Description

There are some bus timetables and taxi numbers at the end which may be useful.

The HQ does have lockable gates so it is best to park further up the route unless you want to risk getting locked in. There are a few spaces by the village pond and phone box (TM2036 4630) and it might be possible to leave a car in Holly Lane (TM2025 4648) You could always start at Bealings where there is an ample village hall car park (TM 2302 4809). This is just off route from the proposed route.

Buses go from Ipswich town centre and stop adjacent to HQ 0.3miles away on the Ipswich to Woodbridge/ Saxmundham/ Aldeburgh/ Framlingham route. I can send a map if you find easier chellearmour@yahoo.co.uk

The route leaves HQ at Rushmere Town and Village Guide - Rushmere St Andrew in Suffolk - United Kingdom  and soon joins the Fynn Valley path Fynn Valley Path - Discover Suffolk  which is followed through meadows, footpaths and bridleways to pass the village of Tuddenham, where the churchyard of St Martins (slightly off route) is the final resting place of cartoonist Carl Giles and his wife Joan. The Fountain Pub was featured in a 1955 cartoon by Giles although it might be too early at 2 miles to stop here!

Passing what’s locally known as the orchid field and the llamas to Witnesham which also has a pub 100m off route up hill from the village well, “The Barley Mow” around 4 miles into the route- still too early ? The route then crosses fields,meadows & the small ford at the 16^th century Witnesham Hall (interesting horse sculpture in garden just visible if you look backwards) and some arts n craft style houses to join farmland near Henley and on to the checkpoint at Skeets/ Barham Green a picturesque hamlet of a few thatched cottages and a 16 acres of common grazing land  

There is some parking available here if recceeing. Its also possible to follow the route further then divert to Claydon where there are buses back to Ipswich but it maybe too soon!

The route then goes past the tiny but lovely Skeets cottage, across a field , often see deer here, past woodland, through Rhododendrons and woodland to enter the grounds of Shrubland Hall and private estate. This is a grade 2 listed Georgian mansion built in 1770 and once used as a location for the James Bond film ‘Thunderball’. It has 24 bedrooms. Opened up as a spa several years ago, bad reviews had it closed soon after, however it is now a wedding venue for elaborate Indian weddings! The estate managers cottage is called Russian lodge.

Leaving the estate and some more farmland and past the Retreat East Spa and its willow cow ! Retreat East - Stay | Retreats In UK | Suffolk Holidays | Retreat East You might want to book yourself in for a pamper session before or maybe after the walk.I’m also reliably informed It also featured on the recent MAFS reality tv programme. The reception sells locally made ice creams to passing walkers (lovely on a hot day) but the village of Coddenham and its community run shop with café (not open on Sunday) and its pretty church is not too far. Coddenham was during Roman occupation the largest settlement in Suffolk. Coddenham | Visit Suffolk. 

Through the village and we take in tracks and arable land. Food production is big in Suffolk. You will likely see, wheat, barley, sugar beet, linseed/oilseed rape and then closer to the coast the crops are more likely carrots, potatoes and you might see salads, parsley, asparagus and of course plenty of free range pigs!

Crowfield airfield has reputably 2 of the best kept grass runways in the country. The route may go a different route on the day as it can be relatively busy on fine weather weekends!!  Please Give Way to planes!

The grade2 listed church at Crowfield is in an idyllic setting and has several interesting features. There has been a place of worship here for over 600years. On to Crowfield village Crowfield, Suffolk - Wikipedia which is just a short’ walk away and CP2 Crowfield VH. 15.5miles

From Crowfield is farmland, some permissive on the day the reccee route goes along the road (take care!) and then green lanes & tracks to Helmingham Hall estate and deer park. The hall is grade 1 listed  gardens which are open Mon-Thurs and Sundays after May 1^st and although the church is off route is worth a visit and there a pleasant couple of mile detour through the park on footpaths to the café attached to the gardens. You can backtrack on to route or cut a bit out and use road but take care. Helmingham Hall Gardens | Gardens & Events Venue | Suffolk (You should be able to get a coffee etc without paying to go in to the garden, I have a few times) Theres a very small car park at Helmingham church.

