St Edmund Way

A route across Suffolk, using the Stour Valley Path (East Anglia)  It is not waymarked, but on OS mapping and although mostly coincident with the Stour Valley Path, it starts from Manningtree Station rather than Cattawade and has a little crisis on the edge of Stoke By Nayland and an alternative path between Nayland and Bures.  Then to Sudbury and Long Melford and  going via Lavenham and Little Welnetham to Bury St Edmunds, burial place of the martyr King Edmund slain by the Danes in 869, along the waymarked Lark Valley Path (13 miles and included on OS mapping) to the Icknield Way Path at West Stow before striking over the Brecks to Thetford and the Hereward Way. 

Manningtree Stn to Flatford Mill

Saturday 7 November 2009 - 1.75 Miles

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Another 'Brucie Bonus'.  I did not expect to make it back to Suffolk until December, but my Bro organised a family shindig to celebrate a very significant Birthday for me mum, so stayed for the weekend and after dismissing continuing the Angles Way due to very bad train timings, started this walk instead.  Due to assuming that my train from Ipswich was going to stop at Manningtree, I ended up having to get off at Colchester and back up to Manningtree loosing half hour!   I have no real plans for the St Edmund Way for a while, but it was more pleasant to go direct along this path from the station to intersect with the Stour Valley Path at Flatford Mill, rather than a road walk to Cattawade to follow the Stour Valley Path from there.  Obviously extremely brief section, alongside the mainline rail station, under a bridge and up to join the Stour to Flatford Mill and Lock.

Been here before.  Straight on for the St Edmund Way (no unique waymarking) and left to Lawford to hook into the Essex Way

Sluice gates for when the Stour throws a wobbly!

On the Stour bridge at Flatford, looking towards the Mill

Flatford Lock.  Bit of a waste for canoes!