Previous Walks - Walk 1 ::: Walk
2 ::: Walk 3 ::: Walk
4 ::: Walk 5 ::: Walk
6 ::: Walk 7 ::: Walk 8 ::: Walk 9
The W.I. Walking
Group do 3-5 miles every Wednesday morning at 10am starting
from the MSC car park
You may also find the following link of interest : www.walkinginsuffolk.co.uk
Walk One
From the Car Park at the village
hall turn right and take the footpath that runs beside the cemetery.
Step across a ditch and continue in the same direction with the ditch
on the right. At the bottom corner turn left and follow the edge of
the field on the left. On reaching the road turn right and at the
entrance to Coltsfoot Close take the footpath on the right. This runs
straight ahead (more or less), swapping sides of the hedge (do not
take the left fork here) skirting the Waste Water Treatment Works,
and continuing until you reach Cloak Lane. Here you turn right. Cloak
House on the left used to be the Cloak
Public House until it closed in 1989. It was the only pub in the
country with this name and it is supposed to be haunted by 'a little
old lady in white.' At the junction cross the main road and take the
footpath beside the 5 bar gate. Halfway across the paddock turn around
and take a look at Commerce House - the large pale pink building.
This is the tallest thatched house in Suffolk and used to be a coffee
house and grocery shop. The shop windows are just visible from Cloak
Lane. Having negotiated the second stile follow the path beside the
ditch on the left until you reach the road. The official footpath
goes diagonally across the last paddock but unless you wish to challenge
thundering hooves, it is best to stick to the villager's path. Go
across the grass triangle, pass a pond, seat and small green on the
right, and after 70 paces turn left at a new footpath sign. Follow
the path through a narrow wooded ribbon, crossing two footbridges,
into a field with a hedge on the left. After passing the last pile
of spoil on the right cross a collapsing culvert and you now have
the hedge (and a previously hidden way mark) on your right. Continue
until you can turn left at the last of the post and rail fencing (another
way mark) and this short stretch will bring you to the road. Turn
left (there are good views looking back to the village) then right
at the T junction. Shortly, as the road bends 90 degrees left, go
straight ahead over a stile and follow a narrow footpath. A gate opens
into a small field where you continue to follow the hedge on the right.
At the field corner turn left, still with the hedge on the right,
duck under a drunken tree and follow the way marks into the next two
fields. These are fields as fields used to be. The hedge continues
on your right. Enter a copse and follow a narrow winding path, more
or less, straight ahead. Walk some duck boards, go through a gate,
climb a stile and reach the road.
Danger! Turn right and walk as fast as you like to the footpath sign
on the left. Take the broad, green track which curves round to the
left, keeping the ditch on the left. At a collection of way marks,
three in quick succession, turn right uphill accompanying a row of
trees on the left. The building on the left at the top of the hill
was the village bake house until 1996 when Ron Penhaligan, the baker,
and his wife Edna, the deliverer, retired. Turn right and take the
track until the first hedge on the left (and way mark). Follow this
downhill, appreciating the views of the church, and round to the left.
This will bring you to Wash Lane. Turn right and cross the ford (there
is a footbridge). Right again at the grass triangle and reach the
almshouses and the church.
The latter is usually open during the day and you may wish to pop
in to admire the recent 'facelift', and, if you are quick, the wall
paintings. It is believed that regular worship has taken place on
this site for more than a thousand years. Upon leaving turn right
and continue until the first footpath on the left. Follow the hedge
up the left hand side of what turns out to be a very large field.
When the hedge ends continue in same direction with a ditch on the
left hand side. Ignore a way mark pointing left and later one pointing
right and continue until you can cross the ditch at a tractor access
bridge. Continue, still in the same direction, now with the ditch
on your right. Enter another field, with a spasmodic hedge on the
right, continuing gradually uphill. Eventually you will cross a footbridge
and stile and enter a small paddock. Head for another stile at the
far side. Stout boots are needed for the approach. Having climbed
this one, turn left along the road and shortly take the bridleway
on the right. Downhill now but it can be somewhat soggy so don't discard
those stout boots. On emerging from the green lane continue with the
ditch on the left. Follow the field perimeter round to the right,
turn left across a concrete bridge and follow the track up between
two cultivated fields. Pass Australia Farm on the right, take a little
dog leg, right then left, and continue in the original direction.
Turn left at the end and follow the road downhill, passing the chapel
on the right at the crossroads (when Dissenters broke away from the
Church of England around 1670, services were held in a barn at Badmondisfield
Hall. Money was raised to build a new chapel nearer to the centre
of the village and this was opened in 1734 giving the name to Meeting
House green. Thomas Priest (!), a successful pastor, was the instigator).
Continue up the hill to the car park.
The W.I. Walking Group do
3-5 miles every Wednesday morning at 10am starting from the
MSC car park.
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If these notes are confusing or inaccurate or the information is wrong,
please let me or the editor know. If they are helpful, or if you have
any other comments, likewise. The next walk will head out into the
surrounding country.
Roger Medley 01440 821861
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