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Suffolk: East Suffolk Line Walks 10. Saxmundham to Melton

Suffolk: East Suffolk Line Walks 10. Saxmundham to Melton


Postby jonathan - norfolk » Tue Aug 27, 2019 4:02 pm

Date walked: 22/08/2019

Time taken: 1 day

Distance: 26 km

Ascent: 200m

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Suffolk: East Suffolk Line Walks 10. Saxmundham to Melton

web_5891 East Suffolk Line Walks Waymark edit.jpg
East Suffolk Line Walks waymark

Introduction

The East Suffolk Line is a railway linking Ipswich and Lowestoft. It gives walkers the opportunity to walk through some of Suffolk's best countryside without using a car. The stations along the line provide good starting and finishing points from which the surrounding countryside can be explored, largely away from traffic.
Over 20 routes have been devised of varying lengths, eleven of which can be joined up to make a long distance trail of over 70 miles. Some of the routes also cover a significant amount of the 93 mile Angles Way.
On Mondays to Saturdays most trains on the East Suffolk line operate to and from London Liverpool Street. A reduced service operates on Sundays.
A free A5 Booklet is available as a PDF file: https://www.suffolkonboard.com
Individual routes may be downloaded from: http://www.eastsuffolkline.com/walks

We didn't refer to the "official" route at all in planning our walk and the stretch from Saxmundham to Wickham Market was followed to the north and west of the railway line. The "official" walk, 12. The Alde Valley Walk, takes a route south and east of the railway line to Wickham Market Station. From Wickham Market Station (and its café) café the Deben Valley Walk was followed much as shown on the web link.

Saxmundham to Wickham Market

St Mary's Church, Benhall, quite apart from being of interest in its own right, has a C.17th Jacobean pulpit. The south door is Norman and in a very good state of repair.
web_5879 Benhall edit.jpg
St Mary's Church, Benhall


Great Glemham
web_5886 Great Glemham.jpg
Great Glemham


We also briefly visited the Church of St Andrew, Marlesford. Simpler, but the experience was enhanced by the sound of the (very welcoming) choir practicing within.
web_5889 Marlesford Church of St Andrew edit.jpg
Church of St Andrew, Marlesford

Overall this section provided an interesting walk, although some of the paths and stiles were overgrown in places. The secateurs were deployed more than once in order to ease progress.

Wickham Market to Melton

We took a late lunch in at Campsey Ash (liquid refreshment at The Duck, and a hot sandwich at the Wickham Market Station Café just 50m up the road).
The paths on this section were better way marked and there was much less need for secateurs. The route continues very pleasantly and eventually joins a section of the Sandlings Path at Bromeswell.
It is possible after crossing the river on the Bromeswell/Melton border to continue to Melton railway station along the Sandlings Path (a better alternative than the road, which we took) as you can reach the station from that side as well.
web_5900 Bromeswell.jpg
The river at Bromeswell and Melton


There is much to explore in the area, and I shall certainly be returning very soon to explore the area further.


our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Length: 16.0 miles 26 km Ascent: +200m -206m Naismith: 5h 27m
jonathan - norfolk
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Re: Suffolk: East Suffolk Line Walks 10. Saxmundham to Melto

Postby Stephcart » Mon May 31, 2021 10:35 am

Thanks, Jonathan, for this post

I completed the Ipswich to Lowestoft "main walk" earlier this month and thoroughly enjoyed it. Gently rolling countryside, but with good variety of agriculture, woodland, estuary shore, and some really lovely villages. Historic Sutton Hoo just off route at Woodbridge was also a bonus.

Great transport as the walk is based around a railway line (but rarely walks next to the track), and the beautiful Suffolk coast with its historic towns is not far away for afterwalk visits.

Steph
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