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For this month's walk I travelled to the north of the county, close to the Norfolk border and south west of Diss. The villages of Botesdale, Rickinghall Inferior and Rickinghall Superior form a ribbon development along the former A143 road from Diss to Bury St Edmunds. However, since the opening of the much needed village by-pass, life has become more tranquil and the heavy lorries no longer pound along the main street, shaking the old houses and buildings that line the road. During the coaching era up to eight stage coaches a day passed through and were well catered for by the local inns and hostelries. In later years there was even gas lighting in the street. Today you will still find a fine collection of Tudor, Regency and Georgian architecture comprising of many listed buildings and cottages to explore. The local people are keen on preserving their footpaths and other features around the village and this circular walk has been developed to provide a very pleasant and easy stroll from the village centre. There are also many other routes available in the area. From the car park of the new village hall, next door to the former primary school, turn left and walk up the Hinderclay Road, past Church Meadow and turn right into Mill Lane. Follow the lane for about 700 yards and, after the first bungalow on the right, turn right at a footpath sign into a green lane between hedges. This soon emerges onto a field edge path with a good view of the village on the other side of the valley. Walk down the left hedge and turn left by an oak tree to continue alongside a wire fence to reach a wide crossing track. Turn right here and continue to the end, crossing a brick bridge to come out on the end of Fen Lane. Turn right onto a path that soon turns left between a barbed wire fence and the ditch edge. Follow this, bearing round to the right and passing the former watercress beds, between wooden fences and past a seat to a wooden footbridge. Follow the path up between fences and hedges to the village main street emerging by the footpath notice board and seat. The boundary between the parishes of Rickinghall Inferior and Rickinghall Superior is roughly along the line of the main street with Inferior to the north and Superior to the south. It is reckoned that the parish boundary actually passes through the former Hamblyn Hotel opposite Warren Lane, which was a mill in the 17th century, and some of the side by side house are in opposite parishes. The problem has been solved in a practical way by the formation of one parish council to serve the two parishes. Turn left past the Post Office and then right at a footpath sign up a drive/track (Warren Lane). At the end of the track bear right of the brick wall at Bunny Hollow on the path between a boundary fence and hedge. At the open field, continue straight on along a well defined crop break strip to the new bypass. Turn right along the wide highway verge for about 150 yards and at the end of the hedge, turn right by a pair of metal gates onto a wide track towards the village (Garden House Lane). After the third house on the left, turn left on a concealed path between a small concrete post and a conifer tree. Follow the tunnel like path between the hedges, to emerge into a grass field. Continue along the left hedge to the corner and go through a gap in the hedge by a pair of electricity poles. Follow the field edge path ahead to a crossing footpath marked with a four arm sign post. Turn right along a well-defined path down to The Street to emerge by The White Horse pub. Turn left past the pub on the roadside footway and turn right at the cross roads into Hinderclay Road. The church of St Mary's Rickinghall Inferior dates back to the 14th century and is unusual with its octagonal topped round tower which is thought to be much earlier and may have been used as a refuge from marauding Danes. Next to the church is the redundant primary school, built in 1854 of flint and red brick, typical of the solid design of schools of that age. Walk on the roadside footway past the church and the redundant primary school to return to the start. Fact FileLocation: Rickinghall is 15 miles north east of Bury St. Edmunds and 6 miles south west of DissStart: Rickinghall village hall car park, Hinderclay Road OS map reference TM038752 Length: 2½ miles Conditions: Well defined village and field edge paths, tracks and roadside footway, no stiles, gates or steps How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine - 08459 583358 By Road: From Ipswich west on A14 to Stowmarket then north on B1113 to Rickinghall village Car Parking: Rickinghall Village Hall when not in use, otherwise on street parking. Please park with care and consideration for residents Refreshments: There are a number of pubs, shops and other facilities along the main street Public Toilets: None Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 230 Diss and Harleston Information: http://www.rickinghall.suffolk.gov.uk/ http://www.botesdale.suffolk.gov.uk/
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