Welcome to Capital Walkers, the friendly London Ramblers group for people aged 40+. We walk every weekend and usually at least once during the week.
Simone B.
Join me on a walk following Constable's footsteps through the Stour Valley. Starting at Manningtree, Essex we will head to the picturesque village of Dedham, its Parish Church of St Mary with its tower is a feature in many of Constables paintings. We will stop for lunch here where there are several teashops and pubs.
After lunch we head alongside the River Stour into Suffolk to Stratford St Mary, previously an important stop for wool traders. From there we head via East Bergholt to see the 15th Century church with its unfinished tower and unusual wooden bell cage, towards the hamlet of Flatford (National Trust). There will be time to explore the site e.g. to see Flatford Mill & the exact viewpoint of the Hay Wain painting. There is also a free exhibition & 17th century cottage to look around as well as a cafe & toilets. Once finished we will head via Flatford Lock (another topic of a Constable painting) back towards Manningtree station. There is no entrance fee to the site.
This is a flat walk but can be muddy in places due to the low lying land around the water meadows so wear suitable footwear. There are a few stiles.
No exit points but there is a shorter route from Dedham to Flatford for those wanting to cut the walk short.
TRAVEL
Take the 9.30am train from London Liverpool Street (Stratford 9:38) (destination Norwich)
There are toilets at Manningtree station. There is a large carpark at Manningtree station.
No booking required.
The finishing time is an estimate only and will be dependent on a number of factors such as, weather, the speed at which the group walks and the number of breaks taken.
Manningtree railway station - please go under the tunnel to exit the station & meet at the front opposite the car pack. Toilets are on the platform nearest the entrance.
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