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Start:-
Walk to (1) the top of Cuckoo Hill
and enter Fysh House Farm
Continue straight through the concrete surfaced yard to the end
of the buildings where you will meet a gravel track (2)
I have chosen this direction as
it gives you magnificent views across the Stour Valley
Most footpaths maps take you down the lane to Moat Farm but this
is fully enclosed with hedges with no view whatsoever
We will come back this way
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Continue down this track
and then briefly stop and look to your left.
The large property to the left ( see picture) is Fysh
House and this was originally the original farmhouse. This was
sold many years ago to a private owner and no longer has any relevance
to the farm
However the pink cottages to the right were part of the farm workers
cottages
You can also see the stables which are still in use today and the
meadow at the rear. |
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At the end of the gravel track it
forks right to St Stephens Chapel
Take a detour and look at this marvelous ancient Chapel
Now instead of following the track to the right continue down a
wide grass track,(3)
About 100 yards down the footpath
you will find a bench where you can sit and admire the magnificent
views
Directly in front, you will see two tall masts.
These are the TV masts for the local area
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Now look to the right
and you will see Moat House Farm
nestling in the valley below.
This is where you will be heading for. |
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At the end of the grass track you will find a stile which cross
over a small stream.
This takes you alongside the
Water Meadows.
Walk straight across the meadow to
the distant stile
While you are crossing the meadow
look to your right, to view man made lagoon which is the home to
a variety of birds such as swans, geese, ducks etc.
This is private land so do not stray from the dedicated footpath
Over the stile (10) and turn sharp left
This takes you along the edge
of the field. (4)
You next arrive at another farm track
with Moat Farm to your left
Cross straight over this track and
now follow route (5)
This takes you along side a small
irrigation reservoir
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Follow route (5) and (6) until you
arrive at Gazely Gate
You now pass through another farm gate where you will be on a tarmac
road and a "ford" immediately to your right
This is the same water supply
that feeds the Water Meadows. It eventually flows into the River
Stour along the Nayland Road
right photo - the top green arrow
shows the exit from the footpath
Using the footbridge cross over the
"Ford" and climb the steep hill
Arger Fen Nature reserve will be
on your left (7)
Adjacent to Arger Fen, lies
Spouses Grove, another Nature Reserve
Continue along this road and pass
"Church`s Seed Store" on your left
Continue along until you arrive at
"Overhall Cottages"
Here you will find a footpath to
your right which passes down the side of the cottages and a stables
to your left.
This is usually very muddy.
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Eventually this will bring you to
the edge of a field and open up to magnificent views of the Stour
Valley
Now turn road for 100yards where
you will find a sign pointing you down the footpath
Follow the footpath (9) which has
a very steep downhill slope.
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You will now arrive back at the Water Meadows
(10) the stile you crossed earlier.
You now have two choices:-
(a)You can either retrace your steps back
to to Fysh House Farm (3, 2, 1)
(b) or turn right along the footpath (11)
you took earlier back to Moat Farm
When you meet the farm track turn left,
with Moat Farm to your right up a gravel track road
Nearly to the top you will see a footpath sign on your left.(12)
This will take you though a Spinney then across a meadow where you will
meet the main Assington Road
Bear left and continue back to Bures
NOTE:-It is far easier to use the route
planned route
You can of course. from (10) walk the opposite direction and climb the
footpath to the top of the field
However, this may be difficult for some people and also the Stour Valley
View will be behind you all the time
If you are interested in other walks
visit this page, where you can download PDF
maps of the area
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