Reinterred: Ixworth Pakenham and Stowlangtoft Walk

Today it was my turn to leads a walk for Joyce's Weekly Walks.

I had intended doing one around Walberswick based on this one in Sept 2021, but the recce last week found overgrown paths, lots of puddles and mud and a lot of mosquitos, so this was a plan B, based on a walk I led before for the group (see here). This is the invite.

"Tuesday Aug 1st Please support John as guest walk leader. He was going to Walberswick but it's not suitable at the moment. Instead a change of plan to avoid the jungle, mud and mosquitoes, John will lead a circular country ramble of about 9 miles in the rolling landscape around Ixworth. The route is mostly along bridleways and quiet country lanes. On the way we will take in Pakenham Windmill, Stowlangtoft Church and Pakenham Watermill. Meet at Ixworth Village Hall free car park High Street, Ixworth IP31 2HH to start walking at 10am. Bring a drink and snacks/sarnies with you for a brief stop at Stowlangtoft Church half way round. Refreshments afterwards, for those who wish, at The Pykkerell , Ixworth"

I should have checked... since the last time I'd led this, The Pykkerell had stopped being open in the afternoon, so we were denied refreshments afterwards. This was our route today, which included an impromptu extra loop that added over 3 miles to the advertised 9 miles.

Here are a few of my photos.

There were 5 of us today plus Evie the dog. Cue a Famous Five adventure?

We passed the Grade I listed Ixworth Abbey house, which incorporates ruins of the 12th century Augustinian Ixworth Priory. Alison told us she had taken part in a musical performance there recently.

As we crossed the Black Bourne for the first of several times today, Evie went for a paddle and a drink.

I mentioned that I'd always seen deer somewhere on the loop we did in the countryside west of Ixworth and sure enough, one dashed across our path in front of us. These two weren't easy to spot in among the crops.

The landscape was somewhat achromatic under the grey skies, with the tree leaves so dark and straw coloured crops everywhere.

As we headed towards Pakenham windmill, we could see St. Mary's church back in Ixworth where we had started.

We took a short diversion to investigate this shop, but no purchases were made - no, Evie didn't get a doggie ice-cream.

We had our drinks stop of the windmill.

The sign with information about the village of Pakenham stating it is the only place remaining with a working windmill and watermill is not there any more.

By Baileypool bridge we took the path parallel to the river.

There are still some poppies in flower.

We came cross a lone deer in a meadow by the path.

Plenty of white daisy-like flowers too - camomile, perhaps?

As we neared Bull bridge I suggested we try a different route to avoid just walking along the road to Stowlangtoft. It could have been just a short diversion, but this track crossed the Black Bourne via a ford with no footbridge. Drat! Too deep to walk through in trainers.

I offered the choice of backtracking to walk along the road or adding a couple of miles or so in an extra loop. We chose the latter... and so our Famous Five adventure began.

As we approached Pakenham Wood what was this in the path in front of us? I zoomed in with my camera. No it wasn't a wild animal, just a wild bollard.