2016-03-09 Bramfield Thorington and Wenhaston

Waveney Ramblers led this walk.

Start from Bramfield village hall along Bridge Street. Turn right out of the car park and after 100 yards go right along a signed footpath. Pass through a gate into Castle Meadow and keep to the left-hand path (hedge left). Ignore two more obvious paths to the right. Go through a metal gate into the next field and keep ahead on a wide, grassy track to reach a stile. Cross into a large arable field. Ahead, in the distance, is a small clump of trees. Head across the field, aiming for the right-hand side of the trees. Bear right and cross a footbridge onto a field-edge path (ditch left). When the ditch swings left, keep ahead across arable field towards a large gap in the hedge and a concrete drive. Cross into another arable field and head straight for the corner of a wood. At this turn left along a wide,grassy track. At a cross-hedge, turn left then right over a footbridge through the hedge. Go straight over an arable field to reach a stile. Cross into a meadow. Keep ahead and pass through a gate to the left of a telegraph pole. Cross a small meadow to a stile, then keep ahead over a small arable field to the corner of a wood. Follow the wide,grassy track (wood right) which soon swings left. Pass a derelict house (right) then after 500 yards look for a path to the right about 50 yards before a telegraph pole. Turn right through bushes and immediately left onto a grassy track (hedge left, fence right).

Keep ahead and go through a small metal gate into a garden. Keep left through this and go through another metal gate to a road. Turn right and take the track to The Balancing Barn on the left Take the left of the two tracks. Just before the building, bear right to another track and continue to large metal gate. Take footpath off left here through a small wood. At the bottom of the slope turn right, go through a gate and turn sharp left across a marshy area. Cross a long, wooden bridge (gated both ends) into a meadow. Keep ahead and cross stile to right of cottage. Turn left here and keep on track to reach a road.

Cross over onto Wenhaston Black Heath. After 20 yards bear left through gorse bushes, then, at a clearing, turn right up a slope to a fence and a house. Turn left then sharp right along a signed path. Keep ahead across arable field and, at a hedge end, pass this and bear right and left along a field-edge path. Turn left onto a track at Church Farm and follow to road. Cross over and take path ahead. After 100 yards turn left along the field-edge (ditch left), then after another 100 yards turn right across an arable field. Head towards the left-hand silo hi the distance. Pass to the left-hand side of several poultry barns, to reach a road.

Turn left then right along a field-edge path (hedge left). Cross a footbridge in a hedge,then go diagonally left across the corner of field to pass through a small gap in the hedge. Go diagonally right across a sloping arable field to reach a bridge at the bottom of the hill. Cross and take the path opposite (trees and sparse hedge on right). At the top of the field go through a gap in the right-hand corner, then turn left and right along a grassy track. Pass through a gap in the hedge on left and keep ahead on track to reach road. Follow the lane ahead for about half-a-mile to the main road (A144).

Cross over and keep on this quiet lane for half-a-mile. After Edwards' Farm (right) take the signed path left, go over the level-crossing and turn right before a house. Cross stile into meadow and keep ahead to another stile and a road. Turn left into the village centre. On your right, note the fine, long crinkle-crankle wall (Bramfield Hall). Opposite, St Andrew's Church is well worth a visit, with its separate, detached round tower making it unique in Suffolk. Inside, the splendidly carved and decorated 16th century screen is a real gem. The paintings of some of the saints are well preserved.

Continue to the main road (A144), where you will find the Queen's Head P.H on your left, a good stopping point for refreshments. They serve excellent lunches here. Cross over into Bridge Street and back to the village hall and the start on your right.