Geo-Trips :: Ellough and Redisham, south-east from Shipmeadow, Suffolk
Ellough and Redisham, south-east
A walk from Shipmeadow, Suffolk, Sat, 7 Apr 2007 by Graham Horn
As part of my training for walking the Macmillan Way later that month, I spent four days at Easter at my sister's house in north Suffolk and did four 15-mile circular walks from there.
This is the second one, on the Saturday in Easter week, to the south-east. At the time there were still some green squares to mop up in this area. Apart from the firsts I did not submit some of these pictures until more than a year later, so they may not appear in order.
The walk went through Barsham, south of Beccles, then looped around mainly arable farmland and woodland through Ellough, Shadingfield and Redisham, returning via Great Wood and Ilketshall St. Andrew.
Although mainly flat I had my full pack as I wanted to replicate conditions on the Way. It was dry but chilly, fleece weather.
Click the blue circles to see a photograph taken from that spot and read further information about the location. The blue lines indicate the direction of view. There is also a slideshow of this trip. ( )
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Little Common
Little Common is one of the largest in the area! A minor road crosses the common,... more
Barnaby Farm
One of three named farms in this square. Very close to Beccles, this road already... more
Driver's view towards Brampton
From a footpath crossing the single track Lowestoft to Ipswich railway line.... more
What's over the fence?
The footpath runs parallel with a security fence with warning notices about... more
Offices at Hall's Farm
Some of the farm buildings seem to house offices, suggested by the "staff and... more
Suffolk pink
A very helpful gentleman living here was a former secretary of the local Ramblers'... more
Byway to Cucumber Lane
This byway cuts through the north-west part of the square and soon reaches... more
Factories at Ellough airfield
Ellough (pronounced Ella) airfield is disused and is now home to an industrial... more
Fourways, Ellough
At the southern edge of the square is this crossroads which is regarded as the... more
Ellough church
From the south, Ellough church sits prominently on a small hill visible from a... more
Footpath towards Ellough
The footpath runs to the left of this ditch, although coming from the copse in the... more
Meeting of the footpaths
Two footpaths join here, two of many in the area across mainly arable farmland.... more
On the Sotterley Trail
This is a footpath, but also part of the Sotterley Trail. It is not a public... more
Near Moat Farm
The northern part of this square is about as featureless as it gets, comprising... more
Approaching Titsal Wood
Titsal Wood dominates this square, and similarly dominates the landscape. Here... more
Low Farm, Play Farm
Low Farm has set itself up as a self-styled "Play Farm" (interesting... more
Footpath towards Holly Bush Farm
The farm access road, from Wood Farm and Craven Farm (behind us) to Hollybush Farm... more
The next stop will be Brampton
A footpath crosses the Ipswich to Lowestoft single-track railway south of Brampton... more
Footpath near Shingle Hall
The footpath across these arable fields near Shingle Hall is very clearly marked.... more
Footpath round Great Wood
Great Wood dominates this square. The footpath skirts the western and southern... more
Shipmeadow Marshes
One of the drainage ditches on the marshes, leading towards the River Waveney and... more
Rape at Shipmeadow
The rape is just coming into flower, on a field just above the marshes.
Birch plantation
These trees look as though they have been planted as a crop.
Suffolk power
These power lines have crossed from Norfolk into Suffolk and are destined to meet... more
Works entry at Barsham Hall
The height barriers are essential because of the nearby power lines.
Towards Barsham church
Barsham church stands out well across the fields, a mile away. Closer to hand... more
Drain at Barsham Marshes
Looking south towards Barsham Hill. The footpath technically goes across the... more
Drain at Barsham Marshes
Looking north onto the marshes. The drain leads to a pump house on the River Waveney.
Barsham Marshes
This section of the marshes is dry enough to become an arable field. Plenty of... more
Extra flower bed
These flowers had been planted by the track on the outside of the hedge of the... more
Where's that road?
The Beccles to Bungay road is hidden by the low vantage point. We are just in... more
Footpath to Ringsfield Road
The path off the Bungay Road follows a sunken lane.
Path from Ringsfield Road
A sunken lane takes you gently down to the Bungay Road.
Playing fields off Ringsfield Road
In the south-east corner of the square, on the edge of the Beccles built up area.
Primrose Lane
A bit late for primroses. It looks as though the arable land at Homestead Farm... more
Field at Homestead Farm
The field has just been sown and with a good combination of sun and rain will... more
New house on Primrose Lane
Not the one shown on the 1:50K map, but a newer one next door.
Paddock on Cromwell Road
Two contented horses.
Off Cromwell Road
A cul-de-sac of just three houses, and a caravan.
Off Cromwell Road
The other house in this cul-de-sac.
Storage off Cromwell Road
Bricks, timber; it's all here. And the public footpath is just about clear.
Driver's view towards Beccles
From a footpath crossing the single track Ipswich to Lowestoft railway line. 45... more
Hall Farm
The footpath goes through this part of Hall Farm, with the grid line about halfway... more
Hall Farm
Some of the buildings at Hall Farm. It all looks rather tidy, and shut.
Winter Flora garden centre
A popular garden centre on the outskirts of Beccles.
Winter Flora garden centre
The sign at the entrance confirms the things you may want to know.
