Stowmarket Walk
We walked Stowmarket, a small market town situated in Suffolk. It was the first walking of this year. It was slightly overcast and it was a good weather for walk. We printed out a map and description from Suffolk Rail Way Walks indication. We sometimes got lost a bit, but we completed this 5 and 1/2 miles course (strictly speaking I think we walked about 6 miles, because we got lost...).
Route +
In my opinion, this riverside path was not so nice, because it's alongside of the factory. But it's only a part of walking route:)
After we crossed the bridges over the river Gipping and the river Rat, passed the roundabout and turned right on Needham Road, there was a beautiful half timbered house.
We crossed roads and walked public footpaths. They were simple paths but we went back and forth looking for a path;p
Tada! A wonderful field of nature showed up on our steps. It was quite impressive!
Description say 'turn right on a grass strip across the field, marked with a footpath sign...', but we reached at a road. So we turned back and found that a footpath sign was hidden. Ahh..
We walked on a grass strip across the field and followed signs.
If you can see this Combs' village sign board, you've already missed 'Jacks Lane'.
We didn't walk on a long narrow section of woodland as description say, but walked on grass path. Eventually it was connected by a path to woodland.
This is an open grass recreation area. We kept walking along the left edge, and then found the road, Combs Lane.
We had a lunch at the Magpie pub. It was a quite comfortable pub. But the pub was not the goal of this course. After we had a lunch, we walked on Ipswich street and went back to the station:)
Route +
We started from Stowmarket railway station and turned left to the path along the river Gipping.
In my opinion, this riverside path was not so nice, because it's alongside of the factory. But it's only a part of walking route:)
After we crossed the bridges over the river Gipping and the river Rat, passed the roundabout and turned right on Needham Road, there was a beautiful half timbered house.
We crossed roads and walked public footpaths. They were simple paths but we went back and forth looking for a path;p
Tada! A wonderful field of nature showed up on our steps. It was quite impressive!
Description say 'turn right on a grass strip across the field, marked with a footpath sign...', but we reached at a road. So we turned back and found that a footpath sign was hidden. Ahh..
We walked on a grass strip across the field and followed signs.
We finally reached the road and walked along a street. We were in a small village, Combs. It was actually a lovely old village. You can see some picturesque thatched cottages and farms.
Sometimes fresh eggs, vegetables and plants were sold on the side of the road. I wanted to buy some, if it was not walking.We had paid attention to not miss 'Jacks Lane', but again, we missed it, because there was no sign... We relied just on printed-out map and description, and sometimes on our instincts, but this time, the big mouse used google map on his i-phone.
If you can see this Combs' village sign board, you've already missed 'Jacks Lane'.
Followed Jacks Lane, we turned right on the path at the bottom of the hill.
We didn't walk on a long narrow section of woodland as description say, but walked on grass path. Eventually it was connected by a path to woodland.
This is an open grass recreation area. We kept walking along the left edge, and then found the road, Combs Lane.
We had a lunch at the Magpie pub. It was a quite comfortable pub. But the pub was not the goal of this course. After we had a lunch, we walked on Ipswich street and went back to the station:)
5-6 miles walking course is reasonable and suitable for beginners. We are satisfied this course, and are going to challenge another course in the near future.
