We offer walks in London and Home Counties, accessible by public transport.
Nick W.
The 'Gainsborough Line', which opened 175 years ago on 2nd July 1849, is a railway branch line linking Marks Tey in Essex with Sudbury in Suffolk. We shall explore the countryside around this route, known to the painter Gainsborough born in Sudbury on 14 May 1727, over four walks utilising the four stations along this line.
This walk is a circular from the final station on the line. We start with a brief walk around the ancient market town of Sudbury followed by a walk along the Valley Trail, the route of the old railway track that used to run from Sudbury to Cambridge. We cross meadows towards Brundon Mill with its many swans, reconnect with the Valley trail to Melford Country Park and then continue on to Long Melford for the lunch stop. We return to Sudbury along part of the Stour Valley Path. Toilets on town walk and at Melford Country Park. Use pubs and cafes at Long Melford.
Lunch: picnic only, but plenty of pubs and cafes for a drink.
Train: Liverpool St 9:02; Stratford 9:09; Arr Marks Tey 9:57 (Ipswich train). Change Marks Tey 10:01; Arr 10:21 (Sudbury train). Buy return to Sudbury. Please sit at front of Ipswich train as only 4 minutes to connect to Sudbury train!
Other Gainsborough Line walks:-
Sat, 29 June - MARKS TEY TO CHAPPEL - Mark B.
Sat, 27 July - CHAPPEL & WAKES COLNE - Roger B.
Sat, 10 August - BURES TO SUDBURY - Dave H.
Sudbury Railway Station, Suffolk. Map: E196.