What's behind the fence?
I never did find out. This is a bridleway running towards London Road, with vast... more
Footpath near Marlborough Farm
The footpath goes off a byway near Marlborough Farm. A lovely peaceful spot for a... more
Byway to Marlborough Farm
Not really useable by vehicles though. A footpath joins from the north.
Blackthorn on the bridleway
The blackthorn is starting to blossom. Spring is here.
Field at Ellough Moor
The land rises slightly from a bridleway past arable land.
Field roller at Ellough Moor
In one of the fields ready for use.
Tedder at Ellough Moor
This is a tedder for turning hay, in one of the fields ready for use.
House near Playters New Farm
Out in the country but convenient for Beccles.
Playters Old Farm
View into the farm yard through a hole in the gate.
Protecting the hole
A tree has blown over and left a bit of a hole. In the background is Ellough... more
All Saints, Ellough
A 14th century tower, and vastly modified in Victorian times. But this is now a... more
All Saints, Ellough
About as good a close up view as you'll get, because the abandoned church lies on... more
The Grange, Ellough
Can I help you? The horse was particularly parochial, almost barking at me as I passed.
Arable land at Ellough
A crop of peas starts to develop.
Crop at Moat Farm
A crop of peas (?) starts to appear. This footpath is surprisingly remote.
Crop at Moat Farm
More of the arable land leading towards Moat Farm in the distance.
Misleading footpath
Although we have been walking along the right hand side of the ditch, the footpath... more
Footpath? Bridleway? Neither
The footpath is actually the other side of the hedge; we had been misled earlier... more
The Shadingfield Fox Inn
On the A145 Blythburgh to Beccles Road, a fast road at this point. I was walking,... more
Footpath to Shadingfield
Along the edge of arable fields, comes out on the A145 just north of The Fox PH.
Conversion project?
This barn is covered in polythene. Is there a barn conversion taking place inside?
Trees near Moat Farm
In this flat landscape the few trees that there are tend to dominate, even dead ones.
Arable land at Moat Farm
There are large arable fields around here. In the middle distance the next... more
Towards Park Farm
This shows part of the north-western corner of the square, large open arable... more
Water Tower at Willingham
In the flat landscape the water tower can be seen for miles around.
Water tower at Willingham
The rape crop at Park Farm gives it some colour.
Countryside south of Park Farm
The countryside becomes more undulating, although still arable farmland of... more
Titsal Wood
A stream runs parallel to the track in the foreground. Evidence of pheasant... more
Footpath past Titsal Wood
Looking east towards Shadingfield. This is a good farm track between arable land... more
Deer at Titsal Wood
Two deer made a dash from Titsal Wood on the left; this is the second one. With... more
Craven Farm
New building going up at Craven Farm.
Approach to Craven Farm
This is the farm track to Craven Farm and Wood Farm. It has just footpath status.
Towards Hollybush Farm
From a footpath in the northern part of the square, looking south towards... more
Arable land near Lock's Road
The fields in the north-east of the square are all arable, with wide headlands... more
Pasture off Lock's Road
The footpath crosses a ditch on this bridge then heads off across this pasture to... more
Ponies at the Play Farm
These two ponies were two of the exhibits at Low Farm, which advertises itself as... more
Arable land by the railway
The last field before the railway, and the last field in the square. There is a... more
Standing stone in rough pasture
This stone was puzzling, there was no inscription and there is nothing shown on... more
Bridleway towards Redisham
This good surfaced bridleway runs from Wangford Road to Station Road in the... more
Footpath near Shingle Hall
The path rises slightly following the headland of a large field of rape, with... more
Pride of Redisham
In a paddock near Poplar Tree Farm.
What's in the green square?
There is a building in here, completely hidden from the south west by this hedge,... more
Approaching Wood Farm
The footpath actually goes to the right of this hedge line. The farm is... more
Approaching Great Wood
The footpath meets a bridleway at a T-junction here. The bridleway has a stream... more
Field near Great Wood
The 1:50K map is misleading here, because the footpaths go round the fields so... more
Crossing the stream
The 1:50K map is wrong, the footpath crosses the stream by this plank bridge in... more
Towards Ringsfield Road
The footpath from Great Wood to Ringsfield Road runs along the side of the hedge... more
Pasture at Corner Farm
A footpath crosses this pasture, heading for the right of the white building which... more
Willow Tree Farm
Next door to Corner Farm which is named on the map. On Ringsfield Road.
Ilketshall St Andrew village sign
An attractive sign at the junction of ... I don't need to tell you that do I?... more
Wesleyan Chapel, Ilketshall St Andrew
The size of Ilketshall St Andrew parish, and the fact that the minister was shared... more
Footpath off Clarke's Lane
This path leads eventually to High Common Farm. There is another common here, one... more
Common in Ilketshall St Andrew
A small, unnamed common adjacent to Clarke's Lane.
Boundary Farm
Pond to the side of Boundary Farm. This probably refers to the three-way parish... more
Byway towards Gull Lane
This byway leads from Clarke's Land and Shipmeadow Common to Gull Lane and the... more
Beccles and Bungay workhouse
The former workhouse, now houses, stands at the top of the first hill out of the... more
All images © Graham Horn and available under a Creative Commons licence .