Circular Walk Series
4.6 miles
120 minutes
Moderate
This walk starts off along the River Stour and then follows a very rural path past the Upper Common, across arable land and back down to Chilton Street. There is a footpath alongside the road that leads you back through the Town of Clare, with the option of a variation taking you behind the Chilton Stream. There are some wonderful views during this walk.
1 From the car park, cross the railway bridge and take the riverside path west to the end of the Park. At the iron bridge turn right onto a short stretch of road. At the main road cross over Nethergate Street, turn left then immediately right past the Anglian Water Pumping Station. Follow the permissive path to the top of the field.
2 At the top of the field go through the opening in the hedge and turn right, follow this path to the top of the allotments, turn left and follow the path up the hill keeping the hedgerow on your right. Near the top of the rise (c 400m) turn right through a gap in the hedge and follow the path for 400m.
3 At the way-marked sign where a path comes in from the right, turn left and head straight across the field and enter a small wood. Then follow the path through two fields, continuing straight until just before reaching Leys Farm.
4 Just before you reach Leys Farm look out for a gap in the hedge on your right. A signpost will direct you across the field towards a small wooded area; follow the path keeping the wood to your left. At the end of the wood head straight down the field.
5 At the hedgerow turn right. At the bottom of the slope bear left (do not go through the gap on the right) and after about 50m turn right through a small woody area (if you follow a track round the right-hand bend you have gone too far) and then follow a narrow path left down to the lane. Turn right and follow for 800m.
6 When you reach the road from Clare to Stradishall you can either stay on the path next to the road that goes to Clare or turn left and then after 20m turn right behind the houses and follow the signed footpath.
7 Follow the river/hedgerow on your right until you see another wooded area on your left. Turn left towards the corner of the wooded area (30m) and go through the galvanised kissing gate. You are now in a small meadow, keep the hedgerow on your right. (Please note dogs need to be kept on a lead as sheep are often kept in these fields). Follow the field round and down to the road, turn left onto Clare Road, this will take you back into Clare and the Country Park Car Park.
This walk is primarily on gently undulating land that was forested in pre-historic times (by the 16C only 5% of Suffolk was forested). Medieval farmsteads were mostly located on the shoulders of hills, usually near springs that are now seen as ponds. After the agricultural depression of the later 19C, with large numbers of workers leaving the land, the second half of the 20C saw an acceleration in large-scale arable farming. Surviving field boundaries are generally medieval. The walk can be muddy in winter so allow extra time and wear suitable footwear.
A The Iron Bridge on Ashen Road recently celebrated its 200th anniversary and is the oldest usable iron bridge in Suffolk, built by Ransomes of Ipswich.
B At the top of the field, there is an excellent view into Clare itself. SS Peter and Paul Church and the Norman Castle are prominent.
C The Old Clare Waterworks stored and provided drinking water to Clare from 1906 until mains water was introduced in 1948. It is adjacent to a natural spring. This one and others nearby probably influenced the long settlement of Clare going back in pre-history.
D The footpath to Ley’s Farm is part of the original ancient track, Sheepgate Lane, which extended from Clare to Maple Hill Road.
E Maple Hill Windturbine was erected in 2014 after a long consultation period.
F Woodland to the left on the map is named as Cold Weather Plantation. There is an excellent view from here down into Chilton Street.
G At the Folly Road junction behind the houses, a bronze age tumulus can be seen as a small rise in the field.
H The meadow is known locally as Goose Croft Meadow and was set up as a Charitable Trust to provide bread for the poor of Clare.
I Just before Poslingford Corner, Chapel Cottage stands. This is now a grade ll* listed private residence, probably the oldest inhabited building in Suffolk. Built in 1190, the wayside chapel served the small hamlet of Chilton Street and the medieval Wentford Fair held close by. In the Civil War it was a powder magazine.
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