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During very wet weather country walking is sometimes a little difficult underfoot unless the right type of surface can be found. The sandy soil of Suffolk's coastal margin provides the ideal type of surface for wet weather walking, the rain soaks away into the soil and the paths and tracks are rarely difficult to walk. Hollesley Common is an extensive area of Suffolk Sandlings heathland, most of the land is registered as common land but is in fact owned by the Broxtead Estate. However, some 29 acres are owned by Suffolk Coastal District Council and are freely accessible. Elsewhere on the common, access is only available on Public Rights of Way and this walk uses both common and public paths. The Suffolk Sandlings are remnants of a wide belt of heathland that stretched north and south just inland along the Suffolk coast between Ipswich and Lowestoft. It is a combination of the sandy soil, hot dry East Anglian climate and centuries of grazing by sheep and rabbits that has produced this heathland. During the present century 4/5 of the heath has been either built on, ploughed up or planted with commercial forest. With co-operation between conservation organisations and local people, the remaining areas of this ancient landscape are now being carefully protected and managed. From the car park and picnic site area take the path to the right from the information board, marked with white arrows, through the trees and along the right edge of the open areas to emerge at a track. Turn right past a red and white barrier and through a small car park out to the road. Cross the road with care and continue on the path in the trees on the opposite side, following the path straight into the wood and noting the small raised banks on either side that once marked this ancient track. Keep an eye open for the deer that abound in these woods. Follow the path out of the trees and through bracken to reach a crossing track, close to Manor Farm. Turn right and then left to cross the track to the gateway and follow the path on the right edge of the grass field, parallel to the electricity wires. Continue on in the next field to Brew House and, at the end of the conifer hedge, follow the track round to the right to join the main access track. Continue straight on, taking the left fork and the track to the left of the tree belt. At the end of the field the track curves down to the right towards Bussock Barn. Continue straight on past the front of the farm complex, along the grass track between the trees ahead and the electricity wires. At the end of the wood and after passing two flint cottages on the left, turn right at a crossroads of tracks, marked as a Byway. The land on the right is home to a herd of working goats who eat the heathland vegetation. Walk up the wide sandy track to the top of the hill and straight on along the track between two large fields. At the far end, pass through a pair of metal gates to reach the road close to Red Lodge. Turn right along the roadside verge to return to the entrance to Upper Hollesley Common picnic site, car park and the start of the walk. The common has a long history of use by commoners who have taken small wood for fuel, bracken as bedding for livestock or may have had rights to graze livestock.Nowadays the commoners rarely practice their rights although they still legally retain them. The lack of use has led to a decline in the wildlife interests of the common, which is now being addressed by the landowners, local community and Suffolk Wildlife Trust. In recent years a great deal of work has been carried out to restore the heathland habitat and secure its long term future through the re-introduction after many years of sheep grazing. This management is already bearing fruit as butterflies such as the grayling are flourishing and heathland birds such as the stonechat and woodlark are breeding here successfully. Most of the heathland birds nest on the ground and it is important that dogs are kept under close control during the months from March to July in order to avoid harming nestlings. InformationLocation: Hollesley Common is 11 miles east of IpswichStart: Upper Hollesley Common car park, Ordnance Survey map reference TM 335471 Length: 3 miles Conditions: Woodland paths and well defined tracks, sandy, no stiles How to get there: - Public transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine - 0870 6082608 By Road: A1214/A12 from Ipswich to Woodbridge bypass, then A1152 to Wilford Bridge. Follow signs for Hollesley, Hollesley Common is on the left, 1 mile after passing the entrance to the former RAF Woodbridge site Car Parking: Small free car park at picnic site Refreshments: None, only in local villages Public Toilets: None (nearest in Woodbridge) Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 197 Ipswich, Felixstowe and Harwich Internet: Suffolk Wildlife Trust - http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/suffolk/nr/sites/sutton.htm Suffolk Country Walks -http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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