Richard Tyson explores an area of Suffolk peppered with small hills.
Badingham village lies mostly along the village street which leaves the A1120 road at the White Horse. Our walk starts between the main road and the church which is also the end point of the walk. The route is over rural small hills (similar to the Cotswolds) around the uppermost reaches of the dwindling River Alde.
Park the car and go towards the church tower. Soon see a footpath sign to the left. Take this path. Four right angle bends (right, left, right, lead to the route up the right hand side of the first field. Continue straight and, after a footbridge is crossed, Dennington Wood is on the left (note the numerous deer footprints). The path rises past trees to a concrete pad where you detour 20 yards to go through a gateway and resume the same direction following black and white signs. Reach conifers and descend between gardens turning left on a drive. At the main road go over and up the lane opposite then turn left at a footpath just past cottages.
Follow the headland until a small pond is passed. Cross a plank bridge and turn right. Keep beside a hedge for 300 yards then change sides and continue in the same direction towards distant Great Lodge Cottages but turn left on a track just before them (you could have shortened the walk by following the tarred road). The drive goes to Great Lodge (a modern house) and there, following path changes not shown on my map, you keep straight ahead to Fisk’s Farm
Cross the road at Fisk’s Farm and go left for 25 yards. Turn right (signpost on the other side of the road). The field path was faintly trodden out towards the dip in the land where an excellent footbridge crosses a stream. Attractive trees border the stream and early hawthorn was just coming into flower. Waymarks lead right and left and up a grassy headland to a pond. Our route turns left over a field, roughly furrowed on my visit as the rainy weather had hampered farm work. Head towards an iron gate at the left corner of the hedge visible across the field. Pass through the gate and go between hedges then exit through large and small gates. Bear right beside trees and soon reach a minor road. Go left for 100 yards and take the path on your right, which goes over fields directly to Badingham.
Emerge opposite the White Horse pub. Cross over and go right uphill; where the A1120 road goes right enter the footpath straight ahead through paddocks and at a lane go left for 50 yards. Bear right at another FP sign through a hedge then take the headland on the left. Keep on for three fields then turn left at a waymark post. Now the path goes beside trees and a ditch. After you pass Brick Kiln Farm descend and go left on a tarred lane. Turn right up Mill Road. At a pair of cottages go left beside a hedge then in five minutes turn left and emerge in the churchyard (NB: this path is not quite the same route as your map shows). After a look at the church exit to the left towards your start.
Walked by Richard Tyson of the Alde Valley Ramblers and fellow member David Cotton in March, 2016.
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