2012 January | Martyn Walker | Software Architect

Covehithe to Kessingland via Benacre Broad Circular Walk

Broads, Coastal Walks, On The Front Line, Suffolk, Walking Hiking Navigating No Responses »

Jan 282012

Gun shots rang out in the distance every few minutes. It’s common for landowners to protect coppice woods from Deer. Muntjac and Fallow will eat new shoots and stop re-growth. A high fence works but they cost money, it’s more profitable to sell shooting licenses instead.

Looking over a small plain, woods to the left and right, and about two miles apart. I was standing a mile from both with a clear view of the horizon, perhaps two miles away. Then something truly amazing happened.

As I looked over the Panorama I heard the crack from a gun and looked toward the sound. On the horizon I could see a Deer running. It was a long way from me but I could see it was travelling at speed. So fast that I feared it would risk its life if it fell.

It covered the first field in just a few seconds and jumped the hedge to the second. A few seconds later it disappeared as it travelled through a dip in the landscape but I forced my eyes to follow where it was travelling so I could pick it up at the edge when it came back into view.

Then he was straight ahead of me and roughly half way between the two woods and I could swear he was picking up speed!

I began to count, 100, 200, 300 …

I continued to watch and count as he entered the woods to my left. I checked the map and estimate he travelled three kilometres, a little under two miles, roughly half of which he did in two minutes, which means he could have been averaging thirty miles an hour over 4 minutes!

Distance: 12 Miles
Elevation Range: 0 to 66 feet
Weather Check: Kessingland, Suffolk
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Covehithe to Kessingland via Benacre Broad Circular Walk
Download: Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010
Local Website: Natural England – Benacre NNR

Mersea Island, Essex, Circular Walk

Coastal Walks, Essex, On The Front Line, Sailing, Walking Hiking Navigating No Responses »

Jan 212012

Fifteen years ago I regularly visited Mersea Island with my eldest son while taking the RYA Yachmaster course. Our teacher was Jim McNaughton of the Mersea Island Yacht Club. I don’t think Jim liked us. He passed us grudgingly, certainly making us work harder than his Mersea Island chums in class.

I think my Master Mariner qualifications were testing for him. The “rights of way” subject was a tricky discussion! But I liked him and I still hold fond memories of his anecdotes.

My father lived on Mersea Island for a short time during WW2. His mother worked in a Colchester department store and cycled each day. That’s an impressive 20 mile round trip and with a full days work in-between. It must have been a trek, especially in the winter setting off in the dark and not getting home before dark too. With no lights avoiding ditches and the Strood itself must have been tricky. Still, I remember my Granny always had a smile and was a plucky woman who never complained.

This is a 12 mile walk that can get muddy in parts, especially along the bank of the Strood, therefore take care if it has rained. Ample pubs, clubs and cafés so no need to pack a lunch.

I changed route avoiding the busy roads by turning right instead of left on the B1025 (at the end of the Strood section) and then using the public footpaths to cut through to Blue Row.

mersea route 1024x460 Mersea Island, Essex, Circular Walk

Mersea Island Route

Distance: 12 Miles
Elevation Range: 0 to 70 feet
Weather Check: Colchester, Essex
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Mersea Island, Essex, Circular Walk
Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010
Local Website: www.mersea-island.com

Southwold Reydon Sandlings Walk Figure-of-Eight Circular Walk

Coastal Walks, I can't think of a category, On The Front Line, Sport, Suffolk, Walking Hiking Navigating No Responses »

Jan 152012

Southwold Pier has a performing water-clock, a café, tourist shops, slot machines and a room full of peculiar machinery such as a rent-a-dog walking machine.

From the Pier I walked south and turned into Ferry Road and along and unmade road beside the Blyth where you can get boat trips, fish and chips, and shell-fish.

The countryside is not thrilling and still slippery and muddy from the rain a few days ago. The town and seaside make up for it and there are plenty of pubs and café’s around, each a convenient stumbling distance from each other.

