Walks And Walking – Suffolk Walks The Stanton Rides Walking Routes
Mary and I decided on an impromptu trip up the M11 and across to Bury St Edmonds staying a good few miles outside of the town at a very delightful 16th Century Country Inn called The Six Bells at Bardwell. The February snow was still fresh and the air clean, crisp and icy as we arrived to explore the village and check out some of the Stanton Rides and a sunken lane called The Grundle which was carved by the melting ice of the last ice age. Walks in Suffolk are always a treat and there was plenty to see in both villages.
Walks And Walking - Suffolk Walks The Stanton Rides Walking Routes - The Six Bells
This particular area of Suffolk has two windmills; Bardwell Windmill and Stanton Windmill. We went for Bardwell Windmill first and then along to Stanton Windmill before finding The Grundle and then walking back. Most of this walking route was completed via roads and lanes so doesn’t make much for an interesting read so if you want to see the various walking routes along the many Stanton Rides then please visit Suffolk County Council The Stanton Rides.
Walks And Walking - Suffolk Walks The Stanton Rides Walking Routes - Bardwell Windmill
The windmill at Bardwell is situated just behind the Church of St Peter and Church of St Paul in a unsual residential area. It was originally built in the 1820’s but fell in to disrepair after the war. It is now being restored to its former glory by the “Friends of Bardwell Windmill. As we walked back to the village a young lad passed us and politely said “Good Afternoon” and we replied the same. A few steps later we looked at each other in amazement at how friendly he was and it was then we realised how friendly people can be, something we certainly don’t get back in London.
We then walked passed the village tithe barn, a tithe being a tenth of the farm’s produce which was saved for the church, and saw an amusing sign; Chicken Found. I suppose that isn’t very amusing if you had lost the chicken but it made us realise just how acclimatised to city life we have become. We then headed all the way up Bury Road to the village of Stanton, meaning “a homestead on stony ground” following the signposts for Stanton Windmill.
Walks And Walking - Suffolk Walks The Stanton Rides Walking Routes - Stanton Windmill
The windmill in Stanton was built around 1751 and is in a much finer condition and looks as though it sits in someones back garden! We then embraced the views and drew in the glorious country air and followed the footpath signs to The Grundle before circling back and walking back to Bardwell a few hours later. All in all it was a great day in Suffolk and a lovely overnight stay at The Six Bells.
UK Walking Routes 