Manningtree Circular
Hello, hello, hello it's Constable Country. Lets be 'avin you down to the River Stour, Dedham and Flatford Mill
Book 1 Walk 39
Length : 17½ km or 10½ miles
Toughness : 4 out of 10
Getting there : Catch the 10:00 am Norwich train from London Liverpool Street to Manningtree (this one doesn't stop at Stratford)
Meeting point : Manningtree Station at 10:55
Tickets : Buy a cheap day return to Manningtree
Brief Description
You can see how this area will have inspired John Constable to paint with meadows of long grass, classic riverside paths, Flatford mill and the town of Dedham.
Incidentally, many of the high street properties in Dedham had a Victorian makeover where a new façade was added (If you have an opportunity to climb the tower at St. Mary's Church, these are easily spotted)
Plenty of choices for lunch in Dedham and an NT tea stop a mile or so before the end of the walk.
There's also a friendly buffet on Maningtree station (so no excuses for missing the train) where you can get a cuppa or something a little stronger.
You may find full details of this walk here
Incidentally, many of the high street properties in Dedham had a Victorian makeover where a new façade was added (If you have an opportunity to climb the tower at St. Mary's Church, these are easily spotted)
Plenty of choices for lunch in Dedham and an NT tea stop a mile or so before the end of the walk.
There's also a friendly buffet on Maningtree station (so no excuses for missing the train) where you can get a cuppa or something a little stronger.
You may find full details of this walk here
Suggested Lunch stops
Dedham Centre Tearoom t: 01206 322 677
The Sun Hotel t: 01206 323 351The Essex Rose t: 01206 323 101
Suggested Tea stops
Bridge Cottage Tearoom, Flatford t: 01206 298260 (National Trust and where nearby, Constable painted some of his classics)
Map
OS Explorer : 196
Return train times
Trains return from Manningtree Station at 2, 19 and 53 minutes past the hour. (The 2 minutes past is a slower train)
3 comments:
Lets be 'havin you? Manningtree is miles from Norwich!
Manningtree is indeed miles from Norwich, but since Norwich is the final destination of the train you're getting, it's helpful to be told this. It's the final destination that is prominently displayed on departure boards, so knowing this information helps you to locate the right platform quickly.
Just n=3 on this walk in glorious w=warm-and-sunny-24C weather. I have done this walk quite a few times over the years but only in autumn and winter so what a treat to do it on a perfect early summer's day on dry trails and paths across fields and through woods. Dedham looked as if it had been prepared for a period film set with the main street's buildings looking quite splendid. A high quality lunch was taken at the Sun although for my veggie option I would have liked a slightly bigger portion. Still this was solved at the excellent Bridge Cottage Tearoom where we had tea and huge slices of cake. A duck ambled in to join us but was swiftly shown the door.
We set off on the final leg and easily made our "target" 16.53 train - and what a pleasure to do the raised path in dry weather rather than splattering your way through mud. A perfect mid-week day out.
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