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The month of May is the ideal time to walk amongst the bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) found in most of the mixed woodlands of Suffolk. One of my favourites is Freston Wood, a truly beautiful sight at this time of the year when a walk through the trees is filled with the perfume of the wild flowers and the sound of the newly arrived cuckoo. Freston is easy to find as it is the first village you will come across as you travel along The Strand and under the Orwell Bridge on your way out to Shotley and Holbrook. The walk starts from the lay-by at the bottom of Freston Hill and, although it is only 2˝ miles long, if you only want a shorter walk the adjacent meadow is in the Conservation Walk Scheme and is available for free public access all the year round. The area is known as Freston Hill Meadow and the entrance and an advisory notice are at the lower end of the lay-by at the entrance stile. The Freston Wood walk is through meadowland where you may find cattle grazing, please make sure that you close all the gates you pass through on the route and keep dogs under close control. From the lay-by at the bottom of Freston Hill cross the road to a footpath sign giving access along the left of the hedge. Follow the path, first along the field edge and then diagonally left across the field to a large oak tree on the other side. Cross the stile into a meadow, then walk along the left fence and the wood to another stile giving access into Freston Wood. This is an ancient wood containing alder, hazel, oak, ash, sweet chestnut and a rich variety of wild flowers and wildlife. It is particularly well known for the display of bluebells and if your timing is right you will not be disappointed with what you find, a carpet of blue stretching up between the trees. Follow the well trodden path and waymark arrows up through the wood, crossing a stream by a narrow bridge and upwards through an area of mature trees to the road. Follow the road to the right, around the church yard of St. Peter’s Church, with a beautifully carved lychgate in the corner bearing the words ‘In commemoration of H.M. Queen Victoria’s long reign'. Pass the white gateway marked private and then turn right at a footpath sign on a track lined with a laurel hedge. Follow the waymark arrows past a cottage and between hedges to join a track leading first down and then up to the red tiled cottages at a cross roads of tracks. Bear right to enter the pasture via a stile by a holly bush and turn right down the hill across the grass to a gate by an oak tree. In the next meadow walk to the right of a large fallen tree and over to the gateway ahead. Walk straight across the next section of meadow to the trees opposite and through a wide gateway. Cross the stream and bear left, following the line of poplar trees to the corner of the field, then bearing right uphill on a stoney section to join Redgate Lane next to the Orwell Care Home. Turn right along the lane towards the river where there are superb views down the valley as far as Trimley St. Mary and a panoramic view of the river, dominated by the splendid curve of the Orwell Bridge. The bridge was opened in 1982 and provided a southern by-pass for Ipswich, relieving the town’s roads of the heavy traffic destined for the Port of Felixstowe. Just below the bridge at low tide a shingle bank known as Roman Path is evident. When the channel was dredged, large square stones were brought up from the river bed at the point where it had been possible to cross. On 18th century maps it was marked as the ‘Hardway’, but whether this was the work of the Romans is a matter of speculation. At The Strand cross to the other side of the road along the river edge and turn right, walking along the verge where you will find a narrow path, mostly on the low river wall, enabling you to avoid walking on the road. This area has been improved with parking lay-bys and information boards about the wildlife, follow the roadside path back to the lay-by at the start of the walk. Fact FileLocation: Freston is 4 miles south of IpswichStart: Freston Hill lay-by, Ordnance Survey map reference TM 175400 Length: 2˝ miles Conditions: Field edge, woodland, meadow, tracks and road, 3 stiles How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council’s Public Transport Information TraveLine 08459 583358 Road Route: From Ipswich along Wherstead Road and B1456 Shotley Road Car Parking: Lay-bys on The Strand and Freston Hill Refreshments: The Oyster Reach and Freston Boot pubs, Bourne Bridge Stores Public Toilets: None (nearest Bourne Park) Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 197 Ipswich, Felixstowe and Harwich Walking on the Web: http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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