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Laxfield is a pleasant country village with a wide main street and a considerable number of attractive buildings. The former market square is known as Church Plain and is edged on three sides by the church, guildhall and Royal Oak pub. The 16th century Guildhall now houses the Laxfield and District Museum containing local artefacts and records connected with the area on the upper floor, and the parish room and a doctor's surgery on the ground floor. The 14th century All Saints Church has a 36 foot wide nave with a massive oak scissor beam roof. The interior is plain and houses a set of unusual banked scholars box pews, with separate sections for men, young men and boys. This walk is adapted from a booklet entitled Walking in the Heart of Suffolk, a publication describing 9 walks in the area (see Information section for details). From All Saints Church walk almost the length of The Street to the Baptist Chapel. Note the memorial plaque at the front of the Baptist church dedicated to the local shoemaker John Noyes who became a martyr after he was burned at the stake because of his religious beliefs in September 1557. Just after the Old Manse turn right through a kissing gate marked with a public footpath sign, soon passing a cemetery on the right to reach a footbridge over the infant River Blyth. Climb the embankment ahead; all that remains of the track of the Mid Suffolk Light Railway. This is the eastern end of the track, the nearby pond was the point where the engines filled up with water and is appropriately named Tank Pond. The remains of Laxfield station's platforms can be found along the left side of Stradbroke Road about 250 metres from the war memorial. The former Mid Suffolk Light Railway, a standard gauge railway once steamed between Laxfield and Haughley Junction. Affectionately known as the Middy it was planned to continue on to Halesworth but ran out of money and finally closed in 1952. Walk down into the open field ahead and follow the field edge path with the hedge on the right. After about 100 metres turn right by a footpath sign across a sleeper bridge and follow the footpath uphill towards a barn conversion. At the former barn follow the diversion left around the garden to reach the access drive. Turn left to reach a tee junction with another track. At the junction turn left, and, after about 35 metres, turn right through a gap in the hedge. Follow the permissive footpath around the boundaries of this large field with the hedge or ditch always on the right. After passing under the electricity wires cross a sleeper bridge to reach the road. Turn right and follow the lane to Corner Farm at Banyard's Green. Turn left then right following the road towards Ubbeston. Where the long lane goes downhill and just before a cottage garden turn right through a gap in the hedge to an area of open grass. Cross to the footpath sign on the opposite side and follow the path along the ditch on the left along the line of willow trees. Turn right at the end of the field and then left by footpath sign to walk along a grassy track to the left of the hedge. Continue on past the entrance to Hill Farm, now on the farm access track to reach Bickers Hill Lane. Turn left down the hill and then right into Gorams Mill Lane to The Kings Head or Low House. The old thatched pub has remained practically unchanged since Victorian times with the original stalls and ale served straight from the barrel. Horse drawn carriages are a frequent sight in the village, ferrying tourists between Tannington Hall and the Kings Head to enjoy refreshment in its unique setting. At the corner turn left into Church Walk and follow the path up between the church and village cottages to emerge onto Church Plain opposite the Guildhall and the start of the walk by the village Post office Stores. InformationLocation: Laxfield is 19 miles north of Ipswich, 6 miles north of FramlinghamStart: Laxfield's Church Plain, Ordnance Survey map reference TM296724 Length: 3 miles Conditions: Road and roadside footway, meadow and field paths, muddy at times, no stiles How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine 0870 6082608 Road Route: From Ipswich north on A12 to Wickham Market then B1116 north through Framlingham, turning right (east) at Stirrup Street Car Parking: The Church Plain and along the High Street Refreshments: The Royal Oak and Kings Head pubs, village PO stores Public Toilets: None Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 231 Southwold and Bungay Information: Heart of Suffolk Walks booklet £2 from bookshops and TICs (ISBN 0860552616 ). Discover Laxfield leaflet available from local pubs,shop and museum Museum: Open Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays 2-5pm mid May to September otherwise on Wednesday by special arrangement tel. 01986 798460/798520 Internet: http://www.heartofsuffolk.com/hoshtpWalking.html Suffolk Country Walks: http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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