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Brandeston
By Michael Anderton
Brandeston lies off the beaten track in the Suffolk countryside in the upper reaches of the River Deben valley. The parish takes its name from the Old English for Brant's Farmstead and the cottages that line the village main street reflect the rural tranquillity of this part of the world. This walk starts from the 13th century parish church of All Saints, close to Brandeston Hall School, built in 1543 and now part of Framlingham College. The church overlooks the beautiful valley and the walk crosses the river twice in the meadows below before returning back up into the village and its thatched cottages, on a circuit of the local paths.
From the churchyard gate turn right (eastwards) along the road for about 300 metres to the next junction and turn right on the wide tree lined track towards the valley. The path off to the left, just before the track descends to the river, leads to Lot's Hole cottage where Margaret Catchpole lived with her uncle. However there is no access to the cottage which is private.
At one point in her life Margaret Catchpole stole a horse to warn her lover, a smuggler called Will Laud, of imminent capture. For this she was transported to Australia to spend the rest of her life. The Margaret Catchpole pub on Cliff Lane in Ipswich is local reminder of her story and the hard life that Suffolk people once endured.
Follow the track down to cross the River Deben at a shaded footbridge and ford in the trees, continuing on the other side on a track along the edge of an open field. At the corner of the field, and just before the house ahead, turn right on field edge footpath to reach the next field by Jubilee Wood. Follow the path along the edge of the wood to a gap in the hedge at the next corner and the remains of a stile and small footbridge leading out to open meadowland.
Cross the section of grass down to a stepless stile in the fence by the trees in the valley bottom and a path leading to a series of three footbridges taking you back across the river. Continue straight on up the oak lined field edge path to reach the road by the de-restriction signs on the Cretingham Road. Beyond the trees to the right of the path there is a good view of the school and its playing field. Turn right for about 100 metres on the roadside verge and cross to turn left through a gateway and a grassy track up through a meadow.
Follow this path straight through two meadows to reach a concrete track to the right of the farm buildings at Red House Farm, to reach the road. Turn right towards the village for about 200 metres, passing The Chapel House, and turn left on Mill Lane to pass the Post Office. The village windmill once stood along this lane but was burnt down in 1893. After the last house on the right turn right on a footpath by an electricity pole and through a gate into the cemetery by a small chapel. Follow the path through the cemetery along the left hedge to a gap in the far corner leading out to the fields.
Follow the path straight across the open field to Rose Farm on the other side. At the time of writing the path was clearly marked across the uncultivated field from regular use by walkers. Turn right after the first building and follow the concrete track around a pond to reach Mutton Lane. Turn right towards the village to the road junction by the village sign. On the sign is a picture of the cottage at Lot's Hole and also of a man hanging by the neck. This macabre figure is that of John Lowes a former vicar of Brandeston around 1600 who was hung at Bury St. Edmunds for supposed witchcraft in 1646.
Turn right to the front of the Queens Head Inn and then left on the road signposted to Brandeston Hall. This will lead you back to the start of the walk at the front of the church.
Fact File
Location: Brandeston is 13 miles north east of Ipswich, between Cretingham and Kettleburgh
Start: Brandeston Church - Ordnance Survey map reference TM 248603
Length: 2½ miles
Conditions: Road, track and fields paths, very easy - 2 stiles
How to get there: -
Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine - 08459 583358
Road Route: From Ipswich north on B1077 and B1078 to Otley village, turn off right to the Cretingham Bell and then right again to Brandeston
Car parking: Roadside parking at Brandeston Church or at the Queens Head Inn for customers
Refreshments: The Queens Head Inn
Public Toilets: None
Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 212 Woodbridge and Saxmundham