Evening Star Walks|
Our walk this week is at Raydon near Hadleigh, not to be confused
with Reydon spelt with an E close to Southwold. The area of Raydon
that we are visiting is on the edge of the former World War II airfield,
occupier by the American Air Force until it closed and reverted to
farmland after the war. There is still evidence of the runways and
taxiways and more recently, a memorial has been built close to the
road in the centre of the old airfield. Another interesting feature
of this area is Raydon Station on the former Bentley to Hadleigh railway
line, the track bed from here to Hadleigh is now a nature reserve
and provides a good surface for easy walking. From the car park opposite the old station building turn right along the road past Woodlands Hall on the left, continuing out into the open of the former airfield. Look out for a concrete track on the right with a gate mark Private Road. This was once the taxiway that was built all the way around the old airbase. The Public Right of Way is 400 metres further on to the right by the road junction for Great Wenham. However, the path is not delineated across the field and it appears that local walkers use this concrete track to rejoin the path by the wood. Follow the path past the edge of Raydon Great Wood and note the concrete roadways into the centre of the wood which was the site of the bomb dump and ammunition store. Although now private, a look at an Ordnance Survey map will show you the layout of the roads in the dump. At the end of the trees turn right off the track and down a field edge to the corner, turn right and then left into the next field. Follow the hedge and ditch on the left to the end at the corner and then straight across the field to a path into the woods on the other side. Once in the wood turn sharply right through the trees for about 100 metres to a junction and then left on a track. At the end of the straight take the left fork and then left off the track into a field, at a point marked with a waymark arrow. Follow the field edge path with the wood on the right to a small stile at the corner by an oak tree. Cross to another stile by a gate, continuing down hill in a pasture with the fence on the left. Follow the fence down behind the trees and where the path opens up again and the fence bends to the left, bear off right, down across the open pasture to a stile in the fence at the edge of the wood in the valley bottom. After crossing an old culvert over the stream turn left in the wood to emerge by a field. Turn right at the edge of the wood with the field ditch on the left. At the end of the wood continue on straight out across the field, which at the time of writing was well marked through wear, up hill to a concrete block at the top. However, the crop of rape will inevitably obliterate the path unless it is cut back during the growing season. The concrete block at the top of the hill is in the middle of the field, quite efficiently acting to mark the junction of three paths. Its actual purpose appears to be to protect a water sluice valve of some sort. Turn right at the block, again across the open field, to reach the two oak trees and a section of field edge path leading to the old railway line. Turn right along the Hadleigh Railway Walk, crossing the Great Embankment where there are some wonderful views over the surrounding countryside. The railway crossed a tributary of the River Brett on this 50 feet high embankment and it is recorded that the first sod was ceremoniously cut on 5th September 1846 followed by a dinner for forty gentlemen in an adjoining tent. Today it is difficult to imagine that this great heap of soil is man made. Continue on along the Railway Walk, passing under Hunters Bridge and returning to the start of the walk at the Raydon Station car park. Fact FileLocation: Raydon is 7 miles south west of IpswichStart: Old Raydon Station, Ordnance Survey map reference TM060404 Length: 3 miles Conditions: Track, field edge and crossfield paths, woodland, Hadleigh Railway Walk and road, 3 stiles How to get there:- Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council’s Public Transport Information TraveLine - 0645 583358 Road Route: From Ipswich on A1071 to Hintlesham, then on back roads towards Raydon. Raydon Station is marked on OS maps as The Woodlands. Car Parking: Free car park at the Raydon end of the Hadleigh Railway Walk Refreshments: None, except in local villages Public Toilets: None Map: Ordnance Survey Pathfinder sheet 1030 Ipswich and Hadleigh
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Evening Star Walks
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