Clare to Hawkedon

This walk initially heads east from Clare towards, but not to, Cavendish on the Stour Valley Path. It then heads due north through arable farmland and woods before arriving at the Glem Valley and the beautifully situated village of Hawkedon.

1 From the car park walk directly east on the broad path past the Old Goods Shed and the railway station building and walk over the wooden footbridge. Turn left immediately after the bridge. When the path turns sharp left, you turn right and follow a narrow path which runs between the walled cemetery and the old gas works house. Turn right at the pavement onto Cavendish Road, walk along the pavement for approximately 20 metres, then cross the road into Harp Lane with the Playing Fields on your left. Keep walking ahead passing the pavilion and then to the right of a single storey commercial building. The path enters a wooded area. Follow this path and you emerge onto a field edge. Keep going until the path turns sharp right up a hill. Follow the path up the hill. Just before you pass through a hedgerow at the top of the hill, pause, turn round and look back over Clare. You will see the Castle, Church and the Stour Valley.

2 Once you are through the hedgerow, bear left and follow the path which turns 90 degrees right towards Houghton Hall. Continue ahead passing the farm buildings on your right (ignore the path to the left). Walk down the hill and about halfway down the path will swap from the left hand side of the hedge to the right hand side of the hedge. At the bottom of the hill, follow the path round to the right, keeping the hedgerow to your left. You will come to a gap in the hedgerow by a signpost. Go through the gap, cross a short bridge and head right through a hedgerow then left uphill until you reach a metalled road.

3 Turn left along the road towards Colts Hall Farm and enjoy the view of rolling hills around you. As the road starts to sweep round to the left heading to the buildings of Colts Hall leave the road and walk ahead onto the wide grass verge keeping to the right hand side of the pond. You pick up the path ahead with a hedge to your left (ignoring a path which would take you hard right). Follow this path which runs in the middle of two fields until you come to another hedgerow, pass through the hedgerow and head downhill where you will walk to the left hand side of Robbs Farm, cross over a ditch and walk up hill through a field to a finger post sign by a metalled road keeping the lone tree in the middle of the field to your left.

4 At the road bear left and walk towards Wales End. Just before the farm, opposite some houses turn right across the field towards Easty Wood. Once through the woods turn left and follow the track all the way down to the valley floor. Pass Moors Farm. The path turns right over a bridge and up a hill towards Fenstead End. At the top of the hill turn left and walk along the road through Fenstead End until you come to Moat Farm on your right.

5 Turn right and then almost immediately turn left between two barns. Follow the path down the hill through a couple of gates until you come to Gallowgate Farm. The path takes you between the farmhouse and farm buildings. A very pretty, rural setting.

6 Cross over the ford and at the T junction turn left. Walk along the road, taking care as there is no footpath. You will eventually see a finger post on your right. Follow the signposted path until you come to an old metal gate. To the right of the gate you will see a narrow path with a wire fence to your left and a hedgerow to your right. Take this path up the hill until you reach a stile. From the stile cross the short distance across the field to another farm gate and stile to your right. Once over this stile follow the path that will eventually wind its way down to a wooded area that runs alongside a water worn ‘ravine’.

Continue along the path. The path turns left to cross a shallow ford, once over, head uphill until you reach a metalled road. Turn left and this will take you into Hawkedon with the Queen’s Head on your left.