Kettlebaston Walk

"Shall we go for a walk this morning?", asked Dawn. Well it was due to get pretty hot this afternoon, so a walk before lunch was better. There was one I had in mind from my AA 50 Walks in Suffolk Book. No 34 - "From St Mary's to St Mary's and back", starting in Kettlebaston and going to Preston St Mary.

This was our route.

Here are a few of my photos.

We parked close to the Kettlebaston village sign, opposite the church.

The sign features two crossed sceptres - one gold, the other ivory, topped by a pair of doves. This is, apparently, a reference to William de la Pole, who was granted the manor of Kettlebaston by Henry VI on condition that he bear a sceptre (gold for a king, ivory for a queen) at all royal coronations.

There were quite a few cars there as there was a church service on. And already we had great views looking south-west towards Monks Eleigh Tye.

St Mary's Kettlebaston is a rather nice church. It is a shame we couldn't go inside.

But we did see the statue of the Coronation of the Queen of Heaven sat behind a padlocked grill. It is a copy of an alabaster found under the floorboards during the 1860s restoration. The original is now in the British Museum.

Through the back of the churchyard we went to a short path to the road.

Our first down and up took us past Salsabil Stud and a herd of cattle.

 

Hang on a minute. I recognise this house! We were now following the southernmost leg of the Thorpe Morieux walk I had led in March just before lockdown started.

Crossing the River Brett..

...there was no running water this time.

Up the hill again in the sun and we were getting a bit warm and glad of a drinks break in the shady porch of St. Mary, Preston church.

We visited the village sign...

To see if the Six Bells was open.

Indeed it was. But we didn't stop for a drink as the temperature was continuing to climb.

Another down to the river at Whelp Street. At last some river water!

The instructions said to look out for the "Beware of the Pig" sign, but we didn't see it. Up we go again...

...to head across the fields back to Kettlebaston.

We got some lovely country views. Look how hazy it was getting, though. Is that Monks Eleigh Church we can see in the distance?

Before heading down across the river for a fifth and final time, we got a nice view of Kettlebaston Church.

We liked this house called Evans Corner at the edge of the village.

And soon we were back where we started.

It was only just over 4 miles, but that was just enough for that heat. And now home for lunch.

You can see more details of our route here on MapMyWalk and see more of my photos here on Flickr.