Suffolk Walking Festival - Magna Carta Walk

When I first tried to book this, it was already sold out. But thanks to Anna, who's partner was unfortunately injured and couldn't do the walk, I was able to get a spare ticket from her.

There is a comprehensive and informative leaflet describing the heritage walk here, but good luck in getting it to print correctly as I failed! Fortunately we were all provided with a paper copy which helped tracking where we were on the walk as well as making a nice souvenir.

This was our route...

Actually, we did it in reverse compared to the leaflet as is rather nicely described in this EADT article. And, furthermore, we did a little wiggle to escape long lane to get a nice view of Clare as we approached the town.

We were led by Derek Blake, MBE, Chairman of the Clare walkers, supported by other experienced and knowledgable members of the group. Derek explained the origins of the walk (in which he was instrumental) as being conceived to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, walking between the communities of 2 of the 25 barons - Robert de Vere (Castle Hedingham)  and Richard de Clare (Clare).

Derek said he had been trying for 3 years to get the walk on the programme, but failed because it is in Essex. But this year, as the walk started (well we met there) and finished in Clare, at least some of it is in Suffolk (even if 98% of it isn't).

Here are some photos from the walk.

We met at Clare Castle Country Park, but the visitor centre is being refurbished at the moment, so we started our walk at the village hall instead of the Castle in Castle Hedingham for the toilets.

Most of us went in the minibus, but a couple went with the walk leaders by car.

It took us 20 minutes to get there, which made it seem we would be walking a long way. Here we are, ready to go.

Castle Hedingham is a lovely village on the River Colne.

We liked this old terrace of houses by Pye Corner (The pink one on the end is available to rent - see here)....

...and this one a little further on.

We soon reached Great Lodge Farm, which features as No. 7 in the walk leaflet.

The route is very well way-marked along its length in both directions.

Here we were approaching No 6 in the leaflet, Colliersly Wood, Gestingthorpe. The route doesn't take us into it, though.

 This metalled path took us through No. 4, the parish of Belchamp Otten.

 We passed some lovely waving barley in the fields...

...before reaching Knowl Green, Belchamp St Paul (No 3), and the former Cherry Tree pub, which is now a residential property and partly boarded up. No beer for us there then.

Flower of the day... buttercups.

We then had a long stretch along Long Lane, Ovington (No. 2), an ancient trackway with trees each side forming a tunnel to walk through.

So as to give us a view of Clare as we walked to it, Derek took us off Long Lane and down a different path into the Stour valley and Clare.  We did indeed get a nice view.

Because of our detour, we came into Clare from the south-west rather than south-east, and were taken through the grounds of Clare Priory.

Here we were told al about the history of the place and award-winning modernisation and extension of the Priory Church.

The gardens are very tranquil and we had to be chivvied along to finish the walk,

We were counted out as we went through the gate...

...as it was only another 100 yards or so back to the Car Park where we atarted.

A lovely walk. And, despite the warnings at the start that we might get wet before the end, the rain stayed off until we were on our journeys home. Many thanks to Derek and his team!

You can see more of my photos from the walk  here on Flickr and more details of our route here on MapMyWalk