Return to EADT Suffolk Walks
|
Clare Castle Country Park is a fascinating place to visit, situated in the village of Clare, the park was purchased by Suffolk County Council in 1971. It is unique in that you will find a complete Victorian Station within the inner bailey of an old castle and is the only railway station in England to be built inside a castle. The park is open every day of the year and is a useful gateway to the wider countryside because it also provides the starting point for the Clare Circular Walk described here. There are plenty of information boards around the park describing the natural history of the area and the old castle ruins, the River Stour also runs along the southern edge of the park if you like to sit by the river. Outside the Park the walk route is clearly marked throughout with both green circular walk signs on the signposts and yellow waymark arrows bearing the circular walk logo at other points. From the car park walk towards the former station building, now the Park Warden’s house, passing between the preserved platforms along the bed of the former railway. Clare Station was first opened and operated in 1865 by the Great Eastern Railway Company. In 1922 the line was amalgamated with others to form the London and North Eastern Railway Company and in 1947 it became part of British Railways. During the 1950s there were five trains a day each way between Cambridge and Marks Tey, with connections to Norwich and London. The Station had a staff of five, The Station Master, a Porter, Signalman and Freight and Ticket Clerks. Clare Station Closed in 1967. Walk on to a wooden footbridge over the castle moat and then turn left on the footpath through the trees, turning right at the end by a bench, to exit from the park onto Cavendish Road. Cross over to Harp Lane and Eastfield Farm, keeping generally to the right of the buildings and on through the trees. The path eventually emerges onto a field edge by an old stile. Turn left and walk along the field edge, to the corner of the field. Turn left through a gap in the hedge and follow the track towards the farm buildings for 50 metres and turn left to walk along the access drive of Hermitage Farm. Continue on the footway at the side of the section of road serving the new houses to reach Snow Hill. Turn left towards Clare, the road soon becomes Bridewell Street, after about 200 metres turn right at the side of a black building on Sheepgate Lane. Follow the track up and around Clare Camp, follow the hedge left and then right up the hill. At a gap in the hedge, near the allotments, turn left and then right to walk up the left side of the hedge, following the track and then the field edge path to the top corner and a metal barrier. Turn left on a wide grassy headland to the corner by an ash tree, there are fine views all around from up here including the castle ruin above the trees. Turn left on a track, heading down towards Clare, to the gate of a farm at the edge of the village. Turn right along the bottom of the field leading out at the corner to the cemetery access road. Continue straight on past the cemetery entrance, through the trees and out to a field edge path, along the old town wall. At the corner of the field follow the wall to the right and continue on along the field edge to a crossing track. Turn left down to Nethergate Street, then left for a a short way and across to Ashen Road. Cross the cast iron bridge over the River Stour, showing the date of 1813 on the centre arch, and turn left along the riverside path, marked to Clare Country Park. After a few metres, at the end of a garden, bear right up onto the bed of the old railway or continue along the riverside to return to the car park and the start, emerging into the country park via one of the old railway bridges. If you have time, visit the old freight shed, now turned into the park’s information centre, with details of the park and its history. There are also history and nature trails within the park if you prefer a shorter walk plus toilets and children’s play area. Fact FileLocation: Clare is 26 miles west of IpswichStart: Clare Castle Country Park car park, Ordnance Survey map reference TL 770451 Length: 3½ miles Conditions: Field edge, tracks and park paths no stiles steps or gates How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council’s Public Transport Information TraveLine - 08459 583358 By Road: From Ipswich A1071 and A134 to Sudbury and Long Melford then A1092 to Clare, follow Country Park signs in the village Car Parking: Pay and display car park at the Country Park, 50p up to 2 hours, over 2 hours £1, 11am to 6pm Refreshments: Plenty of pubs, shops and other facilities in Clare village Public Toilets: In the Country Park Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 210 Newmarket and Haverhill Information: Park entry free and open all year round. Several information boards in the park and displays in the park Visitor Centre. Visitor Centre open 10am to dusk in summer and on request or when staff are available in winter. Clare Circular Walk leaflet 20p from Suffolk County Council and local outlets
Map
EADT Suffolk Walks
Home Page
|