Deben Valley from Wickham Market to Woodbridge

Start: Market Square, Wickam Market (IP13 0QS) Grid ref. TM 301 558

(S) From Market Square, walk South along High Street then take the footpath left that leads around the church and out of the village. Keep ahead ignoring the paths to the left until it meets a country lane.

(1) Turn right and when the road bends around to the right, take the track on the left which leads under the A12 Wickham Market bypass. Turn right along the track on the far side of the bypass and follow this around to the left by the cottage at Fowls Watering. This leads down to a couple of footbridges across the River Deben.

(2) As the path head into the woods take the footpath on the right which is waymarked with the East Suffolk Line Waymarkers. The footpath emerges onto a country lane close to Decoy Pond. Turn right and follow the road around the bends, past Park Farm and up the slight incline.

(3) Take the left-hand footpath that is signposted on either side of the road. This follows the border of a small wood until it meets a track that crosses it.

(4) Take the right track past Loundham Hall until it junctions with another track. There is a gap in the hedge and the footpath continues diagonally across the field, then follows the field boundary.

(5) Eventually the boundary ends and the footpath crosses an open field. Head for the field boundary where the path continues between the hedges of the fields down into Ufford.

(6) Continue onwards along the road until there is a road on the right where a footpath on the left. Turn left, the path leads across a grassed field and over a stile. Keep to the right ignoring the path directly onwards, and pass through the gate up into the churchyard. Pass directly through the churchyard and a footpath leads down to the White Lion pub.

(7) Turn right then follow the road on the left. There is a shortcut across the golf course.

(8) Then, there is a footpath on the left of the road past Decoy Farm that leads down to cross a railway and reach Wilford Bridge.

(9) Cross the main road (A1152) into Melton and follow the riverside path. There is a path which leads off to Melton Station. There is a riverside footpath all the way through to Woodbridge (3 Km) until the station. Otherwise, walk to B1438.

(10) Buses depart from the Turban Centre, which is found by taking the road right, from the station then left at the traffic lights. (E)

Start: Market Square, Wickam Market (IP13 0QS) Grid ref. TM 301 558

Transport : First Group 64 service connects Ipswich, Woodbridge, Wickham Market, Saxmundhamm, Leiston and Aldeburgh.

Refreshments :
The White Lion, Ufford

Find more information and walks at Griffmonsters Great Walks here.

• Loudham Hall
• The Church of St Mary of the Assumption, Ufford
• Melton Old Church