This 3.25 mile walk circles the town of Clare taking in the Common, the site of the fledgling village some 1000 years ago.

Park in Clare Castle Country Park. The fee is £1 for two hours and £1.50 for anything longer.  If you are not familiar with the area there are various interesting additionals which may entice you to stay.  These include a climb up to the site of Clare Castle with its minimal remains, the old railway station, a small museum open Thursday, Friday and Sunday afternoons, Clare Priory and antiques and tea shops.

Having parked, walk towards the river and turn right over the bridge that used to carry the railway. This is waymarked Stour Valley Path.  Once across turn sharp left to accompany the river down stream.  You will soon know if you are walking in the correct direction because you will go through a gate and after a while cross a weir and stile. Continue along the field edge until you reach a tall narrow gate on the left by a red brick building. Go through, and cross the water course that used to power the mill until it burnt down several years ago.  Continue uphill in front of Mill House, cross another bridge and turn left. Follow the path left down to the mainly invisible railway line.  Cross another water channel and turn right. Turn right in the next corner, head towards a pink building, and follow this path to the road.  Cross (right and left) and go alongside the playing field.  You are now on the Stour Valley Way long distance footpath - running some 60 miles from Newmarket clock tower to the sea at Manningtree. The waymarked track continues ahead through a copse and then along the edge of a field.  In the field corner go through a gap in the hedge (waymarked), keep right of the first barn and then turn left in front of the black barns.  Follow the farm drive out to the road.  Do not be tempted to take a right turn just before the road unless you wish to embark on the Clare/Bury St Edmunds Walk.

Turn left at the road and use the pavement for a short distance until you spot a footpath on the right (next to a litter bin).  You have two alternatives - a hard surface path which runs along the edge of gardens (Sheepgate Lane) or a 'green' version which was very overgrown on 25th July.  Choose the easier version which will take you gently uphill.  At the top, drop to the left and veer right continuing uphill. 

After rounding a rusting parked trailer go through a gap in the hedge.  You come out into the open overlooking the allotments. Turn sharp left, climb a stile in the hedge and enter the Common. There are several interpretation boards giving information about this area through the ages.  Head half right for the one in the centre.  This gives information about Erbury, where the town of Clare was born some 1000 years ago.  (There is another downhill to the left that gives details of the sites of the 13th Century Manor belonging to the de Clare family and two Pest Houses built later for unfortunates suffering from Smallpox and other infectious diseases.  One of these buildings survived until 1960).  Retrace your steps until you can cross the ditch on your right.  Continue left of the water trough (there will probably be cattle grazing as has been the case since Katherine of Aragon bequeathed the area as common pasture) then half right to cross the track to the allotments.  Pass between fenced chestnut and lime trees to find a hidden gate plus waymark in the hedge on the far side.  This leads to a path which takes you past the school and cemetery.  Head through a gap in the hedge. Follow the headland to the corner, turn right and follow an impressive brick and flint wall which eventually becomes an overgrown hedge.  At the end follow the track left and down to the road.  Negotiate this and go up Ashen road but having crossed the iron bridge, and moved from Suffolk to Essex, turn left to accompany the river back to the car park.    

Roger Medley 01440 821861