Ickworth Walk

 A bit of a change of plan today as it was rather wet.

This is the original invitation from Joyce...

"Friday September 1st back to Glemsford for a circular walk over to Long Melford and back. Please park at Glemsford New Village Hall for 9.30am (earlier start time). Post Code CO10 7RH . It is a 10 mile circular walk with a stop at Cherry Lane garden Centre, Long Melford after 4 miles. We are using different paths to our previous 2 Glemsford Walks.  Please bring packed lunch and expect some field crossings, brambles etc"

But when we woke this morning it was raining continuously, even though the BBC foreCAst for Bury St. Edmunds said 0% chance of rain! So a revised invite came...

"As the weather is atrocious this morning, we are going to now meet outside Ickworth Park Primary School, Meadow Drive, Horringer IP29 5SB at 9.30am.We are then going over to Ickworth Park and using the Open Access route we will head for coffee. Then hopefully, a break in the weather will enable us to carry on to walk about 8 miles in total. You shouldn't need a National Trust card, but if you have one then please bring it with you. "

I said to Dawn on the way that it might turn out to be just Joyce and ourselves, but we were also joined by Nick. Miranda, Jane and Steve. This was our route, going anti-clockwise.

Here are a few photos.

Approaching the gates of the estate.

A lovely surprise as we headed down towards the River Linnet... we met a flock of sheep being moved.

The shepherdess and her sheepdog were at the back with a couple of quad bikes helping woith the herding.

We went past the lake. The deckchairs in the walled garden were not being used.

We stopped at the café in the house for a coffee in the dry. It was still raining when we emerged via the orangery. Nobody sitting outside today.

The otter sign told us that otters hold hands when travelling. Did you know that? We didn't.

Climbing up the hill the other side of the River Linnet we reached drier weather. Looking back there was still a murk hovering over the rest of the estate.

You can see the rain being evaporated by the sun and condensing into little wisps.

These sheep have been shorn.

We visited the monument to the Earl-bishop Frederick Augustus Hervey (1730-1803), 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry.

We took the path back down to the river that Dawn and I used the last time were here.

It has a nice view of the house and church.

Then it was back through the woods to the start of our walk.

Thank-you Joyce for taking us out even thought the weather wasn't great and to the others for the company.

You can find more details of our route here on MapMyWalk or download a GPX file here.

Other related walks on my blog, covering all seasons,  include:

• Ickworth Estate Walk (June 2018)
• Ickworth Estate Walk (Feb 2019)
• Westley and Ickworth Walk (May 2019).
• Ickworth House Amble (Sep 2019)
• Chevington and Ickworth Walk (Dec 2019).
• Ickworth Walk (Jan 2020)
• River Linnet Walk (May 2020).
• Chevington and Ickworth Estate Walk (Nov 2020).
• Ickworth Park Walk (Oct 2021).
• Horringer Walk (Oct 2022).
• Ickworth House Spring Flowers (May 2023).
• Ickworth House Walk (June 2023).