Clare to Long Melford

This walk takes you east from Clare to Melford Country Park at Rodbridge and, if you wish, to the Nethergate Brewery. You are quickly taken to higher ground to the south of the River Stour where you can enjoy views across the Valley. This is a very rural walk across some beautiful countryside with only a small amount of road walking on minor roads.

1 From the car park walk directly east on the broad path past the Old Goods Shed and the Railway Station building. Cross a wooden bridge and a railway bridge over the Chilton Stream. Immediately after the second bridge take a climbing path to your left to reach a housing estate. Cross the bridge over the railway walk, passing Mill House to your right and on to a footbridge over the old mill race.

2 Cross the bridge and follow the path slightly left across a field, taking the metal footbridge over the River Stour. You are now in Essex! Keep straight ahead across the field. On reaching a road, go left on it for 200 metres before turning left on a bridleway which heads again towards the river. Another bridleway joins from the right at a signed junction. Turn right on this bridleway heading uphill. (If you reach Rat’s Castle cottage you will have gone 200m beyond the junction). After 150m the path bears left, to the south of a hedge. There is then a long section travelling due east, passing a poplar grove and entering a section of woodland (care: can be muddy in winter) as it meets the river.

3 When you reach the metalled road with the Bowers Hall Bore Hole building on your left, turn right, walking up a steep hill. When the hill starts to level out you will see a finger post pointing to the left through a wooded area. Follow the path through the middle of the trees. On leaving the wooded area walk straight across the field but pause for a moment and take in the stunning view across the valley (it’s one of the few places you will see both Clare and Cavendish in the same vista!).

4 Where the path splits turn right towards the hedgerow and keep this on your right until you come to a gap. Through the gap, turn left and keep the hedgerow on your left until you pass a house and pond. You will come to a crossing over a ditch on your left, follow the path passing an open barn structure on your left until you come to the metalled driveway to the house. Turn right and look for the footpath sign on your left, head across the field to the corner of the woods and follow the path to the road. Turn right, this is a short road section taking you into Pentlow.

5 At the T junction turn left and after a short distance you will see a footpath on your right between a paddock area and housing. Follow the path down the side of the field and along the bottom until you come to a gap in the hedge on your right. Go through the gap and almost immediately turn left and continue along the wide grass track towards Bradfields Farm.

6 Follow the metalled road through the farm with the barn on your left. At the top of the road when you reach the farm sign go through the gap in hedge, walk directly across the field to the hedgerow, keeping it to your left. Keep walking until you reach the edge of a field (do not turn hard left). At this point follow the path through an obvious opening into a second field. In this field the path bears slightly right until you reach the road where you then turn left.

7 Walking on the road past Bellybones Cottage look for the fingerpost on the right. (In the spring these meadows are full of wildflowers and look beautiful). Keep on this path (ignore the bridge crossing on your left) until you reach the corner of the meadow where you find a small opening which takes you to a gravelled driveway of a private house. Carry straight on until you see the pond on your right (by the driveway to Claypit House). Keep straight on, crossing over a small bridge into a field, keep right and follow the edge of the field. Please also ignore the first footbridge on your right, carry straight on down the field and approximately 50 metres after you pass under some power lines you will see a footbridge over a wide ditch on your right. Cross the bridge and follow the hedgerow for a short distance. At the end of the hedgerow follow the path across the field (veering right) towards the corner of a yard with disused barns (part of Purkiss Farm).

8 Once at the barns you will reach a metalled road, turn left and follow the road until you come to a sweeping T junction and turn left towards Borley. As you approach Borley the church will come into view and just before the 30mph signs you will see an opening in the hedge on your left. Follow this track behind the church. When you reach the gate follow the path directly down the hill keeping the ditch and hedgerow on your left.

9 When the hill levels out the path goes directly across a field towards the corner of a paddock. Follow the path round to the left and it will take you over a footbridge, turn right until you reach the road. Head towards Melford Country Park across the main road bridge over the river Stour.

10 Once you reach the park you can stop here or carry on to Nethergate Brewery! Exit the park, turn right and follow the road to the end and the brewery will appear on your right.