9 set off through pretty countryside on an increasingly sunny day. Relatively mud free. Up high, larks were singing, and, down low, flowers were poking their little heads out - violets, snowdrops, primroses, and that stuff that’s not quite blackthorn. Cherry plum probably. The biggest impediments today were wind-blown trees. These were first encountered on the path above Valley Farm and later, much worse, through Loshes Wood. Not dangerously big, but bushy and obstructive. But we climbed scrambled and pushed our way through like a resourceful troupe of orang-utans. A saw and a pair of loppers would not have gone amiss.

The group split at Great Henny, some picnicked, some did whatever and four headed down to the Swan where they ate inside, it not quite being warm enough to sit by the river.

Then on. Willows were being pollarded on the grazing meadow.. Then, much to Mr Tiger’s bemusement, everyone raced past the Mill House and on into Sudbury. This seemed rather illogical given there was a 40 minute wait for the 16:26 train. We could at least have looked at the dead cat. But hey ho.

A grand day out.

Hi Marcus. The train from Liverpool Street seems to arrive at Stratford at 10:09 and not 10:25.

So it does, Anonymous - I quoted the Shenfield time by mistake. Thank you for spotting this. Posting now corrected.

Theres a new train on the stretch between Marks Tey and Sudbury. Creaky old Michael Palin has been retired. 8 got off. The weather was dry sunny some cloud On the way round we saw stitchwort, speedwell, cow parsley, spring beauty, and hardly any bluebells. Some had lunch in Great Henny churchyard. 3 ate at the Henny Swan under a canopy. The rest just drank at a table by the river, a tranquil spot where we were visited by a mayfly, keen on having its picture took. Snap snap snap went the cameras. Then on. Some of us sped up and caught the 4.26 The rest trundled and caught the 5:26 after having traversed the grazing meadow with its muted display of buttercups –(a bit early). We took tea at the Mill House. There were shrieks of horror when it was announced that cream teas were off - till next week. So it was just tea. Apart from the two who had puddings.

8 on a cloudless warm sunny day. The others soon accelerated away from Bures leaving poor Mr Tiger to fend for himself. All took the Henny Swan route as far as I know. At least that’s where I came across some stragglers – fellow rejects from the Olympic speed-walking team.

Great Henny churchyard is still a pleasant place to sit but I seem to remember it was being cared for as a wildflower meadow – now, except for a lucky patch of cowslips, it’s just neatly mown grass. One or two impressive dandelion displays and also some of that strange “spring beauty” stuff that I’ve only ever seen in Essex. Not forgetting the rapefields, some noisy crows and an orange-tip. Tea was had in the Mill House. Well done Mr Tiger for posting this splendid walk. Shame about the buttercups (there weren’t any).

Hi Mr T

Many thanks for the walk and for the flower identification - I did think I'd never seen anything like it before, and I didn't have the presence of mind to photograph it for future reference.

Anyway, yes we all went by Henny Street. I parted company from my fellow walkers to make a successful dash for the 1542 train, but i think most others went to the Mill hotel for tea.

Quality not quantity today ! Just 4 of us on this walk in Suffolk. Those that stayed away (admittedly, the weather forecast was not favourable) missed the delights which this short(ish) walk offers. Speaking of the weather, it was overcast breezy and dry : it threatened to rain for much of the day but the breeze kept the rain at bay. In places the paths were muddier than I was expecting but being March, the paths and ways were not overgrown - a potential hazard for this walk from late May until autumn.

I had a busy evening schedule ahead of me so I had to miss the Henny Swan lunch pub and instead I said goodbye to my walking companions at Great Henny Church. One of them will post a comment on their onward walk and lunch experience in Henny Street. By following the short-cut on the St Edmonds Way I arrived in the outskirts of Sudbury in good time to include a visit to the Mill Hotel (arguably the very best tea stop on any SWC walk). It was good to see the water wheel back in operation again. After an excellent tea I was soon at Sudbury "International" railway station for the one coach shunter service to Marks Tey - for a quick connection to the London bound train.

This lovely little walk seldom disappoints - and it didn't today.

Having bid a warm farewell to the walk organiser, the remaining 3 walked on towards Henny Street and the delights of the Henny Swan pub. Food and service were first class with a varied and interesting menu catering for all tastes and budgets. It was a touch too cold outside to take advantage of the beautiful garden waterside setting, but warm and pleasant inside with a wood burning fire place by the bar area. There was only one moment of uncertainty where we emerged from the pub detour back on to the main route and weren’t sure whether to go left or straight on. Seeing however that straight was downhill, we felt it had to be the right way. And so it proved. Reaching the disused railway, we opted for the more direct route to the station stopping off for a nice cuppa at the Waitrose cafe on route (which incidentally is doing its bit for the environment by no longer supplying take away cups) and headed back on the 16.32 train back to the Big Smoke.