On the day you'll get a hot meal here!  Sadly the pub is currently closed. There is an occasional bus from here to Ipswich centre and you can leave a car at the village hall or in the village

Leaving the village hall past thatched cottages and ancient tracks to Framlingham and past the private Framlingham College (high school for Brandeston pupils) and get your first view of the magnificent castle and mere.   Managed by English Heritage and the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.  Framlingham - Wikipedia. The route skirts around the mere (can be very  wet and muddy in the winter so you could use the lane with carefor the first section to avoid the worst (managed by Suffolk wildlife trust) before going through the castle grounds and entering the lovely market town. The church (St Michaels) is also well worth a visit and there is a town trail and an array of independent shops and cafes is well worth spending more time here on a reccee or for any supporters.  There are several pubs worth a visit including the Station which has beers from the very local Earl Soham Brewery. I recommend The Victoria bitter.

There is a Co-Op and various bakeries, deli etc here if you need to stock up. Also a market on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Framlinghams other big claim to fame is of course Ed Sheeran comes from here, you might bump into him, he does use the cafes, pubs and shops occasionally but its all very low key!  The detectorists TV programme has used the town for filming.

 There are occasional buses to Ipswich from here. Some pass through Kettlebough and some Parham (next checkpoint locations) See timetables for further details

There’s a lovely quirky pub here just off route (The Chequers, which also has a riverside garden) and then onto Easton. Easton, Suffolk - Wikipedia Easton has a farm park, look out for Suffolk punch horses, draghound kennels, several round houses and a crinkle crankle wall. One of the longest in the country apparently! A crinkle crankle wall, also known as a crinkum rankum, sinusoidal, serpentine, ribbon or wavy wall, is an unusual type of structural or garden wall built in a serpentine shape with alternating curves, originally used in Ancient Egypt, but also typically found in Suffolk 

Pass through the village and pub (White Horse) to head around the estate and across farmland and thru woodland to Parham. Be especially careful crossing the road here!! There will be marshals on the event at least until its dark. Parham, Suffolk - Wikipedia

After the driveway you go left on the road for a bit but a quick detour to the right and there’s a long hidden trig point (unfortunately behind a fence too, it took us an age to find when we were trigging in lock down!)  We then head across the route’s second airfield, this one long has long been redundant. There’s a small museum open on weekends in the summer  Home (parhamairfieldmuseum.co.uk)

A quick detour to Great Glemham village if you need a pub stop The Crown is lovely and has been used as a pub in The Detectorists TV series which is also filmed in Framlingham

Leaving the airfield behind its more farmland and meadows, finishing with oasia beds to the evening meal stop at Stratford St Andrew riverside centre.

The church here is now a house but there is another tiny church just 500m up the road at Farnham the adjoining village.

You could leave a car at the checkpoint here but please check with the caretaker as it’s a busy hall. CP6 43.2miles Theres is also a garage with a small shop just south of the cp on the main road if you are short of supplies on a reccee. Its currently open 7am until 9pm. Stratford St Andrew is served by buses to Ipswich and Saxmundham (about 3miles) where there is a train station on the Ipswich line.

The river Hundred is unfortunately less impressive than its name but thought it was worth a mention even though it is looking a bit tired at this stage!

A few hundred meters off route is the sports centre with ample parking in the back carpark.  

There are toilets, several pubs, cafes and shops in the town but you may want to press on a few miles to the prettier coastal village of Thorpeness. You will notice the tracks being much more sandy now and the area is called The Sandlings and there is a LDP, The Sandlings Way which is marked by small birds on WMPs.

The route leaves Leiston immediately.( all services, food, drink, buses) require an off route detour) There is also an interesting bygones museum here if you have the time The Long Shop Museum

We now go south east to Thorpeness a quaint but often busy seaside village Thorpeness - Wikipedia We walk around the edge of the golf course and mere/ boating lake before passing he windmill and ‘the house in the clouds’  (toilets by the boating lake) on route before joining the shingle beach. Thorpeness was the original ’Butlins’ and its hardly changed except for obvious traffic. Once a tiny fishing hamlet buffeted by the North Sea it became the original Butlins around 1912 when the mere was dug out by hand and the holiday village was built.  The mere – 60-odd acres of safe and shallow water and ornamental gardens – was billed as “The Children’s Paradise”. The mere has many tiny islands with Peter Pan themes, such as Wendy’s house and a pirate hideout. JM Barrie – the author of The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up (Peter Pan) – was a friend of the Ogilvies and regularly visited. The church at Aldringham has lots of Ogilvies tombs etc

