Length 8⅓ miles (13½ km)
Toughness 2/3 out of 10
Getting there
Catch the 10:00 Ipswich train from London Liverpool Street arriving at Manningtree 10:55Getting back
There are three trains per hour back from Manningtree station, two at 19 and 53 minutes past the hour and a slightly slower service at 2 minutes past the hour. This slower service stops at Stratford which may be more convenient for walkers who live in East or Southeast London.
Walkers may wish to take advantage of the unusual but friendly station buffet which can provide cakes, tea and stronger drinks
Tickets
Buy a cheap day return to ManningtreeOverview
This is a delightful walk which really dispels the myth that walking in Essex is flat and boring. Lunch is at Dedham which sports two tearooms and at least two pubs.
On leaving Dedham and at point 34 on the Walk Details, be careful to take the left hand track (there are two) as the main road swings right ignoring the finger post which points down the right hand track.
At point 40 on the Walk Details, and to follow the short option, turn right along the River Stour.
The recommended tea stop is at Flatford Mill where you can also visit the John Constable Exhibition.
On our last visit, the section of the route about 500 metres after Flatford Mill was being widened. Hopefully this is now complete.
L=1.39
T=1.39
2 comments:
There were n=4 of us who gathered at Manningtree station on an initially cloudy morning which managed to turn quite wet as soon as it had a chance. The views over the flat meadows carpeted with buttercups and later gently rolling hills were nevertheless stupendous particularly in the afternoon. The weather for once lived up to its expectations of w='sunny_and_warm’ post lunch. The Sun Inn Pub served some very good Italian food to three of us while the fourth member disappeared to have a quick power nap in the graveyard (or so he said); only one degree less mysterious than the spy I had on a recent art study trip. Dedham has some wonderful architecture in St Mary’s and the former Methodist church (now arts and crafts centre). Fine Dutch gabling too in many houses. Only one, now that the sun was shining, made a small detour to admire another St Mary’s, this time in East Bergholt, and had a glance at the Old Hall in passing. Most interesting was the cage with huge bells , still rung by hand, next to the church. Caught up with patient fellow walkers to continue for tea at Flatford Mill. The extensive valley views were reminiscent of Albert Cuyk’s paintings with young bulls larking about and wandering through the Stour river.
We all agreed that the afternoon was the most delightful part of the walk: after Flatford Lock, along the Stour, slowly meandering, both us and the river, to Manningtree station, where 3 got the 5pm train. One thought it was a shame to leave at such a beautiful moment and went back to the Stour for another hour to enjoy early evening sun & extended walk (Recommended: small diversion direction Cattiswade, only drawback is a 10 min walk along busy road but the current route is a 20 minute unexciting inland walk).
Pia
w=initially_cloudy_then_sunny_and_warm_after_lunch
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