Oil Seed Rape as seen 05 April 2014 on the Alde Valley Walk

Spectacular weather arrived just in time for the first East Suffolk Lines spring-guided-walk of 2014. This latest guided walk took place Saturday morning 05 April under sunny spells, light winds, and temperatures above average for this time of year. This followed several days of subdued temperatures and low visibility across East Anglia caused by winds carrying sand from the Sahara Desert. 

Approximately 15 ramblers lead by Roger Wolfe, the author of the East Suffolk Line Guided Walks booklet, set off from Wickham Market Station (at Campsea Ashe) on the Alde Valley Walk north to Saxmundham. The 10.5 mile trek goes through one of the most isolated areas along the line but also one of the most picturesque as it scrapes at the western edge of the Suffolk Coastal AONB – Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Many thanks go to Declan Hughes who was one of the ramblers taking part; he kindly provided us with the snapshot above and a picture profile below of the sights seen along the way.

The East Suffolk Lines walks are a series of connected footpaths that start and end at all the stations between Ipswich and Lowestoft and most stations on the line to Felixstowe. The station-to-station walks allow you the option to start at the rail station and return by train to your starting point.

ESL Waymarker on post
Walks booklet

Guided walks like the one pictured above take place regularly throughout the year and are a chance to meet fellow ramblers and see rural Suffolk from a different perspective. Not able to make one of the guided walks? You can still take part as all the walks are published in a handy guide; it’s packed with with maps and information and it’s free as either a downloadable publication or hard copy.

For more information about East Suffolk Line Walks and the latest guided walks programme see our walks page.