The route to Aldeburgh Aldeburgh - Wikipedia  is straightforward. Follow the coast, initially on shingle. Too far left you’ll get wet in the North Sea. To far right run over on the coast road! The shingle soon gets left behind and the path gets easier until the scallop where you’ll need to get on the shingle again for a self clip under the scallop. This 4meter high impressive sculpture was designed and made by Maggi Hambling as a tribute to Benjamin Britten, composer and former Aldeburgh resident. The words I hear voices that will not be drowned which are from Brittens opera Peter Grimes.   If you are lucky with your timings  you might see the first light and sunrise over the sea. Lowestoft just up the coast is the UKs most Easterly point!  You are only a day’s walking from here on the coast path.

Aldeburgh is worth spending time at.  In winter the population is around 2000 but in summer it increases 3 fold. Besides its award winning fish n chips it has lovely fresh fish stalls, a Moot Hall and loads of independent shops, cafes etc. Benjamin Britten’s home ‘The Red House is just off route. Theres a gin distillery and several pubs, cafes and shops all close and public toilets on route. (just before checkpoint 9).

The Sailors Path is now followed to Snape  Sailors’ Path - Discover Suffolk  is a beautiful route walked by sailors for hundreds of years between Aldeburgh and Snape which has 3 pubs and an award-winning concert hall. The Maltings is a tourist hub and has toilets and refreshment possibilities. The deli is worth a visit and very good for picnic treats in my opinion anyhow!! The path from Snape to Iken Cliff goes through the reed beds and once at the cliffs you might be surprise how flat it is. Not a cliff in sight…. In the pre-railway era, Iken Cliff was a commercial area used for transporting coal and wheat. There was even a public house near the shore. Flat barges would sit on the mud during low tide, and goods were moved using wheelbarrows. It’s worth a short detour to the church which is about a mile out on the spit ST BOTOLPH AND IKEN ‹ SECRET SUFFOLK  During excavations in 1977, part of a large stone Saxon cross was discovered incorporated into the wall of St. Botolph’s Church tower. The cross was carved with the heads of dogs and wolves, symbols traditionally associated with St. Botolph during the Middle Ages.

The route passes Iken Hall, now a busy equestrian centre and follows a quiet lane for a bit passing some lovely thatched cottages on route to another wide track that will take you past some more interesting houses and the site of a former pub, The Boot!

There are NO shops/ cafes/ pubs here if you are recceeing you will be better plodding on to Orford.

Leaving Sudbourne village we go through our first bit of forest and then pass Sudbourne church which is a notable distance from the village. This is because it’s a plague church. After the plague the village moved to its current position.

On now across farm land to the small Town of Orford. The estuary might take you by surprise as it can’t be seen until the last minute. Orford Ness known locally as Orford island is a former military test site but now an important nature reserve.  Boat trips are available from the quay but require pre booking Orford has a small shop, 3 pubs and a few cafes including Chocolateer and an oyster restaurant. The castle is very different to Framlingham but impressive all the same. It has recently been restored to how they believe it looked originally.

Leaving Orford behind we now head inland again and head toward Sudbourne Hall which is now private housing/flats but was owned by several aristocrats and had a pologround before it was used to house HQ and the officers mess when requisitioned as Orford battle training ground but then demolished in 1953. The stable block was converted to flats and later an eco complex of 10 houses were built within the old walled gardens.

You now follow wide tracks to Chillisford village (PUB- Froiz Inn ) Also occasional buses from here to Woodbridge onward to Ipswich or the train station at Woodbridge. and then we turn left down a small lane/ bank top (worth it for the view over the marshes!) to pass Butley Mill artist studio… note quirky statues in bushes and tea cup behind hedge!!

