Joyce has said for a while that she has a "secret walk" that she has only done with a couple of others. But now... This was the invite from Joyce...
"Wednesday July 8th...our 'secret walk' is revealed. We start in the village of Hawkedon and walk to some beautiful lakes. The walk is 10 miles and undulating for Suffolk. I'm willing to take a morning group and an afternoon group if we have enough takers. Pls contact me and specify morning or afternoon walk."
I said I didn't mind which, so was in the afternoon group. I turned up early with my packed lunch and managed to catch Glen from the morning group before he left and lunched with Joyce and Theresa - the first time I'd seen Theresa since before the lockdown.
The rest arrived and we started on time at 1:30pm under lowering skies. The morning group had better weather but we only had a bit of drizzle at times and one longer light rain shower so we didn't mind. It was also a comfortable temperature for walking.
The walk is based on one published by Suffolk Magazine - Suffolk's Rolling Hills, by Lindsay Want, published in April last year, so it's not really secret!
This was our route. Starting in Hawkedon, we headed north first to almost reach the highest point in Suffolk and then back south past the afore-mentioned lakes and, reputedly, the oldest house in Suffolk, returning past Denston and through Stansfield, past the church and old mill. We didn't quite follow the published route, adding a little extra loop to pass Gifford's Hall
Here are a few of my photos.
Our starting point, St. Mary Hawkedon, is, uniquely for Suffolk, right in the middle of the village green.
Across the road is the listed Hawkedon Hall, which is mentioned in Pevsner.
Off we go. We were the 'A' group, Joyce told us, but I bet she said that to the morning contingent too!
This 1935 telephone box, near the Queen's Head pub, is a listed building - see here.
Our route passed at a short distance the impressive Hawkedon House, the former rectory.
"In 1850, Henry J. Oakes, a prosperous Bury banker who lived at Thurston End Hall, built an impressive rectory for his son, the Rev Orbell Plaimpain Oakes, who lived there in some style ‘with his wife, six children, servants and their relations’. Even by the standards of the day, this was a substantial house, built in the Victorian Gothic style of brick under a slate roof, and ‘commanding extensive and handsome views and surrounded by neat lawns, terraces and grounds containing fish ponds’. It was rented to the diocese of Ely, which took on its repair and maintenance, before it was eventually sold into private ownership in the mid 1900s."
Onward through the countryside. The barley is bright yellow now and harvesting has started.
A buzzard buzzed us.
This is the pond by Crosslands Farm.
At the most northerly point of our walk, we could see Rede's Great Wood hill, at 128m above sea-level the highest point in Suffolk.
Turning south again we past a series of lakes. A memorial stone says they were built by Jo Slater between 1968 and 1972 "for the enjoyment of his family and friends".... and walkers like us!
Eventually we came to the field of blue we had seen from a distance. Joyce said she tought they were potatoes, but we went for a closer look and found it was a field of borage.
We passed Cordell Hall with removal vans in the drive, but I couldn't find a "For Sale" listing online.
We had a view towards Stansfield - we would be there later in our walk.
But, for now, we turned north again, heading towards Purton Green farm. On the path we met a UK Power engineer who was doing some work on the power supply to the farmhouse.
We had a friendly chat and he showed us his maps. We established that he had a bit of a South African accent and it turned out he was originally from Amanzimtoti, just a few miles from where I lived from 1964-1968!
Purton Green Farmhouse is Grade I listed, possible dating from 1250. "A mediaeval timber-framed aisled hall house which could be dated as early as the late C13. The 2 storey bay at the north end, with service area on the ground storey and solar above, is a replacement of the C15. The 2 storey bay at the south end was added in the C16 and had a fireplace which was demolished when the building was restored by the Landmark Trust in 1971 Only the fine carved lintel remains. The exterior has exposed studding with plaster infill. At the north and south ends the upper storey is jettied on exposed joists. The heavy boarded and ledged doors are restored and the windows are partly original and partly restored, with diamond mullions. The hall has scissor-brace roof trusses, the original timbers are smoke blackened. At the north end the staircase is restored in its original form with solid steps of quartered oak. Roof thatched, hipped. This house is of outstanding importance as one of the earliest framed houses in Britain."
It is now available as a holiday let - "sleeps 4 from £244 for 4 nights". There is no road access, but a wheelbarrow is provided to help you with your luggage.
Now we turned west towards Denston under leaden skies.
At Wykham House we found some elegant vintage vehicles...
and some bright, cheerful hollyhocks.
We now took a little detour from the route and passed the 15th/16th century Giffords Hall....
...which appeared to have its own pub - not to be confused with Giffords Hall near Hartest which has a vineyard.
We noticed the hedges looked recently trimmed. Very recently. Here was the trimmer in front of us.
It looked like that wet weather was coming our way - and it was, but it didn't last for long.
Next was the village of Denston, which we will visit again on another walk soon.
Joyce's mum and dad got married here!
I'm always given a question or two to answer in my blog write-up. The morning group didn't know what these flowers are, but were told I would find out for them.
Hmm. I'm not much of a botanist, but with the help of google, my best guess is it is Lady's Bedstraw.
We passed a flock of freshly shorn sheep.
"A highlight of the walk", said Roland - the ladies behind us were discussing hair.
There was a bridge so we didn't have to use this ford to cross the River Glem.
A bit of an unusual gate latch here, using a horseshoe. I think Tina was wondering, "How does this work?".
We passed All Saints, Stansfield Church, but didn't try to go in.
As the others went on, I stopped to admire these pyramidal orchids by a couple of gravestones.
We walked past the 5-story 1840 tower mill, now bereft of its topknot. According to this article, it now hosts a micro-brewery, but I've never come across its beers. We did see some barrels outside, though.
On our way back to Hawkedon now, we saw some chicory.
Our journey's end was in sight.
We were soon back at our cars.
Well that was a lovely walk. Full of interest and lovely views. Thanks Joyce and the others for the company.
You can see more of my photos here on Flickr and more details of our route here on Flickr.
No comments:
Post a Comment