Alde Valley - Sweffling to Badingham

Start: White Horse bus stop. Grid ref. TM 344 643

(S/E) Leave Sweffling White Horse and proceed North down the road the pub is on. Keep to this little used country lane. Continue straight ahead at the crossroads and ignore all other roads that junction with this.

(1) After approx 2 miles from the crossroads there is a footpath that leads off to the right. This is not the first footpath on the right, which leads across to Bruisyard, but the one beyond the junction to Coltson Hall which is signposted Badingham! The footpath descends down three steps to the field. A path then immediately cuts through the hedgerow and runs diagonally across the following field to a footbridge.

(2) Cross the bridge and follow the path around the hedgerow to the track. Turn left down towards the house.

(3) Before the track leads into the ground take the footpath on the right. This leads through some heathland to the main road (A1120) where the Badingham White Horse stands directly opposite.

(4) Continue along the road down the side of the pub for just under a quarter of a mile where the village hall stands on the right. Walk into the gravel drive at the far end and at the end of this there is a footpath that heads up through a tree lined path. Follow this through to the lane where the old Rectory stands in resplendent grounds opposite.

(5) Turn right, and follow the lane past the rectory and down to the main road. Cross straight over the main road and continue along the lane, past Colston Hall and down to the Alde Valley where it meets the lane taken on the outward journey.

(6) Keep left to return along this road until the next turning on the left to Bruisyard. Take this and follow the road through to the village. The church entrance can be found just before the first houses.

(7) At the top of the hill, turn right at the junction and follow the lane through to its end. Turn right by the village sign and follow the road around Bruisyard Street.

(8) Take Rendham road on the left as the lane bends around to go over the River. This is another quiet country lane that runs through to the village of Rendham.

(9) At the junction where the White Horse pub stands on the left and the church on the right, continue straight ahead and follow the road for a third of a mile until there is a footpath on the right. The path leads directly across the meadow although it is not particularly well defined due to the short cut grass. Head for the turn in the lane by the side of the meadow where there is a style out onto the lane.

Keep to this lane and follow the track through as it leads along the side of a farm. This now becomes no more than a farm track which makes a sharp bend to the left at the end of the field. Do not take this bend but continue ahead for a few yards where there is a footpath waymarker on a post.

(10) Take the path that leads off to the right. This leads down the side of a hedgerow and then through a wood emerging on a clearly defined path across the field to Sweffling village. At the road continue straight ahead onto the driveway and follow this around into the church grounds. Walk through the churchyard and out onto the road.

(11) Turn right and keep to the road until it meets the junction with the White Horse pub and the start of the circular walk. (S/E)

Start: White Horse bus stop. Grid ref. TM 344 643

Refreshments:
Badingham White Horse, Badingham
Rendham White Horse, Rendham
Sweffling White Horse, Sweffling

Find more information and walks at Griffmonsters Great Walks here.

Bruisyard Hall