12 April 2019 Rendlesham Ramble

I’ve missed blogging, so even though i may have no readers I thought I would do it anyway!

For the first time since our return we had the opportunity to get out for a decent walk today. We decided to head for the coast north of Woodbridge but had no real plan. Our coffee stop was Christines in Woodbridge. Excellent coffee, sausage rolls and scones! Then off we went and we decided to go to Sutton Ho where we know there are decent walks. Sadly it was closed until Easter! Where now? Well, let’s see where we end up! Right out of Sutton Ho then a left and down the road towards Hollesley, a road I had travelled many times when working and where I knew there were little car parks with walks into Rendlesham Forest. We parked in one and had a look at the appropriate map. I had taken 3 with me to cover all eventualities! It looked like we had plenty of options for a circular walk, incorporating a lunch at the Suffolk Punch stud which we checked was open!

Off we went, map in hand. We hadn’t gone many yards when the path divided. But which way? It was all a bit confusing as the paths that were there didn’t exactly resemble the map, but nevertheless we worked it out, or we thought we had. On we went until we reached the next junction. More confusion! I remembered why we used to do DofE expeditions and training in this area. The only sure way of knowing if you are on the right track is to use a compass, and this kind of featureless landscape in amongst the trees is a perfect training ground. The trouble was we had no compass 😱. Ok we can still just about see the line of the road, so we are heading in the right direction and on we go again. Onto a wide track running parallel to a cycle track and feeling confident. But not for long!! We came out of the trees to find that we were heading back to the road a bit further up from where we had parked 🤦‍♀️. Look at the map. If we carry on we can pick up another footpath and eventually get to where we want to be. As we got near to this point we could see 3 cars parked, and peering out of each was a huge camera lens or scope!! All pointing in the same direction and to the same point on the ground. Fortunately for them, and probably for us, our turn off was a few yards before we got there, so we didn’t disturb whatever it was they were looking at.

Back to the walk and we now knew exactly where we were. But not for long!! Back in amongst the trees, with paths cross crossing, and even with information poles at a few points that give you a 6 figure grid reference so you can check your whereabouts, some hazy sun to work out where South was, and we still couldn’t get onto the path we wanted!! However if we keep going east we should get to a road, according to the map, failing that the North Sea!! A while later, we made it to the road, not where we thought but still the road that we wanted to get to. From here it was plain sailing all the way to the Stud and lunch, followed by the rest of the walk down to Hollesley village, around it and the back of Poplar Park, with all its memories of one day events when David and Helen were younger.

15.7 Kms, about 8 miles, and very good it was too!

Lesson learned. Take a compass in future!!