Richard Tyson follows an easy-walking route with pretty views, and a few sleepy sheep thrown in.
This is an easy circular walk in the woodland, meadows and slopes beside the Alde Valley. Pretty rural scenery on well-marked rights of way with some permissive paths and quiet lanes.
Start at the “phonebox library” almost outside Great Glemham church and go left up the road towards Marlesford. In five minutes pass some cottages then turn left on the marked footpath. The grass headland gives a pleasant view of the church on your left. In three minutes keep straight on at a three-way footpath sign marked “official path creation”. Hazelnuts in the hedge should be ripe when you read this; ignore a permissive path notice at a gap and keep the hedge on your left until you are 100 yards from the woodland ahead. Now pass through the hedge gap but maintain the same direction until you descend steps and reach a quiet minor road. Turn left and go down the road where nice trees line the road.
At the road junction go straight ahead (signed to as Cycle Route 41!) to the gate lodge of Glemham House. In 15 yards more take the footpath to the right and continue in the meadow beside another wood passing lovely oak trees. Ignore the path to the right and in eight minutes reach a three-way junction at a massive tree stump. Turn left through the field then on a track to White House Farm leaving several gates as you find them.
A flock of sheep were snoozing under a tree as I continued straight ahead under some rustic arches then on the path straight ahead across a field to a hedge gap near two dead trees. At the next field continue ahead to a footpath exit next to a new electricity pole.
Bear right along this long straight towards Sweffling then, approaching the first house, turn left uphill on the footpath track (signpost in the hedge). After passing a barn it is pleasant to look back at the Alde valley and the woods beyond. Sweffling church tower is seen. Keep straight on until a small bridge is crossed near a wooded pond; change sides of the hedge here but keep the same direction. Just before woodland take the footpath to the left beside the wood and follow it down then bear right up to a road. Great Glemham church tower is seen now but, at the road, go right then in 25 yards go left taking a permissive path. Go downhill then turn left at the bottom on a track.
Reach another road and turn left then in 300 yards just before the old school turn uphill on a field path and left at the top. Emerge opposite the church.
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