Enjoy Easton’s quiet lanes and grassy tracks

Route of the Easton life (Image: Archant)

This walk makes a circuit from Easton through quiet lanes and on grassy tracks to historic Letheringham Priory and Church. The paths give views of the Deben Valley and are later along the boundary of the Easton Estate, which is marked by a sinuous “crinkle-crankle” wall.

Turn left out of the car park and go round the corner past the pub and church. Immediately after the Hunt Kennels take the path to the left. Cross a pretty bridge over the River Deben and continue through woodland. When a tarred lane is reached go straight on towards timber-clad Letheringham Mill. Stay on the road past the hall, still on Tarmac. There was a fine show of autumnal berries in the hedges as I continued for a few minutes and turned right. I then took the footpath (second of two just here) signposted to the left just after a cottage.

Follow the grass headland then at another minor road turn right uphill towards the “30” signs and take the footpath pointing left just past the farm. The route ahead is on a wide grass track between arable fields with views down into the Deben Valley and beyond. Keep straight leaving the wood called Cutters Grove on the right. After the wood cross the footbridge on the right just before the track veers left. The route is straight from here, first along the field edge, then with Cutters Grove on the right after passing a lone oak.

At the next footbridge you see Letheringham Church in the distance. Soon the right of way is through paddocks via three small gates to the old brick building known as the Priory Gatehouse (there are some waymarks for the opposite direction but it may be acceptable to follow the stream then use another footpath up the field to the same point).

Go over the wall by the steps into the churchyard. If you can, visit the church with its interesting relics of the 12th Century Priory. Exit the churchyard by metal gates then through a paddock where I needed to go round some fencing to reach the exit track leading downhill to a road. Turn left on Tarmac then right. Cross the Deben and continue for three minutes. Take the path to the left, which is waymarked up to the road from Easton. Turn left for 50 yards then continue on the path to the right along the far side of the hedge. At the wood turn right and in a few minutes reach and turn left up the road.

In 300 yards take the path on the right between fences, continuing into open fields after a massive oak and a footbridge. Keep beside woodland for half a mile then turn right at a signpost. Remnants of the wall are beside you. After the sports ground is passed turn right along the road to the start.