A hall, a valley and a hamlet

Route of the Long Melford walk (Image: Archant)

This is a lovely autumn walk with a medieval feel, taking in the picturesque hamlet of Bridge Street and the Chad Valley, Kentwell Hall and part of St Edmunds Way.

Immediately before the start of the walk is the hospital of the Holy and Blessed Trinity established in 1573 and still being used today (see picture of plaque).

Entering the churchyard immediately turn left on a Tarmac path and through a gate onto a track. When the track swings right walk straight ahead aiming for a stile. After roughly 30 yards turn right through a chain gate and straight across a meadow. Cross a stile into a meadow and walk across the meadow, slightly to the left.

Once across, cross a stile and after a few paces turn left on a hard surface. About 30 yards before the entrance to Kentwell Hall turn left by a footpath sign, walking on a track. Just before the third gate turn right, walking on grass with a hedge to your left. Go through a chain gate walking on a hard surface track and when you come to a crossroad of tracks carry on in the same direction.

After a slight bend turn right by a footpath sign on your left, keeping a wood to your left. Just after passing a small wood to your right turn left walking on a path across a meadow. Cross a track in front of you, walking on a green path with a hedge to your right and turn right, having a footpath sign in front of you, walking on a green path. Go straight across a field aiming for a gap in the hedge the other side.

Once across, cross another field slightly to your right then turn left, having a hedge to your right. When you come out onto a road turn right then very quickly left and walk straight on, keeping a green to your left. Cross a stile, with a fence to your right. When the fence turns right go with it then cross a stile and walk straight ahead towards a main road.

If using The Brambles Tea Rooms turn left, then return to this point to continue the walk. Cross the road and continue up a road slightly to the right. Quickly turn right by a footpath sign, walking on a green path, keeping a brook to your right. At a footpath sign on your right, turn right, cross a bridge and turn left on a green track. Keep to this track, always having the brook to your left, until you come to a ford over the brook. At this point turn right and a very quick left on a grass track.

When you come to the field boundary on your right, turn right having a sporadic hedge to your left. When the track swings right turn left through a gap in the hedge, over a bridge. Turn right keeping a field to your left. The path will then swing to left, then left again. Always keep the same field to your left. Coming out onto a road, cross this and pick up a footpath slightly to your left across a field.

Once across, turn right walking on a track. Just before the track swings to the right turn left over a stream and then a quick right, having the stream to your right. Go between two wooden posts and out onto a road. Cross this and turn left walking on a pavement. After passing the entrance to Kentwell Hall turn right at the end of a flint wall walk to the right of a green. Carry straight on into churchyard keeping a brick wall to your left and then left to your starting point.