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 east to Clopton Green, south to Denston and
returns along the brook valley making use of Countryside Stewardship
fields, footpaths and quiet country roads. There are two steady climbs
but the effort is rewarded by pleasing views of rolling Suffolk countryside.
The good news is that over the last month most footpaths have been
cut and many crops have been harvested. No section of the route should
be overgrown.
The walk is approaching seven miles so you may wish to pack a picnic.
Walk Three
From the Car Park at Wickhambrook
village hall take the footpath on the right between the graveyard
and the children's play area. Cross the ditch and continue to the
corner of the field then left to reach the road. Turn right and continue
along the road, taking the necessary precautions, until you reach
the 30 mph signs. Immediately after, on the left is a partially hidden
stile. Push through the invasive briars and climb into the field.
Take the path half left across a culvert and half right until you
reach the second stile. Once over this, turn right and cross the bed
of the stream (this was dry on 6th August but could be a giant leap
for mankind in the winter) Turn left and follow the cleared headland
of a Countryside Stewardship Area. This twists and turns, always with
the hedge on the left, and at one stage you almost double back to
give a view of the village. You eventually meet the road at the top
of Fullers Hill where you turn right. After 100 yards go left through
a field entrance. The nice new footpath sign has disappeared but you
can just see the stump if you look carefully. Follow the path with
the hedge on the left. Just before the end of the hedge you should
obey the waymark and veer right across the field. Head for a lone
ash tree at the end of another hedge. At the tree turn sharp left
and head down to a ditch, across a footbridge and up the other side
with a hedge, again, on the left. Continue into another field. Soon
after passing an electricity pole veer right (way mark), cross the
field, go through the hedge and continue towards the hilltop houses.
On reaching the A143, cross with care and head down Giffords Lane.
Follow this quiet country road passing both Clopton and Giffords Halls.
It remains a mystery why two such high status mediaeval houses are
built so close together. Between the two, again on the left, is a
dark corrugated iron hut. This was once a school built for the education
of the sons of farmworkers by Justin Brooke, landowner and entrepreneur,
who moved into the area in 1928. The farmworkers were brought down
from the North, at the time of high unemployment, and provided with
both housing and schooling. The metalled road eventually turns sharp
right at a letter box and you now walk in front of the bungalows mentioned
above. Most have been modernised. The road becomes a track and you
should continue up and over the hill. Superb views of rolling Suffolk
await you. On passing a large heap of spoil on the right and just
in front of a post and rail fence, turn right. There is a waymark
but it's a little shy. Follow the headland to the left and downhill.
Turn right in front of the hedge coming in from the right and continue
along the headland this time on the level. At the first gap in the
hedge turn left and go downhill now with the hedge on the right. At
the lower corner, just as you are convinced that there is to be no
escape, a gap and footbridge appear on the right. Take these and turn
left to the road. Most waymarks are in place over this last section
but some are not obvious. You are now on the edge of the attractive
village of Denston standing next to recently re-thatched Bridge Cottage.
Cross the road and the bridge and continue up the hill to the church.
There is a seat here where you can rest overlooking the village green.
In 1970 the church was in serious danger of partial collapse. The
interior was described as being so green with mould that it looked
to be covered with mediaeval wall paintings. The trouble stemmed from
a misguided decision taken many years earlier to remove the lead from
the roof - the idea being to thwart thieves by re-covering the roof
with roofing felt. A major fundraising effort was undertaken, involving
some well known names such as Hammond Innes, Elizabeth Frink and the
Duke of Grafton, and the entire roof was repaired. While the improvements
were taking place pigeons moved in and made a dreadful mess inside
the church. The vicar appealed for 'a reasonably house-trained hawk'
but none appeared so he acquired a stuffed hawk which he stuck on
the pulpit. St Nicholas church is now well worth a visit. Take the
footpath on the right at the far end of the churchyard but beware
that this is a regularly used dog exercise area. Go through the first
kissing gate and veer gently right to go through the second. Turn
right, and then left behind a young hedge and drop to the valley bottom.
Turn left and follow the brook to Wickham Street, ignoring two paths
to the right and edging three sides of a small field (all waymarked
- left, right, footbridge, right) before reaching the road.
As this is a slightly longer walk than the previous two you are allowed
to call in to the Plumbers Arms! Take the road beside the pub and
head towards Wickhambrook. Pass the church, fork left across the ford
and up the one way street. Turn right at the main road. Bank House,
facing you, used to be a bank and opened on Fridays, to coincide with
pay days, but only for a couple of hours. Follow the pavement downhill,
across Cloak Lane, and continue. Turn right beside the village school
and turn left after passing the tennis courts. Cross the recreation
ground and return to the car park.
Roger Medley 01440 821861
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