The Melton Meander

 Today's walk was led by Glen from Melton just north of Woodbridge. This was the invite...

"Thanks for your interest in next Tuesday’s Melton & Woodbridge walk. This email confirms your place on it.
As previously indicated, it will be a walk of around 9 or 11 miles combining quiet rural lanes and paths, some green corridors through Woodbridge and the riverside panoramas along the Deben. The length of walk will be adjustable dependent upon weather conditions.

The meeting place is the free car park at Melton Riverside, the first turning on the right past Melton railway station, at 10.15 hours for prompt 10.30 departure please. Packed lunch required, which we’ll probably eat in Elmhurst Park, Woodbridge, if everyone’s hunger holds out till then! Public conveniences will be available there, but please note, not at Melton at the outset. Look forward to seeing you then."

We met at our appointed time and set out. Although it had been raining for the last couple of days the forecast was good for the morning, with maybe a shower or two later. Our route had several loops, Here it is...

Here are a few of my photos.

Assembling in the car park.

We visited the bridge over the Deben for the views before turning North.

Passing through Melton village.

We visited Foxburrow Farm. Some lovely ponies.

In the woods is an animal cemetry.

We had trouble with the fastening of these gates, but worked them out eventually.

I'm not sure what these goats are up to.

Some apple trees by the path gave us some lovely eating apples.

We stopped here for a drinks break.

Passing some houses, we found a large monkey puzzle tree with its unusual looking fruits. The owner was in his drive and said the tree was about 40 years old. He said they exploded with a bang and scattered their seeds, but they weren't fertile as you need a  male tree as well for pollination..

It stayed dry for us until about 1:30 (apart from a short sprinkle), but the clouds started getting darker.

Glen led us through a number of green lanes around the town, going up and down quite a bit. Here we had a view towards the town centre.

We loved the colours on this ivy. Ours at home is only just beginning to change colour.

Through the streets of Woodbridge now towards our lunch stop at Elmhurst Park.

A perfect site for the rule of six - a hexagonal seat around the tree with a bench each.

We went back through the town centre. Here's the Shire Hall and Corn Exchange.

We liked this sign in the cemetry.

We stepped off the path to get this view over Martlesham Creek. We walked underneath us hear on our Ipswich to Woodbridge walk last month. In fact, once we got down Kyson Hill we joined the last part of our route from that walk along the river to Woodbridge station.

We got some lovely views.

 

 

On the right of this picture you can see, over the river,  the darker colour of the cabbage field we walked along the edge of on our Sutton Heath walk last month.

Then we got  little shower... and a rainbow!

The sum was out when we got to the Tide Mill and marina.

Carrying on along the Sandlings Way, we passed some pebble pictures outside Swirly Cottage.

Passing Melton Boat Club...

...we were soon back at the car park.

Then we crossed the road to the Wilford Bridge for a drink

We managed to sup up and get back to our cars just in time.  5 minutes later, heading for home, we were in the middle of a cloudburst!

Thanks Glen for the lovely walk and Julian for the beer.

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