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Knettishall Heath Country Park is the largest park managed by Suffolk County Council's Countryside Service, the 350 acres of heathland, grassland and mixed woodland are situated in an important area of the Breckland Heath. With unlimited opening hours, the wide variety of countryside in the park can be visited at any time. The Little Ouse river runs along the northern edge of the site and a number of walk trails are set out throughout the park. The Riverside Walk is an ideal route for a hot day, it also passes the grassland area grazed by Exmoor ponies and Hebridean sheep. Hut Hill, a bronze age burial mound over 4000 years old, can be discovered as part of the Heathland Trail whilst the Woodland Walk includes oak, Scots pine and birch and many more fine trees. Wildlife watching can be rewarding, deer live in the wooded areas and Common Lizards bask on open, sunny spots on the heath. The park is also the junction of three long distance trails, the Peddars Way, Icknield Way and Angles Way fan out into the wider countryside for the more serious walkers. This walk is around the trails within the park and takes in parts of the Riverside Trail, Heathland Trail, Horse Trail, Woodland Trail and a section of road. From the toilet block and Park Warden's Office just off the main car park follow the blue waymarks of the Riverside Trail along the bank of the Little Ouse River, then along a track between the river and the grassland area where a number of Hebridean sheep and Exmoor ponies graze. Exmoor Ponies have evolved over many 1000s of years without the interference of man. They are reckoned to be the surviving representatives of Britain's wild pony that arrived here 130,000 years ago. The small population of ponies living on Exmoor survived virtually unaltered by man's attempts at breeding, retaining their sure footedness and resistance to harsh conditions. At the end of the park by the trees turn left, following the edge of the hay meadow and the woodland. Cross a small footbridge and on into an area of open woodland where the Riverside Trail turns left. Continue straight on into the woods on the Heathland Trail. When you reach a crossing track, turn left. This is a former Roman road, dating from around AD61, along the western boundary of the park and the southern terminus of the 93 mile long Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path. Follow the track through a wooden barrier to the road and cross to the car park on the other side. The Heathland Trail leaves the car park as a track at the rear and soon emerges from the trees onto the open heathland. This is the northern terminus of the Icknield Way that terminates in Buckinghamshire, 106 miles away on the Ridgeway. At the top of the rise by an information board turn off left along the edge of the fir trees and, at a junction of tracks, bear left along the edge of the heath, with mixed woodland on the right. Take the first right turn off the track, another wide track through the trees to the 18th century Rabbit Warren on the left. An information board tells the story of how rabbits were farmed for their meat and fur by Warreners. Continue on along the track to a large clearing and a cross roads of tracks, turn right on the Heathland Trail alongside some tall pine trees. At the next junction turn left on the main route and not along the Horse Trail. Where the Red and Green Heathland Trails turn off to the left continue round to the right, now along the Horse Trail marked with a horse shoe symbol. After a few metres bear right again, following the Horse Trail through the woods and out to the Bardwell Road. Turn left down the left fork of the road for about 400 metres and at the bottom of the slope, turn left into the trees on the Woodland Trail, marked with yellow waymarks. Turn right at the first junction and follow the yellow symbols of the trail between the trees, through a number of shady sunken dells and along the path as it meanders down to the Euston to Hopton Road. Cross the road with care to return to the start of the walk at the car park area. Fact FileLocation: Knettishall Heath Country Park is 28 miles north west of Ipswich and 12 miles north east of Bury St EdmundsStart: Knettishall Heath Country Park main car park. Ordnance Survey map reference TL 955807 Length: 3 miles (many other variations possible) Conditions: Riverside, tracks, woodland and heathland paths, no stiles How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine - 08459 583358 Road Route: From Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds A14 to Woolpit, A1088 to Ixworth and A143 to Stanton then B1111 to Hopton. Follow signs for Knettishall Heath Country Park Car Park: Several free car parks available Refreshments: None on the country park, nearest in local villages Public Toilets: On site Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 230 Diss and Harleston Information: Free information leaflet about the park and map of the walks available from the warden's office, several interpretive information boards are located around the park Walking on the web: http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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