Monthly Walk
Our first walk in 2025 will be on Saturday 11th of January. We will leave Stonehouse Road car park at 0930 and proceed via Love Lane, Kersey Vale, Priory Farm, College Farm, Lindsey Hall, Sampson’s Hall, Oaks Tye and return to Hadleigh via the Monks Path and Toppesfield Bridge. The distance of the entire route is around 10 miles, and we should be back in Hadleigh around 1330. We will have two short refreshment stops along the way.
As usual, we aim to average a not-too-demanding 2.5 mph (4 km/hr) and walkers need to be able to maintain this pace. Strong shoes or walking boots should be worn as the ground can be rough and muddy in any month. Everyone is welcome, including well-behaved dogs.
Route maps can be requested from this web site.
Wool Town Walks
Some of you may want to do other local walks and will be interested to know about the recently launched Wool Town Walks. This is a circular walk of a little over 50 miles and includes the main local towns famous when the wool trade was at its peak. The walk is split into 4 segments that can be completed individually or as a single walk as below:-
Sudbury to Clare 12 miles
Clare to Lavenham 13 miles
Lavenham to Hadleigh 12 miles
Hadleigh to Sudbury 14.5 miles
Full details can be obtained from www.wooltownswalk.co.uk and there are detailed route brochures available from Hadleigh Library, the Council Offices and St Mary’s Church.
The walking group will be arranging a series of circular walks encompassing parts of the routes over the next few months. We will update this website shortly to include further walk details.
ADVICE FOR WALKERS
Most of our walks are suitable for any reasonably fit person but it is worth stressing that it is up to the individual to assure themselves they are healthy enough to complete the distances and terrain involved at the group’s normal pace.
Although modern boots are very comfortable, walkers should previously carry out shorter walks in new boots before embarking on 8 or 9 milers. Regarding clothing, it is well worth listening to a weather forecast and dressing accordingly. Best to overdress as taking layers off is far easier than wishing one had brought an extra pullover!
We will generally have a short breaks mid walk so walkers are advised to bring a small snack and something to drink. It is unusual for us to pass any shops enroute.
Finally, we suggest that each walker carry a small first aid kit for minor problems and these are readily available from outlets like Boots.