6. Alde Valley Walk
Wickham Market Station - Saxmundham 10½ miles
| planning your walk | |
|---|---|
| Time: | Allow about 5 - 6 hours |
| Suggested map: | Explorer map 212 Woodbridge and Saxmundham |
| Refreshment: | Carry sufficient food and drink for the whole of the walk; there are no pubs or shops directly on the route until Saxmundham |
| Winter Walking | The valley bottom between key points 11-12 may be flooded in winter. The best alternative route is along minor roads via Beversham Crossing, Blaxhall village and Langham Bridge, an extra 1.5 miles. |
This is the longest and perhaps most challenging and rewarding walk in the series, allowing walkers to enjoy isolated and remote countryside. There is considerable variety of landscape including woodland, lush meadows and the light terrain characteristic of the Suffolk Sandlings.
Look out for the stone at Blaxhall after which Stone Farm is named. A notice on the garden wall of the house explains its legendary origin (TM 351565). Some of the more remote rights of way are lightly used and may not be as evident as those nearer villages, so the use of the 1:25,000 Explorer map will be helpful.
route finder
Route finding - key points (numbers refer to points on the route diagrams)
- From the station go left past the pub to road junction. Take Loudham Road and left into Ullswater Road.
- Beyond the last house the path goes off right by the railway. Follow for about 200m, then cross the line.
- Branch left on the field edge path by Barnes's Grove.
- Go down the driveway to Ashgreen Farm, then take long track beyond to sharp left turn to road.
- Take the path on the right for 300 yards, then go left at the side of the wood.
- From the corner of the wood go half right, across grass field, then left along farm track.
- At the approach to the farm turn sharp right opposite the field gate along a broad track passing below cables.
- Where tracks divide at the top of the gentle rise go left towards pylon.
- From field entrance follow path along edge of tree belt, with fence on right.
- Path continues through gap down to rail crossing and beyond by old water mill to road.
- From road junction go along broad field access track; continue direction across field beyond (parallel to left ditch), to reach sleeper bridge over River Alde. Cross bridge, then go right along bank for about 100 yards to where stream bends sharply right.
- Turn left across the field to the footbridge and stile just to the right of the small alder tree.
- Where tracks meet, turn right away from Hill Farm.
- Where track bears right towards farm, keep ahead across field to stile.
- Official diversion: path now goes round the edge of paddocks, between hedge
and fence. Cross the main road with caution.
- The path beyond cottage is sometimes waterlogged.
- Better drained alternative path.
- Green and 'The Wadd' nature reserve.
- Path branches half left off the road beyond B1121 direction sign.
- Head across the field to just left of large tree stump in far hedge.
- Path joins farm track only briefly; look for the gap on the right at side of an old pit.
Disclaimer
The information in this production was, so far as is known, correct at the time of publication. The compiler accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions or changes in the information given.© Roger Wolfe 2007
