After the storms on Sunday, this week's Tuesday walk had a lovely sunny morning, but still strong winds. It was my turn to lead and with the amount of rain we had had, I adjusted the route to avoid crossing a couple of fields, so the walk was a little shorter than advertised. This was the listing.
It was a cold wind so we didn't stand around in the car park for too long and got walking right on 10am. In all there were 41 of us, which was a good turnout for a cold winter's day.
This was our route (apart from the last 100m)... I'm sure you can work out the rest of it.
It was a figure of 8 walk with a shortened first loop to avoid the muddy fields and a stop at OneHouse Church for our drinks break.
Here are a few of my photos.
Early on our walk we saw a cute donkey sheltering from the cold wind.
My planned route would have taken us along this path.
After trying it on my recce 10 days ago I decided I needed a plan B. So we went this way instead.
We crossed the Rattlesden River (aka the River Rat) and walked along the bottom of Purple Hill. The ditch here was full of fast flowing water but the path was very pleasant.
We climbed the hill to Fenn Hall and had a lovely view back to Great Finborough as we stopped to regroup.
We returned towards Purple Hill via Brooks Farm. Not open today, unfortunately, but here was the Granary Crafts tearoom and gift shop on a Caravan Club site and a "Bygones" museum. Outside and across the road there are some historical agricultural bits and pieces.
From here it was back down Purple Hill...
...to the bridge over the River Rat again and then onto Stowmarket Golf Course. There weren't many golfers about today so we got across without any golf balls coming near.
As we re-crossed the River Rat, we were surprised to find a group of kayakers paddling about.
We passed through Finborough wood...
...crossed Lower Road and ascended again past OneHouse Hall, a Grade II listed building dating from the 16th Century but much modified. In the lakes in the grounds is a duck house.
No. It's not the one there was a scandal about an MP putting on expenses in 2010. That one is in Hampshire. (I checked - see here).
Soon we were at St. John the Baptist, Onehouse church. "I think that round tower means it is Saxon", said Ann. I think she's right. As described by Simon Knott in his Suffolk Churches write-up linked to above, "[The tower] used to be taller, but by the 1990s, it had become unsafe, and somewhat barbarically it was reduced by two thirds in height, and then partly built up again with modern battlements." And he confirms it is Saxon.
As we had our drinks stop we sheltered from the wind.
There were some broken tiles on the ground loosened by the gales from the roof.
The church wasn't open, but the porch was. In there behind Dave were 9 other walkers keeping warm.
Onward for a final 2 1/2 miles, past the mistletoe-laden trees...
..and back down to the river emerging by the Shepherd and Dog pub.
Tempting though it was to nip in for a swift half, I don't think serving 41 of us would have been very swift.
Crossing the river one final time, a pleasant path took us alongside it and past an equestrian centre. Lunchtime for this horse.
We re-entered the golf course and skirted our way round the outside, past Finborough School and St. Andrews Church, with its magnificent spire of nearly 300ft that we had seen for most of our walk.
Passing the metal dragon at Ironoak House
...our final joyful sight of the day, just before we reached the car park again, was these crocuses.
Well that turned out rather nice. The wind was cold and rather strong in places (bye-bye cobwebs), but the sunshine was warming. So thanks to all for coming, and thanks especially to Keith for back-marking.
You can see more details of our route here on MapMyWalk and more of my photos here on Flickr.
By the way. Some people have asked how they can reuse my walks. For instructions read my Reusing My Walks page. See you all again soon!
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