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Stour Valley & Dedham from Flatford Mill

Suffolk Walk

County/Area - Suffolk & Essex

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 3.5 miles / 5.7 km    Ascent - 150 feet / 45 metres

Time - 1 hours 50 minutes    Grade - easy

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Stour Valley & Dedham from Flatford Mill
Click image to see photo description.

This easy walk explores the Stour Valley between Flatford Mill (Suffolk) and Dedham (Essex). The route includes much of interest including the River Stour, the attractive village of Dedham and the many attractions at Flatford Mill which was the subject of John Constable's best-loved paintings. The walk uses sections of the Stour Valley Path and St. Edmund Way.

The start is the National Trust pay and display car park at Flatford (grid ref. TM076366). To start the walk, exit the car park at the north end and turn left along Flatford Road. After 200 metres take the signed footpath on the right. The path runs parallel to the road for about half a kilometre to re-join the lane. Turn right along the lane and almost immediately left down a narrow track (signed to Fen Bridge and Dedham).

Follow the track past a house on your left and continue to cross a bridge. 100 metres beyond the bridge turn right onto the St. Edmund Way and continue to the B1029 in Dedham (grid ref. TM058366). Turn left along the B1029, cross the river, and continue past Dedham Mill on your right. Continue into the centre of Dedham. Reaching a T-junction with the church opposite, turn left and continue into Brook Street. Just after Dedham Art & Craft Centre (on your right) the road bends to the right. On the bend, turn left taking the right-hand of two tracks (signed to Flatford). The route passes Dedham Hall on your left and continues to the River Stour. Bear left along the river and continue to Flatford. Reaching the bridge over the river, bear left over the bridge and explore the village before returning to the car park.

Other walks nearby

Walk 3658 Manningtree, Flatford Mill and Dedhameasy/mod7.1 miles
Walk 2096 Alton Water, Stutton & Tattingstoneeasy5.5 miles
Walk 2149 Circuit of Alton Watereasy/mod7.6 miles
Walk 3724 River Box from Stoke-by-Naylandeasy6.0 miles
Walk 2374 Freston Circulareasy/mod6.6 miles
Walk 2017 Pin Mill to Shotley Gateeasy5.5 miles
Walk 1639 Erwarton, Church End & River Orwell from Pin Mill easy/mod8.0 miles
Walk 3642 Shotley Gate & Ewarton from Chelmondistonmoderate10.6 miles
Walk 1648 Church End & Erwarton from Shotley Gate easy6.0 miles
Walk 3556 Arlesford Creek & Brightlingsea Circulareasy6.0 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Suffolk Coast and Heath Walks

Suffolk Coast and Heath WalksGuidebook to three long-distance routes exploring the varied landscapes of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB. The Suffolk Coast Path covers 55 to 60 miles from Lowestoft to Felixstowe. The Stour and Orwell Walk is 40 miles from Felixstowe to Cattawade near Manningtree, while the Sandlings Walk is 59 miles from Ipswich to Southwold.
More information

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