Walk 2242 - printer friendly version

Cavenham Heath and Lark Valley from Mildenhall Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.8 miles / 12.7 km

Ascent - 300 feet / 91 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference TL712744
Lat 52.3409570 + Long 0.5116315
Postcode IP28 7QY (approx. location only)

This Suffolk walk is ideal for all times of the year. Cavenham Heath National Nature Reserve is particularly pretty when the heather is in flower during the summer. The walk starts from the Jubilee Fields car park adjacent to the Jubilee Centre in Mildenhall (grid ref. TL712744).

After parking exit the car park take the path to reach the banks of the River Lark. Turn left along the river and cross the bridge. Once across the river continue in the same direction across the Hanbury-Kelk nature reserve. This leads to Mildenhall Road in Barton Mills (grid ref. TL713739). Turn left through the village passing the church on your left to reach Bell Lane on your right (with the Bell Inn pub). Stay on Bell Lane to a T-junction (grid ref. TL719735).

Cross the road and take the track opposite which soon becomes a grassy path. Reaching the busy (and fast) A11, cross with care and continue along the path on the other side. The path improves to become a track that leads to a cross roads (grid ref. TL722721). Turn left along Worlington Road and continue towards Tuddenham village. There is a grass verge along most of this section of road walking. Bear right at the first road junction and straight ahead at the second junction to reach the centre of Tuddenham.

Reaching the village green, turn left down The Green (just before the telephone box). This tarmac lane, part of the Icknield Way Trail, becomes a track and continues across Cavenham Heath to the banks of the River Lark. Cross the river by the bridge and turn left to follow the riverside path. After a delightful section along the Lark Valley, the path leaves the river bank and exits onto the A11. Turn left along the verge, and then use the marked crossing over the central reservation to the other side of the dual carriageway. Once across the A11, go straight down the path and turn right into Old Mill Lane. Turn left down to the river bank and continue back to the start.

Note This circular walk does contain some unavoidable road walking, which for the most part, has grassy verges for your safety. The route also crosses the busy A11 at two points where extra care is needed.

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