This undulating walk on the Suffolk and Essex border takes in the River Stour, walking on a dismantled railway, by some farms, on permissive paths and passes a mill and lakes and ponds. It also takes in the villages of Long Melford and Liston

To start the walk go to the footpath sign, go through a gap in the hedge walking on a green path soon going through some trees. You will soon come to a lattice fence which you will have to negotiate to get over. Once over you will be in a meadow, go slightly diagonally left across this where you will come to a stile, cross this and then immediately a footbridge and you will then come to a metal gate, go through this and carry straight on in the same direction on a footpath with a hedge to your left.

You will then very quickly have the River Stour to your left, just stick to the path as the river meanders on its own course. You will then come to another stile, cross this and carry on in the same direction on the same path. When you come to a path on the left going across an old railway bridge ignore that and keep on the same path as it bears right. You will then very soon have a field to your right; just carry on, on the same path. The path will then go down a dip into a wide green path with banks both sides which is a dismantled railway line. The track that you are walking on will swing to the right through some old gate posts just keep to the same track as it goes through some trees.

You will then come to a metal gate, if it is not possible to get through the gate walk just to the left across a very small concrete bridge across a stream where you will come out onto a road then turn to the left walking on the road. Shortly after passing a disused factory to your left turn left by a footpath sign walking on a green path, just stick to this path as it zigs and zags always keeping the same field to your left until you are faced by a wire fence, turn right walking on a path soon having trees to your left and another field to your right. You will then soon have a metal bridge to your left over the River Stour, cross this and once across turn right walking on a path keeping a wire fence to your left, just stick to this path as zigs and zags, always keeping the same fence to your left till you come to a double footpath sign, just carry straight on in the same direction leaving the fence behind walking on a track that almost immediately swings to the right.

You will then quickly come out onto a concrete track with a barn to your right, turn right at this point walking on a concrete track with fields both sides. When the concrete track ceases carry on in the same direction now walking on a wide farm track. You will then come to a wide green path to your right, turn right here then the path will soon swing to the left with bushes and brambles to your left. Once past them it will straighten up, just keep to this path which will soon be joined by another one from the left. Just carry on in the same direction with fields both sides.

From this you path ill get good views of Kentwell Hall to your left. When you come to some allotments turn left just in front of them for a few paces and immediately right keeping trees to your right. When you come to a T junction of paths turn right and then immediately left which will take you very quickly to a footbridge, cross the bridge where you have iron railings to your right, go to the end of these and turn right walking on a path with a metal fence to your left. When you come to a fork in the paths keep to the left one with Long Melford Cricket Ground to your left.

You will then quickly come to a T junction of footpaths, turn left going through some metal railings having a wooden fence to your right and the cricket ground to your left. You will then come out onto a road, just cross this and carry on in the same direction walking on a tarmac path with a wooden fence to your left, just keep to this path and it will bring you out onto Long Melford High Street with the library to your left.

Turn right walking on the pavement but if you are using the pub, cross the road and then return to this point. When you come to St. Catherine’s Road to your right ignore this and carry on in the same direction and take the next road to your right, Liston Lane. This will bring you out onto another road at a bend, just carry straight on in the same direction keeping a meadow to your left and you will soon be crossing the River Stour.

When you come to a T junction of roads with Liston church to your right, turn right signposted ‘Glemsford and Clare’. You will then come to a footpath sign to your left, turn left at this point walking on a track with fields both sides. This track will eventually take you out onto a road on a bend passing Park Farm cottages to the right on the way, turn left walking on the road - you have already walked this road in reverse earlier on in the walk.

Roughly 60 yards after this road swings sharply to the left go up some steps to your right by a footpath sign and when you get to the top you will be faced by a large field, just carry on, on the path across the field in front of you. When you arrive the other side of the field go down a smallish but sharp slope and then walking through a gap in the fence keeping a barbed wire fence to your left for about 15 yards and then turn left with the fence then carry on in the same direction keeping the same fence to your left. You are now walking on a permissive path. Just before you get to a metal gate turn right soon keeping a pond to your right and having a barbed wire fence to your left. When you come to a T junction of paths turn left and immediately go through a metal gate then over a footbridge and cross a stile into a meadow and once in the meadow aim for the far right hand corner of the meadow when you will see a lattice fence that you crossed earlier on in the walk. Cross this and carry on for a few paces and turn left walking on a path between trees and bushes. Just keep to this path until it takes you back to Pentlow Road and then turn left back to your starting point.