Cyril Francis walks a route with some interesting features and lovely landscape close to the Heritage Coast
Light sandy soils, cart tracks and a lengthy stretch of green lane are prominent features on this entertaining walk, which takes you from Snape to Friston and back. The route passes St Mary’s church at Friston, where you have the option of viewing one of the items contained in the book 100 Years, 100 Treasures. Attached to the north wall of the church nave is a massive James I coat of arms. It is fully over six feet square and carved from boards five inches thick. Well worth seeing.
Leave parking area, turn right and follow roadside path to point just before road bends right. Cross over and continue beside hedge, soon curving right. Continue on green path; marked on map as Guilding’s Lane and later enclosed by hedgerows. Pass sports field on left and afterwards turn left at road junction ahead (1).
Continue on road; take signed restricted byway in front and head down broad path. Keep following lengthy stretch of green avenue, accompanied by thick hedgerows either side. Pass isolated cottage and later meet rising ground and open countryside. Continue ahead to eventually find rough track going right (2).
Turn left here as signposted and continue down left edge of field. Pass deep depression and thicket in field to reach boundary. Cross straight over road, enter field, and after about two thirds distance, bear half left and follow path to boundary. Cross strip of grassland, aim for hedge gap, bear left and afterwards turn right to join Low Road in Friston village (3).
Proceed along Low Road, later cross Aldeburgh road and then right into Grove Road. After about 200 yards, look left, go over stile and cross uncultivated field to reach St Mary’s church. After optional visit, go down slope to village hall. Keep forward, bear left and follow narrow surfaced path (4).
Cross Aldeburgh road again, join Mill Road and reach conserved post mill ahead. Just before mill, turn right to cross grassy area and cultivated field (5). At boundary, veer left through long grass to reach hedge. Go through gap, cross parkland and then left onto access driveway. Later swing left and right to join Sloe Lane (Track). Pass four-way fingerpost and turn left at road in front. Head towards Snape Church and return to departure point.
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