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Great Ashfield is a small scattered parish a few miles north of Woolpit and Elmswell. The village sign at Great Ashfield depicts an aeroplane over the local church of All Saints and therefore sets the scene for our walk this month. During World War II the 385th Heavy Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Force flew Flying Fortresses from the airfield built close to the village and now disused except for a private flying strip. The footpaths here are all in very good order and you will find this an interesting and easy walk with no stiles steps or gates to negotiate. From the car park at the rear of the church, walk back towards the road on the concrete track, noting the memorial in the corner of the churchyard to the memory of the aircrew who failed to return. Cross the footbridge at the small ford to the road side footway and turn right for about 100 metres. Turn left by the telephone box up Hanton's Lane, Tarmac at first, then stoney and grassy as it climbs the hill. At the top by two large oak trees turn for a good view of the church nestling in the trees in the wide shallow valley, and continue on to join the road. Turn sharp right on the track between the houses and the field and, at the end of the fence, continue straight on ahead along a grassy section of track to the corner of the wood. Follow the field edge path around the left side of the wood, crossing a small footbridge and continuing round the next corner. After crossing into the next field turn left down the field edge path to the right of the ditch, follow the field edge right, left, right and left out to School Road opposite Kiln cottage. If you want a short cut back, turn right along the road. Turn left along School Road for about 100 metres then right into Water Hall Lane. Follow this past Water Hall and on past a metal gate to join the former concrete airfield taxiway. Turn right along the right edge of the wide concrete track, laid over 60 years ago. The main runway is parallel to the taxiway, across to the left, part of it is still used for light aircraft which are often to be seen in operation. Follow the concrete taxiway to a metal gate and note the large building nearby built on the end of the second runway. Continue on along the fenced off Tarmac track to the right and, where the taxiway bends to the left, away from the airfield to the right through the trees. Follow this to join with Haugh Lane, eventually leading out onto the Elmswell Road. Turn right for about 300 metres on the roadside footway, just past White Gates and Coach House turn left across a concrete sugar beet pad and follow the track through the trees. When the track emerges out into a field turn left along the field edge path to the right of the hedge on a wide grassy strip. Follow this field edge path, keeping to the right of the hedge round to a corner near School Farm, cross the footbridge on the left into the adjoining field. Turn right on another field edge path to the poplar lined drive to School Farm, turn left for a few metres and then right across the grass around the left side of the mound or bank formed around the pond. This curves round to the right to join with a long track ahead of you with a hedge on the right. Follow the track as it curves to the right to pass Brown's Wood on the right. At the track junction at the far corner of the wood turn right on the track along the north side of the wood. Follow this track around the field towards Hall Farm. In the centre of the field to the left is a round wood, known as Castle Hill, and although there is evidence of a mound and moat very little is known about its history. About 200 metres from the corner of Brown's Wood look out for a gap in the hedge on the right marked with a footpath sign and leading to a field edge path. Follow this path to the first corner, bear left through a gap in the hedge and continue on the path between fence and hedge. At the drive to Hall Farm turn right and follow the concrete drive towards the church and the start of the walk at the car park. InformationLocation: Great Ashfield is 20 miles northwest of Ipswich, 11 miles from Bury St. EdmundsStart: Great Ashfield Church car park, Ordnance Survey map reference TL 995677 Length: 4 miles Conditions: Tracks, roadside footway, field edges, no stiles, gates or steps How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information Service - 01473 583358 By Road: From Ipswich A14 to Woolpit turn-off, follow signs for Elmswell then north to Great Ashfield, turn left at Great Ashfield Church to the car park at rear Car Parking: At rear of Great Ashfield Church, by kind permission of the Parochial Church Council Refreshments: None in village, nearest in Badwell Ash and Elmswell Public Toilets: None locally Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 211 Bury St. Edmunds and Stowmarket Suffolk Country Walks: http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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