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The village of Polstead lies in rolling countryside on the edge of the Stour Valley and this walk visits what I think is some of the most delightful scenery in East Anglia. The murder of Maria Marten, the 26 year old daughter of mole catcher Thomas Marten, in the Red Barn also brought the tiny village notoriety and still attracts many visitors to the area even today. In the 19th century scandal, her lover William Corder was arrested for the murder, brought to trial and executed at Bury St Edmunds in August 1828. Although the barn was burned down in 1842, part of the route of this walk is along the Red Barn Path and passes close to the spot where the murder took place. Start from the lay-by opposite the church, by the village pond and walk to the road junction at the corner. Turn right to a metal kissing gate and up, diagonally across a pasture called Horsecroft passing two large trees, towards a white house down in the far corner. Exit to Mill Lane via another kissing gate and continue right along the road for about 100 metres to a footpath in the conifers on the left, walking up between hedge and fence to a kissing gate into a grass field. Continue walking straight up Bell Hill, keeping to the left of the wood on the slope, to a footpath sign at the top. Bear right to a kissing gate and then follow the path along the fence, across the drive to a stile to the right. Follow the fence to a kissing gate at the corner of the field and turn left along the track to Marten’s Lane. Maria Marten’s House is about 500 metres down the lane towards the village. Turn left along the lane to a path on the right, opposite the drive to Cherry Tree Farm and just before the 30 m.p.h. signs. Follow the path alongside a wire fence to a stile in the corner, cross diagonally down to a stile in the right hedge and then a path between fences, ignoring the kissing gate on the left which is a short cut back to the village if required. Follow the path along the lower edge of the long meadow, between a wire fence and the stream. This is the Red Barn Path, at the end of the field turn left over a stile leading to a boardwalk by a pond. Cross the stile and through a gate on the other side and follow the path around the new barn, the Red Barn stood a short distance up the hill to the right. Cross the three stiles by the new barn and walk up the steep grassy hill, following the rail fence to a stile at the road. Turn left along the road passing a large house called Spring Hill and then immediately left through what appears to be a holly lined tunnel. This track is in fact recorded as an old road but is now unused by vehicles and has the appearance of a narrow bridle path, sometimes rather muddy after rain. Follow the path down hill, through the trees and up the other side to a track and right out to the road. Turn left and then bear right at the next road junction, signposted to Hadleigh. Turn left down the concrete drive to Newhouse Farm, bearing right through a gap in the farm wall to follow the drive through the farm yard and past the farm house. Follow the track round to the right, passing a beech hedge on the left and a rail fence on the right to a pink thatched cottage. Continue straight on to a wide grassy track on the left of the hedge ahead, leading out to Heath Road. Turn left for about 50 metres along the road and then turn right on a grassy track to reach a stile. Turn left between a fence and hedge, following the path left at the corner and then down hill into the trees. Follow the yellow arrows painted on the tree trunks, eventually turning left steeply up the hill and out of the wood. Continue across the grass and out again to Heath Road. Turn right along the road, past the former village school to reach The Green at the centre of the village. Take the path in the corner between the Old Forge and a pair of garage doors. This will bring you out on The Street, turn right down the road to the pond and back to the start of the walk. Fact FileLocation: Polstead is 13 miles SW of IpswichStart: Polstead village pond, Ordnance Survey map reference TL 990381 Length: 4 miles (short cuts available) Conditions: Hilly, good paths, tracks and road, 10 stiles How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council’s Public Transport Information TraveLine 08459 583385 Road Route: On A1071 between Hadleigh and Boxford turn off where signposted to Polstead, otherwise on B1068 follow Polstead signs from Stoke by Nayland Car Parking: Limited to small lay-bys at the pond and opposite the Cock Inn on The Green or a small car park at the church when not in use Refreshments: The Cock Inn and the Community Shop Public Toilets: None Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 196 Sudbury Hadleigh and Dedham Vale (some Polstead paths not shown) Red Barn Murder information: http://www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk/redbarn.htm Walking on the web: http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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