Stutton Stour Estuary and Alton Creek Circular Walk

 On The Front Line, Suffolk, Walking Hiking Navigating  No Responses »
Apr 242011
 

Distance: 5 Miles
Elevation Range: 3 to 90 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Weather Check: BBC Weather Harwich, Suffolk.
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Download the Stutton Stour Estuary and Alton Creek

Further west along the Stour from the Shotley Gate Walk. This is Constable country and more recently the focus of the excellent painter John Sharman.

SDC10112 Stutton Stour Estuary and Alton Creek Circular Walk

Flatford Mill by John Sharman

John Sharman discovered he could paint at age 65 when looking for something to do for his retirement. His wife died of cancer so he donated the proceeds to cancer research. He was 92 when we met him at his bungalow in Ipswich ~1997. As John Sharman is a popular name and several artists share it, Internet searches do not produce anything for him yet. Hopefully this post, on John Sharman, the Suffolk artist from Ipswich will help improve the balance. You will note I have added John Sharman as a tag in the hope that the name John Sharman is repeated enough times to get noticed :¬)

Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010
Download the Stutton Stour Estuary and Alton Creek Route Card

A Circular Walk Via Long Melford and Kentwell Hall

 On The Front Line, Suffolk, Walking Hiking Navigating  No Responses »
Apr 222011
 

Distance: 4½ Miles
Elevation Range: 111 to 260 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Weather Check: BBC Weather Sudbury, Suffolk.
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Download the Long Melford and Kentwell Hall route card

A 6 mile stumble around Long Melford due to forgetting my compass which meant I had to navigate by Pub. Thank goodness she who must be obeyed joined me, not for the walk, shopping in town of course, I was in no fit state to drive on my return. I pointed out if it wasn’t for the pubs I may never have returned, she replied if I found one more that would indeed be the case.

Terry Jones filmed Wind in the Willows at Kentwell Hall. In the photos you can see the stairs where Toady was hauled up by Ratty and Mole in a laundry Basket, except it was Judith Phillips son doing the “stunt work” as Terry Jones could not fit in a laundry basket let alone survive the beating he got up the steps and over the head to keep Toady quiet.

Long Melford Walk A Circular Walk Via Long Melford and Kentwell Hall

Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010
Download the Long Melford and Kentwell Hall Walk Route Card

Walking Shotley Gate, Cockle Creek, The Stour and Orwell

 On The Front Line, Suffolk, Walking Hiking Navigating  1 Response »
Apr 192011
 

Distance: 5¼ Miles
Elevation Range: -1 to 87 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Weather Check: BBC Weather Harwich, Essex.
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Download the Shotley Gate route card

Shotley Gate is a long way from anywhere. Harwich is less than a mile away but its a 26 mile drive to get there unless you can walk on water or have a boat. In summer it’s flooded with tourists. Do they come through choice or because Shotley Gate is just the end of the road?

Fortunately it is a pleasant place with two riverside walks and the same number of pubs (parking near The Bristol Arms offers a good start and end point). It also boasts HMS Ganges once a tough but popular Navy training centre, you can still see where the button boy once stood and why he earned an extra shilling for his bravery.

The churchyard in Frogs Lane has graves from the two world wars including German sailors who lost their lives nearby. A special place set aside to remember those who lost their lives when two submarines collided in the harbour.

The walk starts from The Bristol Arms along The Stour. See Parkston Quay and Harwich Pier from Cockle Creek. Pass riverside beaches and small copse then move inland with a mix of open country, woods, a Viking garden and the Church in Frogs Lane with views of the River Orwell.

An early morning walk will result in a fantastic atmosphere mingled with fresh seaweed and smell of the ocean.

Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010
Download The Shotley Gate route card