Pictures and text contributed by Simon
Thanks to everyone who joined us on our East Bergholt, Cattawade and Bentley walk. It was a bit chilly but stayed dry all day. Our 9.5 mile route started and finished in the car park behind the Red Lion pub in East Bergholt. Leaving East Bergholt, we headed towards Flatford. We pointed out Willy Lott’s Cottage as the setting for John Constable’s painting ‘The Hay Wain’, but our group seemed more interested in the signs offering mulled wine and cake.
The muddy Stour Valley Path took us past water-logged fields to Cattawade. We soon arrived at our frequently visited local landmark – the ‘rock in a cage’. A few of our group had never seen it before. We explained it was all that remained of an Augustinian Priory, but a few seemed convinced it was a meteorite.
We posed for the obligatory photo, then headed up the hill into Dodnash Wood. We walked through the autumnal woodland – ankle-deep in crunchy, brown leaves.
The recreation ground at Bentley provided a convenient lunch stop.
The warmth of the Case Is Altered pub enticed us inside.
Our route then took us through Great Martin’s Wood and we were soon back in East Bergholt, where the Hare and Hounds pub provided a warm and cosy spot for a few post-walk drinks.