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I think you could accurately describe this walk for Christmas as a short town and country walk, the variety of environments you will encounter provide a wide range of interesting paths and sights to see. From the start at the historic Abbey Gate in the centre of Bury St Edmunds, the 2 mile circuit will guide you through town, willow plantation, meadow, field and formal gardens. However, the section of route through the Abbey gardens is closed at night but can be circumvented and the circular walk around The Crankles and No Man's Meadows is always open. Facing the Abbey Gate on Angel Hill turn right and walk along George Street to the cathedral. Turn left between the cathedral and the bell tower and bear right on the wide avenue of pollarded limes to the right of the martyr's monument. Note the statue of Saint Edmund by Elizabeth Frink on the grass on the left. At the end bear left past the Magistrates Court and follow the pedestrian and cycle path marked to Moreton Hall Estate. This path crosses the Shire Hall staff car park and on to a bridge over the River Linnet at the start of Kevelaer Way. After crossing the river turn right along the circular walk path, by an information board, through the cricket bat willows in The Crankles, continuing on into No Mans Meadows. These two adjoining areas between the Rivers Lark and Linnet have very different characters: the Crankles is a willow plantation whilst No Man's Meadows are four low-lying water meadows separated by ditches. The two areas are leased to St Edmundsbury Borough Council who manage the land as a local nature reserve open for walking and informal recreation. No Man's Meadows and the Crankles have an interesting history, dating back to the abbey of St Edmundsbury. It appears that the area was created artificially in the medieval period as a result of diverting the course of the River Linnet in order to provide a millstream for the abbey. The meadows would have been used for grazing livestock, whilst it is thought that the Crankles was where the Abbey fishponds were situated, and where fish such as bream, tench and pike might have been bred. The unusual names of 'No Man's Meadows' and 'The Crankles' are quite old: both are used in Thomas Warren's map of 1747. It appears that the area has always been wet and prone to flooding and at different times in the past 300 years drains have been dug across the meadows in an effort to control the water level. The Crankles was also used as pastureland until relatively recently when it was planted with cricket bat willows. Follow the path along the riverbank to a footbridge and steps up to the path on the other bank. Note the large Black Poplar tree on the left, its knobbly trunk contrasting with the tall Lombardy Poplars on the right. The path soon joins a track leading down past the Bury St. Edmunds Rugby Football Club, through the car park and out to the road opposite the Wyevale Garden Centre. Turn left on the roadside footway past the entrance to the BP garage and after crossing the Southgate Bridge over the River Lark turn left on a bridleway between the river bank and a fenced off field. Follow this path along the river bank to Kevelaer Way. The riverbanks and ditches are particularly important for wetland plants including Bur-reed, Meadowsweet, Purple Loosetrife, Water forget-me-not and Water Mint. Meadowsweet comes from an older name, Medesweete, which was used because it flavoured the Anglo-Saxon drink, mede, made of fermented honey. Dragonflies can sometimes be seen darting above the water, but Moorhens are more commonly seen. Cross over Kevelaer Way to the Tarmac path leading to the Abbey Gardens, at the first junction bear left to the iron bridge over the River Lark into the gardens. If they are shut there is a route around by turning right 80 metres before the bridge and then left along Minden Close to Eastgate. After crossing into the gardens bear right at the other side and at the next junction turn left up the main drive through the beautiful gardens to return to the start at the Abbey Gate. InformationLocation: Bury St. Edmunds is 25 miles north west of IpswichStart: The Abbey Gate at Angel Hill, Ordnance Survey map reference TL 855642 Length: 2 miles Conditions: Tarmac footway, track, grass and well used paths, no stiles How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine - 0870 6082608 Road Route: From A14 follow signs to town centre Car Parking: Pay and Display at Angel Hill and other sites in town, Shire Hall - Saturdays and Sundays (free) Refreshments: A variety of facilities, pubs and shops in the town, BP garage shop on walk route Public Toilets: Abbey Gardens, Ram Meadow, Cattle Market Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 211 Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket Internet: St. Edmundsbury Borough Council - http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk Suffolk Country Walks - http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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