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The village of Elmswell is well served by road and rail connections making it easy to reach from all parts of the county. Together with Woolpit the two communities stand either side of a shallow valley and were once linked by an old tramway used to transport bricks from the brick kilns in Woolpit to the station at Elmswell. The railway came to Elmswell in 1846 when the official special train from Ipswich to Bury St. Edmunds passed through on the 7th December. The line was notable for its stations designed by Frederick Barnes and built by local contractors. The name Elmswell comes from the Old English words elm and wella meaning Elm Trees by the Spring (or well). At the start of the walk stands the double faced village sign on Crown Mill Green, with each side showing a different period in the history of Elmswell. From the station turn right along Station Road to the junction by the telephone kiosk and village shop, and then right on School Road. After about 150 metres and before reaching the Railway Tavern, turn left on Rose Lane, following the stony lane to the end. Follow the tarmac path around to the right to the bungalows and then left around the new houses to reach Gardeners Walk. Turn right to reach Church Road and then left for a few metres to turn right on Spong Lane. This section of the walk marks the original route of the tramway that once brought the produce of the Woolpit brickfields to the railhead at Elmswell. Follow the end of the stony drive round to the right and then bear left by a tall laurel hedge to emerge out to the open field. Cross the field diagonally to the right where there is a good view across the A14 of Woolpit Church. Cross the second field, again diagonally to the right and heading directly towards the spire of Woolpit church ahead. To the right Elmswell's church of St. John can be seen standing guard on the high ground at the entrance to the village. At the corner of the woodland turn left into the trees through a wooden barrier, following the path along the edge of the ditch on the left. This is the Kiln Meadow Wildlife Site, owned by Anglian Water and managed jointly by Elmswell Parish Council and Anglian Water. Cross a footbridge by the corner of the sewage works and follow the footpath alongside a chain link fence to reach Kiln Lane. A Roman kiln was discovered here when the sewage works were excavated in the 1960s. Turn left and follow the lane past Kiln Farm to Warren Lane, cross to the track opposite and follow this up to Warren Mill House, the building that can be seen on the horizon. At the corner of the property take the path to the left, following the garden fence and hedge on your right. At the end of the property continue straight on along the field edge, following the electricity poles to reach the Wetherden Road. Turn right for about 100 metres, walking on the right and taking great care of the approaching traffic, turning left at a gate and stile into an area of grassland. At the entrance is a notice, including a map, advising that this a Conservation Walks area and open to the public for recreation. Bear left down across the open grass to a stile and footbridge in the corner, crossing a second stile to reach the next field. Continue in the second field along the left hedge and fence to a third stile in the corner leading to the third field. Follow the left hedge and fence again to eventually cross the final stile in the left corner by the railway fence. At this point the walk continues left along a section of permissive path along the field edge alongside the railway fence and leading to a bridge. However, there is a Public Right of Way across the railway and over cultivated fields if preferred. At the new railway bridge climb the steps to the grass track and turn right to cross the railway, following the old lane on the other side, leading around to the left and on towards the village. At the houses turn left on a field edge path along the line of the garden fences. At the corner of the field at the railway fence turn right on a path between the fence and houses to eventually emerge on the Ashfield Road, close to the railway crossing and station at the start of the walk. Fact FileLocation: Elmswell is 18 miles north west of Ipswich, 9 miles east of Bury St. EdmundsStart: Elmswell Station, Ordnance Survey map reference TL989640 Length: 3 miles Conditions: Road, track and field paths, 4 stiles, quite muddy when wet How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine - 08459 583358 or Anglia Rail - telephone 01473 693396 Road Route: A14 from Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds, follow signs for village centre and station Parking: Around station area or at the Elmswell Post Office Refreshments: Two pubs, village shops, fish and chips and Chinese takeaway Public Toilets: None Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 211 Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket Walking on the web: http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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