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
This circular walk heads north out of the village and makes use of
the green lanes in that area. Total mileage is about 5 miles (my pedometer
read 9.8 miles: it may be due for re-setting) and will take around
two and half hours at gentle pace. The circuit is best undertaken
in the drier months. It is also enjoyable in the winter, just a bit
more of a challenge.
Walk Two
From the Car Park at the village
hall turn right and take the footpath that runs beside the cemetery.
Walk the plank over the ditch and continue in the same direction with
the ditch on the right. Turn left at the corner and follow the edge
of the field on the left. This will bring you to the road where you
turn right. Danger. Ignore turnings to the left and right until you
have crossed the little bridge and reached the de-restriction signs
at the foot of the hill. Spot a partially hidden stile on the left.
Climb this and head half left on a defined path crossing a bridge
and veering right. Sometimes the grass is quite long and sometimes
you have the company of sheep. Cross a second stile and continue in
the same direction walking along a headland with the stream on your
right. Go through a hedge, along a path cleared for walkers through
a growing crop (field beans currently), along a farm track skirting
a small wood, through the crop again and follow the waymarks to the
woods. There are fallen trees here which provide convenient seating
for a coffee break. A pair of deer watched me pass through this copse.
Soon after entering the shade, cross a wooden bridge and then a second
one and on meeting a wider track turn right. Follow this green lane,
very pleasant walking, along the middle of a long ribbon of trees
and with the stream by your side. Pass turnings on the left and right.
On emerging at the end, ignore the left turn and continue (rightish
through a wet patch) straight ahead. The track, recently trimmed so
thanks to the landowner, leads around Busses Farm. Join a metalled
road and continue in the same direction (heading north). To check
that you are in the right place, you will almost immediately pass
an attractive pond on the left with the standard issue moorhen's nest
in a drooping Dog Rose bush. Ignore the bridleway sign on the right.
This road joins a mainer road, still very quiet, and you should continue
in the same direction, passing a turning to Baxter's Green and a signpost
which shows Wickhambrook 2 miles back the way you have come. On reaching
a gentle bend in the road and Queens Cottage on the left (this
used to be a pub and was purchased by Greene King in 1897 for £375)
take the green lane on the left (Barbers Lane). This may give the
impression of being a private drive but the new Byway sign is obvious.
Docks are quite high for the first 20 paces but the path soon clears.
This green lane continues for some way. Ignore a new wooden bridge
and chest expander stile on the left unless you wish to admire the
young horses. This track again offers very pleasant but enclosed walking,
eventually opening out at another track where you have to turn left
or right. Turn left. Right leads to Ousden. For the next mile the
surface can be pitted so care is needed and it can be wet and muddy
in the winter. Cross the road (left and immediately right) and continue
along this green lane. The trees on the right soon drop away and there
are good views over the far side of the valley - presumably the villages
on the tops are Cheveley and Stetchworth. At the T-junction with Bury
Lane turn left (right leads to Lidgate - a future walk?) and head
towards the British Telecom masts. Soon after passing the entrance
to the compound find the hidden tunnel footpath on the right. If after
20 paces you still have not spotted it then turn round as the sign
is more easily seen from this direction. This short path soon brings
you out into the open and after another 40 paces turn left into Spring
Wood. There is no waymark at this point but it is the only track available.
The path heads straight through the shade to give further pleasant
walking. Step over several fallen trees and acknowledge the squirrels
as you head towards a 5 bar gate. Duck under the bar at the side and
continue in the same direction but not for long. This section appears
to be regularly trimmed so thanks to this landowner. Where the hedge
on the left ends you will find a waymark pointing left. If you overshoot
you may have to explain your presence to the resident guard geese.
Take this direction keeping to the hedge on the right. Llamas have
been seen recently in this area. In the next corner you will find
a path which skirts the little wood and takes you under a large rookery.
This was quiet on 10 June. On reaching the road turn right. Follow
this road as it twists and turns past the entrance to Badmondisfield
Hall until you reach a footpath sign forking right. Take this through
the growing wheat (this could be a strong contender for the title
of the most boring footpath in the area). The landowner has cleared
a path but recent outcrops of thistles can make a few short sections
quite challenging. The best views of the Hall can be seen over your
right shoulder. There was a serious fire in this medieval hall in
February 1995 as the current owners were having some building work
done. When you reach the headland turn left and walk with the hedge
on your left. Re-join the road beside the little pink thatched cottage.
Turn right and follow the road down the hill and up the other side
to the car park.
If these notes are confusing or inaccurate or the information is wrong,
please let me know. If they are helpful, or if you have any other
comments, likewise.
Roger Medley 01440 821861
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