

The Scottish actor, who is an avid hiker, told the Sunday Times that he was with a group of friends paddling along the county's waterways when they made the discovery.

James McAvoy cleared out cobwebs and spiders for settling down to sleep inside an abandoned tent in Norfolk (Image: Newsquest)

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He said: "Since my thirties, I have regularly camped and hiked with some old acting pals.

"While canoeing on the Norfolk Broads we found a clearing with a huge fire pit and four abandoned tents, which were full of cobwebs and spiders, but we cleaned and slept in them.

"It was a very hot summer and the water level was pretty low, raising the prospect of exciting rapids; in reality, though, it was too shallow and we were repeatedly beached, but we still had great fun."

Horstead Mill is about the only place you can find 'white water' in te Norfolk Broads (Image: Newsquest)

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While the exact route that McAvoy and his friends canoed along is currently not known, their expectations of "exciting rapids" would confuse most locals.

Norfolk's meandering waterways, which travel through relatively flat lowcountry wetlands, are not known for fast-running water.

Aside from the occasional small weir, such as at Horstead, you would be hard-pressed to find any form of white water rapids.

But the gentle tranquility of the rivers and broads make for a thrilling experience nonetheless, offering the chance to discover the region's abundance of rare wildlife while marvelling at the beautiful surroundings.