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Suffolk: East Suffolk Line Walks 10. Saxmundham to Melton
- East Suffolk Line Walks waymark
IntroductionThe 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.comIndividual routes may be downloaded from:
http://www.eastsuffolkline.com/walksWe 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.
- St Mary's Church, Benhall
Great Glemham
- 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.
- 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 MeltonWe 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.
- 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.
Length: 16.0 miles 26 km Ascent: +200m -206m Naismith: 5h 27m