Walks

Mid-Suffolk walks

The clouds were duelling today. They hurled the weapons over an unprepared East Anglia. An early flurry of snow was a little pathetic and soon gave way to cold rain and a hail. Late in the afternoon the snow returned on a more impressive scale, but by then the victor had already been crowned; the day belonged to the very, very cold rain.

This was the backdrop as I set out, determined to complete two more Suffolk Walks.

Distance: 5.26 miles
Ascent: 135 metres
Duration: 1 hour 36 minutes

Walk 12: Cretingham and Brandeston

I don't think dog walkers "get it". Take the man I met just north of Brandeston. He wore wellies and a BT jacket. "You training or something?" he asked. The idea that I might be out in this weather for fun was lost. My answer to his second question confused him more. "Are you Peter?" How can I answer that without seeming facetious? He left shaking his head. If I had a dog he'd have understood. And had I a dog, I might have figured out why he gave his German Shepherd a regular bop on the nose.

Distance: 6.41 miles
Ascent: 175 metres
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes

Walk 13: Framlingham from Dennington

This would be a perfect summer's walk: three miles towards the castle at Framlingham; lunch at The Crown before returning to Dennington for a post-walk pint at the Queen's Head. I kept this image in mind and foolishly heeded it rather than the guide-book which warned, "You may care to take the footpath to the left of the lane but this is often virtually unwalkable because of mud."

With filthy trousers and boots I felt I had to opt for the Co-Op rather than the Crown. Maybe another time. Summer can't be too far away, can it?