From the Nature Reserve car park turn right on the road to the tee junction and turn right again in The Street. Before reaching the Fox Inn you will pass The Giants House, a pink cottage with white front door on the right. In the 19th century George Page and his brother Meadows became known as the Newbourne Giants. Standing about 7 feet 7 inches tall, head and shoulders over everyone else, they became an attraction at the Woodbridge Easter Fair when the show's tallest man would hold a guinea above his head and challenge anyone to reach it. They were hired by Samuel Whitings travelling show in 1869, George died in 1870 and with Meadows is buried in the nearby graveyard at the church.
At the end of the Fox car park turn right into Fenn Lane, walking between houses on a stony track. At a five bar gate pass through the kissing gate into the nature reserve, continuing along the track to reach another kissing gate at the exit to the nature reserve. Continue straight on to the path ahead through a tree lined avenue and uphill to reach a stile at the top.
In the meadow beyond the trees turn right and follow the fence line and trees around edge of field to reach a stile leading into a fenced lined path, alongside the edge of the wood. Follow footpath along line of trees at an open area of land and then again between fences to reach a junction of paths at a field edge.
Turn right and follow the path alongside a rabbit fence at the field edge and eventually bearing right into woodland. Follow the path now within the woodland but generally parallel to the field edge, passing a pond on the right. At the corner of field follow the wide grassy path straight into the woods ahead and out to the Waldringfield Road.
Cross straight over and climb the stile beside a steel mesh gate with a good view of the BT Research Establishment across the open land. Turn right on the track, marked as a bridleway, parallel to the road and behind the pine tree belt. Cross an access track and on past a pit on the left behind an embankment, keeping to the track until it terminates at the road.
Turn left for about 200 metres, using the verge where possible, to the cross roads and turn right towards Newbourn. Walk for about 500 metres and half way up incline on other side of dip in the road, turn sharply right across the field, marked by a footpath sign, and aiming for the BT building. At the track turn left along the track to the farm buildings at Walk Farm Cottage.
Where the track veers sharply to the left, continue straight on along a grassy section with woodland on the right. Where the grassy track turns left, continue straight on along the footpath towards the woods ahead and a stile leading into the wooded area of the nature reserve. Continue on the footpath down through the trees, passing a gate on the right.
Follow the path along boardwalks and bridges and alongside a stream to return through a kissing gate to the start at the nature reserve car park.
Fact File
Location: Newbourne is 4 miles south of Woodbridge
Start: Newbourne Springs Nature Reserve, Ordnance Survey map reference TM 274432
Length: 3 miles
Conditions: Tracks and well defined paths, road and nature reserve with stretches of boardwalk and bridges over marshy areas, 4 stiles
How to get there:-
Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council’s Public Transport Information TraveLine - 0645 583358
Road Route: From Ipswich take the Foxhall Road to the A12 Brightwell Corner roundabout then the Waldringfield Road. Turn off right after ½ mile (signposted Newbourne 2 miles)
Car Parking: Nature reserve car park or at the village hall on Mill Road
Refreshments: The Fox Public House
Public Toilets: None
Map: Ordnance Survey Pathfinder sheet 1031 Woodbridge
visit Michael Anderton's 'Star Walks' web pages
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