Butley allows campervan parking overnight for a small fee with prior arrangement and there’s a pub on route a couple of hundred yards past the village hall. There is also an occasional bus through the village but no shop and the pub is not always open! You can also park here for reccees. Theres a box on the wall for a £1 suggested donation

Leaving Butley we cross some more fields (pigs!) and big skies before joining Rendlesham Forest. Look out for the UFO! There will be a self clip here on the event day. Rendlesham forest UFO sighting was the UK equivalent of Boswell in the 80s  Rendlesham Forest incident - Wikipedia. At weekends there is sometimes a coffee van by the visitor centre and a small shop at the campsite  but both these are off route. You maybe better waiting until Hollesley to refuel/ get supplies.

Leaving the forest behind we soon get to Hollesley. Hollesley - Wikipedia There’s a borstal and a prison here we have told them your passing!  In the small meadow off the Suffolk Punch Trust access road look out for the pigs. They appear friendly but beware if near the gate, they don’t move easily and are quite large!!

The next field belongs to the Suffolk Punch Trust and look out for them in the neighbouring fields. These beautiful work horses are an endangered species. The trust is worth a visit if you are in the area and have time. The charity is committed to safeguarding and raising awareness of these beautiful horses. Visit Us | The Suffolk Punch Trust

Then on past the church and through the village. You will pass the pub and an unusual thatched cottage likely owned by artists! The route turns left just after this cottage but continue ahead 50m and there is a very well stocked village store for supplies if you don’t fancy a pint at The Dog!  The village shop does hot drinks and sandwiches amongst other provisions.

We leave Hollesley and pass through the equestrian centre. Beware galloping horses. Its not too far to  Shottisham - Wikipedia,  a quiet village with church (slightly off route) is grade 2 listed as is the pub (on route) The Sorrel Horse and dates back to the 15^th century. The pubs worth a stop for its real ales and the map of Suffolk hundreds in the bar!

From Shottisham Trust Hall past the Mill House and across the road to the drive to Wood Hall Manor, an impressive grade 2 * building. Parts of which are medieval . When I was a teenager in the 80s it was a night club but is now a wedding and events  venue. There are some lovely thatched cottages on this lane, look out for the rooftop hares!

We now pass Sutton Hall and follow wide sandy tracks to the edge of the river Deben near Sutton Hoo. We pass the front of Methergates hall with its impressive views and sculptured hedge, cannons and eagle in the garden. You might also see fields of grass here, not for cattle its actually turf destined for garden centers and landscapers. The steps down the cliff will require care at the later stages of the walk as will the path which drops steeply into the river. You can see Woodbridge across the water and its seemingly only a few hundred yards away but there is another checkpoint at Sutton Hoo and another 3 or 4 miles to walk before you get there! Swimming is not recommended, the river is tidal and the mud is deep at low tide!

Sutton Hoo is a National Trust property. It is an Anglo-Saxon burial ground and home to one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time. The ship, treasures and helmet were made more famous by the recent movie The Dig!

We leave the national trust property behind and cross the river ( there’s a couple of pubs further up the road, a fish n chip shop and a Spar in Melton slightly off route over the railway but the event route proceeds south on the west bank towards Woodbridge. Theres a unique café /bar on a warship HMS Vale along the river path and some quirky signs a little further on route.

Woodbridge is a large town and has several cafes, bars and restaurants as well as greengrocers, butchers etc but these are all off route. Closest pub and my favourite could be The Cherry Tree but there are several to choose from! There are also bus and train links to Ipswich from here but it’s less than 10miles to the finish……..

After passing numerous boat yards and houseboats there is a museum and also a project to build a replica of the Sutton Hoo ship! Admission is free and there’s a lovely display of tapestries telling the stories upstairs from the boat building area. All the wood has been locally sourced and hand crafted using tools similar to those used on the original saxonship.org. Also several cafes in this area

There is also Kyson point to negotiate. Unfortunately, you will either need to paddle get wet feet or take the alternative route which is a mile longer to get around her if the high tide is above 3,8meters. This will affect only a relatively small number of entrants but it might be you so I apologise in advance if it is! I’m looking at an alternative route

The last pub on route is the Red lion at Old Martlesham if you fancy refreshments. Its recently been refurbished and has a lovely garden.  Also bus connections to Ipswich from here.

Then we cross the railway again and its  meadows and farmland before the small villages of Little Bealings where there’s the final CP and then Playford before we return finally to HQ