The Suffolk Walking Festival is not quite finished but I have now done all 10 of the walks I booked or was helping on. I had a great time! Thanks to David Falk, Festival Director, and his team for the organisation and the walk leaders and helpers for shepherding us safely.
I've managed to do a blog post for each of the events I went on, with the routes, a bit of a narrative with some photos and a photo album. So here are links to them.
But, first of all, although not part of the Festival, I have to include this... there was the "pre-amble", a walk the day before the start of the festival, which was accompanied by a crew from Anglia News who crafted a news item which was broadcast on the ITV Anglia 6 o'clock news.
Fornham St. Genevieve Walk
That was fun and it made a great little news item about the imminent festival. It was also a rather nice walk!
And so to the Festival Walks themselves.
No. 2 - Launch Jaunt - Ancient Ways. There were about 70 people on this walk of around 4.5 miles from West Stow Country Park taking in the Icknield Way and the King's Forest, led by David himself. What a great start!
No. 24 - Walk 'n Water Sudbury & Cornard Riverside. A gentle and relaxing morning cruising down the River Stour, hosted by the River Stour Trust, where we learnt lots of interesting facts about the river and its history, and then a leisurely 1.5 mile stroll back along the river to a cup of coffee at the Granary Tea Room at the end.
No. 30 - Bluebell Walk from Suffolk Food Hall. A beautiful circular walk of nearly 12 miles with masses of bluebells in the ancient woodlands and lunch by Alton Water. We were delighted to be joined on this by BBC Producer/Presenter from BBC Radio Suffolk Lesley Dolphin, patron of the festival. This was my favourite of the walk walks.
No 46. - Discover RSPB Minsmere in Spring. A lovely guided walk of about 2 miles around Minsmere Nature Reserve. We got a bit drizzled on, but had some great views of the birds and expert commentary from Ian, our RSPB guide. I wished I had taken a notebook to write things down.
No. 70 - Orford Ness - Walk with a Ranger. Another guided walk of just over 4 miles along the Red Route on Orford Ness. This was my favourite event of the Festival. Beautiful weather, spectacular landscapes, lots of interesting wildlife and some excellent commentary and fascinating history imparted by David, our National Trust ranger.
No. 83 - Felixstowe Marshes and Deben River Wall. A walk of nearly 8 miles around the countryside inland from Felixstowe and along the river Deben with lovely panoramic vistas and more birdlife.
No. 87 - Nowton Park Circular Walk to Great Whelnetham. Local turf for me and much of the nearly 10 mile route was familiar but I'd never been to the Artisan Bakery where we stopped for munchies and Hennessey's Coffee Lounge where we had our lunch. Delightful views, as promised.
No. 95 - The Magna Carta Walk from Castle Hedingham To Clare. A linear walk of about 8.5 miles through the lovely North Essex countryside back to Suffolk with lots of great historical information from our guides from Clare Walking Group and a visit to the beautiful Clare Priory.
No. 98 - Rounding the Point. An informative guided meander of about 2 miles around the Landguard Point Nature Reserve. Chris the ranger was a fountain of information and fascinating stories and we saw lots of wonderful flora and birdlife - and yes we saw a nesting ringed plover!
No 102. - Santon Downham Walk. Last for me but not least... a lovely riverside and woodland walk of about 5.5 miles around Santon Downham and the River Little Ouse. We didn't see any kingfishers or bats but we did see some stonechats.
I loved them all. It's just a pity I had to go to work on Wednesdays and Thursdays and couldn't do more. Well done and thanks again to all involved in making it happen and I'm looking forward to next year already. I may even volunteer to lead a walk or two. And for those attending walks over the final 3 days of the Festival, Enjoy!
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