Today's walk is a perennial favourite.
A circular walk from the pretty village of Hartest.
This was the invite from Joyce...
"Saturday July 15th – One of our favourite walks from Hartest village with (optional) pizza at The Crown afterwards. We will meet at the Hartest Institute Car park for a 2pmstart and walk our first 5 mile loop. Then over to the pub for drinks (approx 4pm) before we start our second, different 5 mile loop at 4.30pm ish. Then back to the pub for pizza if you wish approx 6.30pm. Please feel free to just walk 1 loop and leave after the first circuit or join us for the second circuit at 4.30pm approx. Expect some laughs and bonhomie. "
Yesterday that was followed up with "We are going to walk tomorrow ...expect windy weather and maybe check the forecast to ensure you have appropriate clothing etc.". Indeed the forecast was for it to be rather blustery with the potential for showers, but in the end we only had about a minute of rain before the offending cloud scudded past.
I was first there and found a sign at the Institute saying the Car Park was closed for a private function, so parked by the green... as did everyone else. I opted to do just the first loop as I'd promised to cook the family some tarragon salmon for dinner (with tarragon and green beans from the greenhouse and garden).
There were just 6 of us for the first loop. This was our (anti-clockwise) route.
Here are some of my photos.
Our starting point by Hartest green. But where was the red Ferrari? Shaun told us that whenever he had been here before he had seen it parked outside the orange house.
We started by heading up the hill paste the Institute with its forbidding sign.
Soon we were up and getting a good view of some of the village across a golden field.
Were the two white plastic chairs still there? Yes they were and had been joined by two more....
...so of course we had to have a group photo (a the top of this post).
Soon we could see the tower of
St. Margaret's Church, Somerton; "one of the highest churches in Suffolk - geographically speaking, not ecclesiastically."
Somerton village has some lovely houses and garden.
The village noticeboard is entitled "Some Stuff" and includes a little poem.
You may need to view my Flickr album and zoom in on the phot there to read it, but we could attest to the village being at the top of the hill (with great views) and rather windy.
The village pump is still there.
Leaving the village we got this view back at the church.
In the valley below we could see
St. Mary Hawkedon, church and hear the bells ringing.
But now we descended to the road by the river Glem.
Normally rather quiet, we started to get some traffic passing. Some cars with smartly dressed folk in and then this bus.
Now it became clear why the church bells were ringing in Hawkedon - there had been a wedding.
We passed Somerton Hall.
We would be walking up past that house shortly.
But just then I spotted these in the field to the right of the road.
Not far to go now as we headed towards Millhill Farm. But what's this? Lots of cars parked by the road?
Yes. It was the site of the wedding reception we'd seen everyone heading towards earlier. And just as we passed the house, here came the bride and groom!
So the Institute wasn't closed for the reception than, as we had surmised and the car park was still empty and the sign in place as we descended the hill into Hartest again. Maye they were going to have a disco there later, I suggested.
Back in Hartest, yo Shaun's relief, the red Ferrari was now parked in its rightful place in front of the orange house.
I resisted the American Blonde Ale this time and had the hoppy
Counterfeit. Very welcome. We had a pleasant half an hour in the garden before it was time for the second walk for the others.. and for me to go home.
Thanks to Joyce for leading us round and to the rest for their company.
You can see more details of our route
here on MapMyWalk (or download a GPX file
here) and more of my photos
here on Flickr.
Read about previous editions of the walk(s) and other related walks here...
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