Chris Barker explores the Suffolk villages Alpheton and Shimpling on foot
An undulating walk in the parishes of Alpheton and Shimpling taking in Alpheton church. In Shimpling look out for the redundant phone box, now a library. Some hard surface walking but mainly done on tracks and paths in good condition.
Leave the car park and back to the road and turn right then a quick right by a bridleway sign walking through trees, soon coming to the A134, cross and carry on straight ahead now walking on a track. You will eventually come to a footpath sign on your left, turn right walking on a grass track. When the trees cease to your left turn left off the track you are on, on another track and after about three or four paces turn right walking to the left hand side of a large field having newly planted trees to your left.
When the trees to your left cease turn left then through a gap in a hedge and when you come to a gravel drive, cross this and carry about 25 yards and then turn right by a footpath sign walking on a grassy track.
Cross a footbridge, which will bring you out onto a road and turn left. Just after passing a sign for Shimpling turn left at a footpath sign, cross a footbridge and carry on straight ahead, having a large field to your left. After about 70 yards turn right over a footbridge and turn left, now having a field to your right. At the field boundary turn right having a hedge to your left. The path will then swing to the right. At a footpath sign to your right, turn right across a plank bridge and out onto a road, turn left. Just after passing a village hall sign to your left turn left down the road.
When you come to a T-junction carry on in the same direction having a footpath sign to your right walking on a track having two bungalows to your left. Cross a ditch and carry on in the same direction on the same track, cross a field then through a gap in the hedge and carry straight on, having sporadic bushes to your right. Go through another gap in the trees and carry straight on, on a green path. You will then go straight on through some trees and cross a bridge.
Carry on having a tall hedge to your left. When you come to a gate go through this and carry straight on, on a track in front of you having hedges both sides. When you are faced by a gate turn right by a footpath sign having a stable to your left, then turn quick left still having the stable to your left. You will then come out onto a concrete area, cross slightly diagonally left and then carry straight on, on a track.
You will then come to a footpath sign on your left, turn left and carry straight on having a field to your right. When you come to the field boundary on your right, turn right walking on a green track with a hedge to your left. The track will then become a concrete one and carry on in the same direction and you will soon be faced by a road (if you wish to visit Alpheton church turn right then return to this point) and turn left on a road. When you eventually come to a T-junction in the road turn left bringing you back to the A134, keep walking in the same direction on a pavement. When the pavement ceases cross the road and turn left walking on another pavement, when that ceases turn right soon picking up an old road. At a T-junction of roads turn right and this will take you back to your starting point on the left.
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