West Stow Walk

Today we had a walk from West Stow through the King's Forest and back via Culford and West Stow Country Park.

This was the invite from Joyce...

"Thursday January 27th a circular walk of 12 miles starting from West Stow Church car park (IP28 6ET). We will meet here at 10.30am. I would recommend that you use the toilets at West Stow Country Park,  as you pass, as there are not facilities until later in the day. This walk involves a lot of tree 'bathing' and straight lines. I love the area but it's maybe not for everyone. We are heading into the grounds of Culford School and then over to Brockley Corner.  After approx 4 miles we will stop on a log for a snack so pls bring a drink/flask. Then we proceed over to Thetford Kings Picnic place and catch the Fire route 205 back to West Stow CP where there will be opportunity for further refreshments and toilets." 

"It may not be for everyone", she said, but we stall had 12 on the walk including most of the usual suspects. And, once again, Joyce had picked a day with excellent weather for walking and,not long into the walk, the sun came out. This was our route....

We started by heading east through the grounds of Culford School before heading north up the edge of the forest, stopping at the most north-easterly point of our route for our drinks break. Then it was through the forest to West Stow Country Park where we had our lunch stop before returning through the village. Here are a few of my photos.

Our meeting point was the car park for St. Mary's Church...

...but we didn't try visiting today.

Assembling in the car park.

Culford School main building, the present day Culford Hall is a listed historical building. It has been altered at different times in its history. Read more about the history here.

Leaving Culford, we spotted some deer in the middle of a field off to our right. It looks like we were too far away from them to disturb them.

At the end of The Hill, this house appears to have a bier (coffin carrier) in the garden.

Walking up The Hill we came across patches of brightly coloured winter aconites beginning to open.

Looking to our west a little further on, we got a glimpse of Wordwell church, visited on this walk.

Time for a cuppa.

From here we turned west and the sun came out. We soon reached the King's Forest car park, just up the road from Wordwell.

There was a lot of air activity including some of these interesting aircraft. 

They appear to be some sort of Tiltorotor. A Bell Boeing Osprey, perhaps?

We turned south along Firebreak 205 to reach Forest Lodge with its car park... .

..and the start of the West Stow trail....

...which we followed to the Country Park.

We had a laugh at these takeaway cups, labelled "I'm a Green Cup". "But they're purple", protested Steve.

Onward eastwards now back to the start.

We passed Fullers Mill garden, which wasn't open, but I did spy some snowdrops through the gate.

West Stow Hall dates back to the 15th Century. It was bathed in sunshine as we walked by.

Now we were crossing behind the church for an extra little loop.

Our shadows were getting quite long now.

Another look at the lake in the grounds of Culford School, with the Hall in the distance.

and some colourful vegetation on the island.

And then we were back at the church.

Another lovely sunny walk, just under the 12 miles advertised,  and my boots ended up cleaner than when I started. Thank-you Joyce for leading us round and to everyone else too for the company.

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