This is one of the most attractive local walks within easy reach of Wickhambrook (15 minutes by car) and samples the woods, hills and cottages of Dalham Hall estate. There is a possibility of refreshment on the 4.5 mile circuit providing you check beforehand. The Affleck Arms in Dalham (01638 500306) is normally open evenings only Wednesday to Friday and all day, noon to 11.00 pm, on Saturday and Sunday and Munson’s Brewery at the ‘Chequers’ in Gazeley (01638 551511) is open for drinks and snacks on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday lunchtimes. The route described is part of the three churches walk (Dalham, Gazeley and Moulton) and can be followed on the Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 210 covering Newmarket and Haverhill.
Cars can be parked on the grass in front of the village church. For those unfamiliar with the area this may not be too easy to find. Go into Dalham from Wickhambrook or Lidgate but instead of following the road left in the village centre and across the bridge continue ahead until you spot, on the left, the conical shaped malt kiln at Maltings Farm. Turn right here and take the minor road up the hill (signposted ‘Church’).
Having parked the car, there are already good views down to the village and beyond. Head back along the road but do not disappear back into the trees; go straight up the hill with open fields on your left. At the first footpath crossroads turn left. This is part of the circular walk and is waymarked throughout. After an enclosed section the path veers left along the edge of a field then left back into the woods. Pass a short stretch where a narrow field drops away to the left then back into the woods again. After left, right and left waymarks (ignore the footpaths going off to the right) you skirt the bottom of another narrow field and continue along the path to reach the open. Turn left, cross a wooden bridge and continue with the hedge on your left. Gazeley church soon comes into view. Go into the next field, ignoring a footpath to the right, and make use of a strip between arable fields. At the hedge go through a kissing gate and continue following the path and the Icknield Way signs. Negotiate a second kissing gate and continue along a walled passage and into a housing estate. Follow the pavement and footpath signs to the left. Cross Tithe Close to find the village sign, the church and the ’Chequers’. There are several seats in this the village centre. Head left along the street towards Dalham passing the Village Hall and Highwood road. At the end of the pavement you will meet a fork in the road. Take the right option and go downhill for a section of road walking (not a busy road). Halfway down the hill and just after passing a small disused quarry in the trees on the right there is an overgrown entrance to the field. Take fifteen paces away from the road and with luck you will find a faint trail which meanders through the trees parallel to the road. This is a more interesting alternative. If you succeed continue to the bottom of the hill where you reach a vehicle track and should return to the road. Turn right and walk 150 paces before finding a footpath sign on the left (Icknield Way). Take this path and accompany the brook, mostly hidden and often devoid of moisture, gently uphill. There is sail-less windmill on the horizon. After a long steady ascent you will cross a narrow pedestrian bridge and join Dalham ‘high street’. The Affleck Arms is a few paces to the right. You need to turn left but a walk to the right along the main street gives an opportunity to appreciate the pretty thatched cottages and buildings. Return to the end of the pedestrian bridge and continue along the road. Just past the 18th Century malt kiln on the left you will find a kissing gate on the right. Go through and follow the avenue of mature beech and chestnuts uphill back to the church.
Dalham Hall, behind the church was acquired by Cecil Rhodes in 1901 but he died before taking up residence.
Dalham church was built in the 14th Century on the site of a Saxon church mentioned in the Domesday Book (1087) ‘One church with 40 acres of land and half a plough team, value five shillings…’ The forty acres remain the property of the church to this day and can be seen when looking across the valley from the church door.
The tower used to be taller but the top, including a wooden steeple, was blown down in the great storm of 3rd September 1658, the night that Oliver Cromwell is reputed to have died, and was never replaced.
The walk is about 4.5 miles and can take a comfortable two hours, longer if you stop for a break.
Roger Medley
Originally walked in 2007
Re-walked June 2020
If these notes are confusing or inaccurate or the information is wrong, please let me know. If they are helpful, or if you have any other comments, likewise.
Roger Medley [text-blocks id=”50903″ slug=”roger-medley-tel-no”]
Coming Soon to a Fingerpost near you
Suffolk County Council has received funding for a county wide initiative to encourage more people to explore the local area. A field officer has been appointed and volunteers have been recruited to attach plaques to fingerposts in individual parishes. Each plaque (see diagram) displays an app. which can be downloaded to modern Apple and android phones. This will display the local section of the Ordnance Survey map showing footpaths and recognised walking, cycling and riding trails. The information can be stored if walkers are visiting an area where there is limited phone cover. Plaques have been added to 44 stable fingerposts in Wickhambrook and where fingerposts are missing or unstable these have been reported. There are 18 of these and they will be replaced complete with plaques. Wickhambrook is one of the first parishes in the County to complete this task.
W.I.Walking Group
The Wickhambrook W.I. Walking Group meets every Wednesday morning at 10am starting from the MSC car park for walks in the village or slightly further afield. We walk for about two hours and cover about five miles, depending on how much chatting is taking place. There are usually six of us, although we have had a dozen occasionally, dogs are welcome too.