Reinterred: Lynford Stag Walk

Today we had a rearranged walk to avoid the flooding aftermath of Storm Babet in the heart of Suffolk.

Instead of the originally planned walk, we had one in Thetford Forest instead.

This was our invite from Joyce.

"Monday October 23rd. Please meet at the large parking area on the A134 known as Lynford Stag Car Park (what3words ///compiler.twinge.hammer) at 10.30am. We will walk over to Lynford Arboretum for coffee, visit the lake and then walk around to the village of Ickburgh to see some Almshouses and the church. Then it's some pavement into Mundford, over the River Wissey, which is a beautiful village. The Crown pub is circa 1650 and should be open for drinks if we wish. Walk is approx 9-10 miles. Please bring lunch with you"

This was our route.

Given the recent weather, it was remarkably dry underfoot. Here are some of my photos.

There were six of us on the walk today. Here is Joyce telling us about the walk in the car park.

We were in Thetford Forest for a lot of the walk.

The pond by zig-zag covert (also featured a the top of the post) was tranquil and had a couple of swans on it.

We skirted Lynford Hall, which is currently for sale for £5.2m, and has been for 18 months (see here).

At the grounds of the house, in front of the avenue of sequoias planted in the 1800s to honour the Duke of Wellington, is this statue of bulls fighting - alas now missing some horns and a tail.

It was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1863 and 1864 and bears the inscription "COMBAT DES TAUREAUX CAMPAGNE DE ROME J. CLESINGER 1863". The marble was described by the Clesinger's friend the critic Theophile Gautier (1811 - 1872) in August 1864: 'The two enemies have given their all as they charge in blind fury, their legs braced, muscles tensed, flanks quivering with the effort; it seems as though the fight will continue, but it is over; one of the bulls has plunged his horn into his rival’s stomach, ensuring that he will soon roll over dead, his hooves in the air, pulling the victor down in his fall".

We stopped at The Shepherds Baa for drinks.

Lucky dogs appear to get beer to drink!

They are gearing up for Halloween. This chap looks like he has been waiting long time for a drink.

We past the beaches of Lynford Water

The we crossed the River Wissey which was, not surprisingly, overflowing in places.

In a departure from our previous walk here, we turned left to head through the village of Ickburgh, passing the old Rectory before reaching St Peter's Church and the Lady Ashburton's Almshouses opposite.

The church wasn't open so we couldn't village.

We admired these unusual variegated dahlias in one of the gardens.

We reached the village sign.

I wondered aloud about the meaning of "Ick" in a place name - we have the Icknield way, Icklingham and Ickworth House all in the area. Nobody knew, and I haven't been able to find out conclusively. It may be related to Wick, found in many other parts, from the Latin "vicus" (place), as described here.

We walked for a short stretch down the main road to Mundford passing Ickburgh Lodge and recrossing the River Wissey on the way.