Southwold reminds me of Fowey in Cornwall. Anyone who has visited both will wonder how I come to that conclusion. Fowey is on a steep hill and Southwold, apart from a mini cliff is flat, Fowey has no beaches (apart from Readymoney cove but that doesn’t count) and Southwold has them everywhere, Fowey’s nearest lighthouse, Gribben Head, is several miles away and Southwold has one parked in the heart of the town, the differences go on.

The similarity is the atmosphere. Friendly people, the sound of gulls and the smell of fish. They are both insular too, the only people who visit them come because they want to, and that’s why I think they are similar.

Distance: 8½ Miles
Elevation Range: 0 to 50 feet
Weather Check: Southwold, Suffolk
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Southwold Reydon Sandlings Walk Figure-of-Eight Circular Walk Route Card
Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010
Local Website: http://www.southwoldpier.co.uk/

The difference between walking north easterly and a south westerly wind

On The Front Line, Walking Hiking Navigating No Responses »

Jan 082012

This picture shows a confusing environment. I was walking North Easterly with the sun behind my right shoulder when to the right of me I saw these trees.

My mind played tricks as I considered the wind that caused them to lean into the sun, normally I would expect a group of trees, all leaning in the same direction, to lean away from prevailing winds.

The sun reveals the direction. This picture taken around 10.30am early January in Suffolk. Yet the group of trees lean toward the South East and not North East as you would expect.

I couldn’t see the wood for the trees!

A momentary lapse in understanding the naming convention used with wind the cause of my confusion.

When we walk, sail, fly and drive in a direction it is that direction that determines the description. I am walking northerly means I am walking toward the north. However if I am experiencing a northerly wind it is coming from the north.

The reason for the trees angle due to a bank reflecting prevailing winds toward the South East (which, if I were to describe as a wind would be North-West wind, but just 500 yards might be stretching the rule too far).

Circular walk from Stoke-by-Clare, Clare Castle, through Ovington and Boyton End

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

Jan 072012

Clare is a small Suffolk town that continues to support local shops which makes it a practical visit as well as pleasant. Parking was free on my visit but suspect this may change as the tourist season begins and for this reason being a walker or hiker will stand you in good stead as there is plenty of free out-of-town parking within easy walking distance.

Having been wet recently mud was a regular feature and as a result a stick was useful for testing depth and sharing weight along muddy banks. Coppice trees and loose sticks along the route provide the necessary equipment so do not worry if you do not own professional equipment (I do not carry a stick, I carry enough extra weight already).

As you can see from the map if you park in Stoke By Clare you can easily split this walk in two. If 12 miles is too much then just do half. I parked outside the Lion Pub which made a good place for lunch.

Distance: 12½ Miles
Elevation Range: 138 to 278 feet
Weather Check: Clare, Suffolk
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Circular walk from Stoke-by-Clare, Clare Castle, through Ovington and Boyton End
Local Website: www.clare-uk.com
Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010

A circular walk around Eye Castle to Yaxley, Thornham Parva and Occold, Suffolk

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

Jan 022012

I would not like to have been in Eye Castle during a siege. Better to be the besiegers than the besieged. If they refused to surrender a fire built around the base would soon persuade the inhabitants to open the gates. Not a 13th century planning success, although emptying the bins couldn’t be easier.

If you are a chicken or bantam fancier then enjoy this short video as it shows a few clips of chickens (I can’t believe I am writing this). The first a handful of “Kentucky Fried”, the next a bunch of bantams hanging out with a goose and finally a fun parade of vulpine entertainment.

Get the Flash Player to see this content.

Distance: 10½ Miles
Elevation Range: 85 to 182 feet
Weather Check: Eye, Suffolk
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Eye Castle to Yaxley, Thornham Parva and Occold, Suffolk Circular Walk
Download the Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010