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Saint Mary's Church at Stoke by Nayland stands on the hills above the Dedham Vale and the valley of the River Box. The village of Stoke by Nayland overlooks its parent, Nayland, once recorded as the 45th largest town in England. Nayland guards the crossing into Essex over the River Stour on the south side of the river. However, this walk is from the centre of Stoke by Nayland and explores the area to the north in the Box valley and the edge of the village of Polstead. John Constable loved the tower of St. Mary's Church and it appears several times in his paintings, but not necessarily always in the right place. My investigation of the Old English origination of the names of these villages revealed that Stoke refers to an outlying farmstead whilst Nayland refers to a place at an island. From the start of the walk at the playing field car park turn left along School Street passing several charming old half timbered houses to reach the 16th century former Guildhall that has been turned into a row of cottages. This building was also once the workhouse and stands opposite the church where you should turn left to walk through the churchyard and out to Church Street. Turn left past the picturesque village hall to the Angel Inn standing at the junction with Park Street. Turn right on the footway past the Park Street Stores and Post Office and cross over to the verge alongside the Crown Inn car park, continuing along a permissive path between the fence and hedge ahead. At the end of the fence turn left through a wide kissing gate following the field edge path down into the valley. At the bottom of the hill bear right along the rear of the thatched cottages at Scotland Street, following the fence round to the right. Follow the long undulating path with the fence on the left to eventually pass through a kissing gate. By a row of poplar trees pass through a second kissing gate and out to open grassland. Cross diagonally down to another kissing gate at the bottom and then turn left between the wire fence and hedge. At the end of the path pass over a small footbridge and through a section of grass following the fence on the left to a small stile and a path out to Scotland Street. Turn left and then right along a path between fences and hedges to emerge out onto a field edge path with Scotland Place Farm on the right. At a footpath sign and sheep hurdle gate bear right and then left along a track in the meadow. At a pair of gates pass through the right hand one and along the grass track to the right of the hedge. Pass through a series of gates along this track through the River Box valley eventually reaching a stile leading out to Rectory Hill. Turn right and then left into Mill Lane, walking past Polstead Mill and as far as a row of cottages. Turn left opposite Maritime Cottage and walk up the field edge path on the left side of the hedge and the electricity wires towards Steps Farm. At the top of the field by an electricity pole turn right into the farm yard and walk straight ahead to pass a complex of buildings on your left (or if obstructed turn left up the concrete farm track to join the farm drive). At the corner of the building follow the field edge path on the left in the field to get around the building and eventually joining the farm drive to the south of the farm. Turn right and follow the stoney farm drive lined with young oak trees out to reach the B1068 Sudbury Road. Turn left along the roadside footway back towards the village and then at the sharp left bend continue along School Street to reach the start of the walk at the playing field. InformationLocation: Stoke by Nayland is 12 miles SW of IpswichStart: Stoke by Nayland playing field Ordnance Survey map reference TL 985363 Length: 3 miles Conditions: Hilly, good paths, tracks and road, 2 stiles, several kissing gates How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council’s Public Transport Information TraveLine 0870 6082608 Road Route: On A12 south of Ipswich between junctions 30 and 31 turn of on B1068 through Higham, turn left in Stoke by Nayland along School Street Car Parking: Playing field car park opposite the village primary school Refreshments: Park Street Stores and Post Office, Angel Inn and Crown Inn Public Toilets: None Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 196 Sudbury Hadleigh and Dedham Vale Internet: Stoke by Nayland Church - http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/stoken.htm Scotland Place Farm - http://www.scotlandplacefarm.co.uk/ Suffolk Country Walks - http://www.suffolkwalks.com
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