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The picture postcard scene across Cavendish Green is one of those views that features on chocolate boxes, calendars and many tourist guides of Suffolk. The name of the village stems from the former lords of the manor and it was John Cavendish who killed the leader of the peasants revolt, Wat Tyler, in 1381. This walk starts from The George public house, opposite the Sue Ryder shop close to The Green. Walk down the High Street past The Bull public house and Cavendish Post Office with its ornate balcony railing. The street was once part of the Roman road network along the River Stour valley and, although Roman pottery has been found, it is unclear if there was ever a Roman settlement here. Turn right on a narrow footpath between the end of the garden wall of Western House and Granby Cottages, following the narrow path between fences and walls to a gate giving access to a garden. Head straight across the garden to another gate in the fence opposite and then left to a footbridge and stile giving access to a meadow. Bear diagonally left over the raised embankment of the former railway track to a line of poplar trees. Turn left along the other side of the trees, parallel to the River Stour, with Pentlow Mill in Essex on the other bank. At the end of the meadow cross a stile into Pentlow Lane. Turn left over the former railway crossing, noting the old railway buildings on either side, the Gatehouse on the right and Station Masters house on the left. The station was to the right and is now taken over as private gardens. During the 1950s there were five trains a day along this section of the line connecting Haverhill with Long Melford, the line finally closed in 1967. At the Melford Road note the former Railway Arms on the corner; cross straight over to the Tarmac path to the left of the Memorial Hall, walking up to the playing field. Cross the field on the embankment separating the cricket pitch from the football pitch to a gap in the hedge opposite. Cross the next field on the path through the crop, crossing the Stour Valley Path, and then on to walk alongside a hedge and out onto Water Lane. Turn right along Water Lane past Blacklands Hall, taking great care on the bends when traffic approaches. Beneath the mock gothic Victorian facade, Blacklands Hall is a mediaeval building with several later rebuilds. It was the seat of the Ruggles Brise family and Joseph Stammers Garret bought it from them in 1853. Blacklands Farm was one of the largest in the area, look for the bell on the roof at the end of the house. At the top of the hill turn left along Duck Hall Lane to reach Ducks Hall, originally converted from two cottages. After a house called September Cottage the track bears left and at a gate, turn left through the trees. Turn right along the field edge, following a line of electricity poles and, at the first junction of wires, turn left on a well defined crop break strip, up over the hill and still following electricity poles. At the brow of the hill there is a good view across the Stour Valley, of Cavendish Church to the right and Pentlow Tower on the other side of the valley to the left. On the brow of the second hill Cavendish village comes into view, continue on the path down hill, still following the electricity poles. At the rear gardens of the houses continue on to a staggered barrier across the path. This leads between fences and walls to a footbridge giving access into the churchyard. St Mary's Church dates from around 1300 when the tower and lower parts of the aisle walls were built. A small room was fitted out in the tower for a priest to live in, with a fireplace and chimney. Bear right around the church tower to the kissing gate out to Peacocks Road near the Five Bells public house. Turn left, with The Green on the right, down to the High Street and then left to return to the start at The George. InformationLocation: Cavendish is 22 miles east of IpswichStart: The George PH, Cavendish High Street, Ordnance Survey map reference TL805465 Length: 3 miles Conditions: Well defined field edge and cross field paths, may be affected by crops at times, tracks and road, 2 stiles How to get there: - Public transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport traveline - 08706 082608 By Road: From Ipswich A1071 and A134 to Long Melford then A1092 to Cavendish Car Parking: On street parking only, please park with care and consideration for residents Refreshments: There are three pubs and a village stores Public Toilets: None (nearest Clare or Long Melford) Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 196 Sudbury Hadleigh & Dedham Vale Internet: Old Cavendish Pictures - http://www.foxearth.org.uk/CavendishPictures/Page.html Suffolk Country Walks - http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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