Richard Tyson explores footpaths between the villages of Wenhaston and Bramfield.
These two villages are separated by mostly unspoilt rural scenery, but with two connecting footpath routes. Short sections of quiet lanes are also included, with a start and finish at open- access Wenhaston Heath. At Bramfield, a side path leads to interesting ancient earthworks.
Park at Blackheath and find a wooden sign opposite which “leads to a public footpath”. An identical sign is near the holiday site further on; either track will do, as both lead to a footpath – from a cottage across a grassy meadow – to a footbridge. One hundred yards further, turn right at footpath signs on a gate, then go uphill, with the extraordinary award-winning (how?) bungalow called “Balancing Barn” on the right. Sigh with relief as you reach round-towered Thorington Church, which has some interesting gargoyles.
Continue the walk by turning right for only 30 yards, then taking the signed footpath (1) to the left. Go down this path, beside some ugly white metal fencing, then pass through metal gates at the start and exit of a mown garden-like area. Keep straight ahead on a headland between a hedge on the right and a fence. Do NOT swing left at the end of the field but use a slightly overgrown but waymarked path to change sides of the hedge; then resume the same straight direction on a wide grassy headland. In five minutes, pass a derelict cottage and, 200 yards further, bear right along the edge of the wood. Map 231 shows the route. Keep straight at a sharp bend in the grass (leave the headland) and go straight on to reach a stile. Another stile is ahead and a third must be spotted beyond the gap of three hawthorns and an electricity pole; go over that stile and the route ahead veers left, then goes fairly straight down to a footbridge. Most paths hereabouts have been marked out by the landowner and are visible to a sharp eye.
Go up the next field using the headland, with the hedge on the left, and find a waymark pole (2) at the corner of the hedge where there is a small pond.
Turn sharp right on a path towards a large hedge gap and go straight on towards four trees, crossing a sleeper bridge before the trees and another pond. Veer a little right and cross the cornfield to a stile a little to the right of the big wood. Now a lovely headland path is ahead and soon the houses of Bramfield can be seen. Ignore a path coming from the right and in about 12 minutes reach a tarred lane. Go left past the village hall to the A144.
Having had a look at Bramfield Church, with its detached round tower, continue the walk by going along the A144 pavement towards Halesworth (signposted). As the village ends, turn right along the lane past Bramfield Meats’ depot on the left and continue for about 10 minutes until the Tarmac lane turns sharp right after Holly Tree Farm (3). Go up the track in front, indicated by a damaged signpost. At the top of the hill, waymarks guide you left, then right through a hedge. Follow the next field boundary – straight ahead, then left, and follow the hedge as it turns right, then goes downhill to a good bridge. Follow a line of telegraph poles across the next field to the corner where the route passes through a hedge gap. Now follow the hedge to Westgate (chicken) Farm across a narrow lane. Take a path 15 yards to the left and go alongside the sheds. Where the sheds end, go across the field to a lone oak and turn left there and then right (4) to reach another tarred lane.
Do not enter the machinery area but turn right, then in 250 yards turn left on a dirt track from which you soon bear right through open heath to reach the start.
• Walked by Richard and Jennifer Tyson in May 2016 with help from members of the Alde Valley Group of Ramblers.
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