A walk through the hedgerows, meadows and streams of Rougham

Rougham walks map (Image: Archant)

This is a typical rural Suffolk walk, beside hedgerows, through meadows and over streams. Towards the end of the walk you go through an impressive avenue of mature lime trees towards Rougham church. At the time of walking, tracks and paths were in good condition and walking was on some permissive paths.

To start, leave the car park by the north exit. Cross the road towards the church and turn left on a pavement and then right by a footpath sign, walking on a Tarmac path. When you come out onto a road, turn left. You will then come to a road on your left, signposted Hessett. If you are visiting the Bennett Arms, turn left, then return to this point to continue the walk, carrying on in the same direction.

When the pavement to the right ceases, walk on for approximately 30 yards and turn left by a footpath sign into a private drive. You will soon come to a footpath sign.Turn right for a few paces, then turn left, with fences both sides. Cross a stile into a meadow and turn left, having a hedge to your left. Carry on into another meadow.

After about 70 yards turn left over a stile and immediately right, having a hedge to your right. At the field boundary turn right through some trees and then right by a footpath sign, cross a footbridge and a stile into another meadow before turning left, keeping to the left side of the meadow.

Turn left over a stile and a footbridge and immediately turn right, walking on a wide green path and keeping a hedge to your right.

Just after passing a pillbox to your left, turn right over a footbridge; then carry straight on across a field in front of you, aiming for a gap in the hedge the other side. Once across, go over a footbridge and then across another field, aiming for an electric pylon. At the pylon, cross the field in front of you diagonally left. Once across, turn right on a restricted byway. When you come to a road, cross it very slightly to the left, then through a gap in the hedge, then right on a wide green path. When you come to a field boundary, turn left, having a hedge to your right. When you come to a sleeper bridge, carry on. At the field boundary turn right, walking on a green track. This will soon become a hard surface drive; keep to it.

When you come to a road, cross it, and then a footbridge and a stile, into a meadow and carry on. You will then come to another stile; cross this, and carry on in the same direction. When you come to a footbridge, cross this and continue in the same direction on a green track with a hedge to your left. When you come to a field boundary, turn right, having trees to your left.

When the trees cease, carry on in the same direction on a green track. Just before the track swings to the right, turn left over a ditch, cross a road and carry on in the same direction on a wide green track.

When you come to a crossroad of paths, turn left with fields both sides. Just before you get to a road, turn right, walking on a green path. When you come to the field boundary, turn left and immediately right, walking on a pavement.

Just after passing Mouse Lane on your left, turn right by a footpath sign into a wood bringing you out onto a concrete drive, and turn right. Just before the drive starts to go over the A14, turn right by a footpath sign, walking on a concrete road. The road will then swing to the right.

At a T-junction of two roads turn right, now walking on a Tarmac track. When the track swings left, leave it and carry straight on over a stile and into a meadow; carry straight on, having a fence to your left.

When the fence ceases, carry straight on through an avenue of mature lime trees. Emerging from the trees, aim for the far right-hand corner of the meadow. Once there, go through the kissing gate, back into the car park.