8 started the walk from Bures in bright sunshine encountering large numbers of nettles on several pathways. When 2 attempted to avoid the nettles by taking an alternative route, they were confronted by an angry local who spotted them from his garden. 1 stopped at Great Henny church for a picnic lunch. The remaining 7 continued to the very busy Henry Swan pub where 4 dined. The cloudy cider with damson was enjoyed by 2 others. All 7 admired the buttercup meadows in Sudbury and 3 viewed the mummified feline in the Mill Hotel before walking through the town to the church with the crooked nave. 7 caught the train leaving Sudbury promptly at 16:42.

AR

8

sunny and warm

This is a lovely walk but in summer several of the paths, particularly in the morning, tend to be overgrown. In previous summers the paths have been passable, but best not wear shorts today, and you may find a walking pole handy to fight back the undergrowth.

The detour to the pub in Henny Street is recommended - methinks it's much nicer than the Bulmer Fox.

Now I might do the Walk on Sunday. But I can't Guarantee I will. But I am just wondering. What time will we get the Train Home as I have to go to work early the next day?

Marc, if you skip tea at the Mill Hotel in Sudbury, and instead head straight for the railway station, in all likelihood you will be on the 16-42 hrs train from Sudbury, arriving back in London circa 18-15 hrs.

7 including one on a later train who caught us up at lunch then raced ahead, sunny with clouds , pleasantly varied walk, the Henny Swan was a tranquil riverside spot and most of us ate from their rather limited snacks menu (gastropubs meals available inside) and set off again just as a micro-shower descended. Four diverted to the idyllic Mill Hotel for cream teas.

Just 3 of us from the early train, none on the scheduled train which today was on time for the connecting service to Sudbury. A glorious Spring day sunny mild to warm with a pleasant breeze , near perfect walking weather. The route today was dry underfoot with no mud (unusual for this walk) and no overgrown sections. An abundance of Spring flowers along the way added to our enjoyment of the walk. We diverted to Henny Street for lunch at the Henny Swan, where we met a group of 20 ladies (mostly Americans) from a North London walking group, on our SWC walk and using a print off of our directions. They hadn't got lost en route, so we were able to identify ourselves as being part of the club responsible for writing the walk: they thanked us !! We waited a while for our food to arrive: when it did, the fish pies were excellent. Alas, the fillet steak was little bigger than a fifty pence piece, and at a price of £ 23, a bit of a rip off. The quality cum taste, however, was top drawer - then it needed to be at £ 6 a bite. Onwards after lunch on the St Edmonds Way into Sudbury for excellent cream teas at the Mill Hotel. There were slight delays on our journey home due to a broken down train, but I believe we all made it to our respective homes by 8 pm.

A lovely day out on an underrated walk in perfect Spring walking weather: quality in numbers today, not quantity !!

intend going, this is a nice walk. Weather looks dry.

6 for this Suffolk walk. warm humid cloudy with occasional light rain Beautiful walk through lush green undulating countryside – a bit too lush at times - some stretches were overgrown and wet with the rain. My technique worked quite well. Hang back a bit and let the others do the trampling. The Henny Swan seemed to please. Later the Millhouse did likewise but, apparently, their scones have shrunk. The buttercups on Sudbury Meadows were a little understated this year probably taking a rest after last year’s spectacular showing. A little egret was pecking about on the stream within sight of my scone-scoffing chums. As we stepped on the train, the sun came out :(

Essex, not Suffolk. Honest, Gov...

Both

http://www.bures-online.co.uk/info/info.htm

http://www.suffolktouristguide.com/Sudbury.asp

Indeed, the finish is in Suffolk, but the start and 90+% of the route are across the Stour in Essex, incl. Bures Station itself. Check the map, dear Anonymous...

My feet may have been in Essex but I was breathing Suffolk air..... 99% Suffolk air anyway. :(

northerly winds? must have been a strange micro-climate up there...

Sure was. I blame el Nino

There's also an alternative lunch pub in Henny Street, in a dogleg off to the east from Great Henny church. This detour is only briefly described in the book but after an expedition in 2013 more detailed directions were added to the on-line version (at point 27). Perhaps someone who tried the Henny Swan pub would like to say whether they'd recommend it.

The Henny Street pub is very nice, with a pleasant riverside garden. You need the full online directions, though: the brief notes in the older version are not adequate, particularly when trying to get back on the main route after lunch, which has a slight twist to it. All made clear online.

Sat 23 May Bures to Sudbury

7 on this walk. A cloudy start but turning sunny

Perfect time to do this walk. Cow parsley delineating the fields and paths. Buttercups turning meadows yellow. Speedwell speeding us. Hawthorn coming out.

At least one did the shorter walk others went via Henny Street. Some accomplished dawdling on my part meant I soon left the group well in front of me. An imaginative wrong turn and a dither added to their lead.

Henny Churchyard, where I paused for lunch, was stunning. It’s managed as a wildflower meadow. The Henny Swan was a delight too. Had I had been a little less accomplished at dawdling, I might still have found the others there. I had to nurse my Orchard Pig cider with only a surprisingly tame mayfly and an actual real swan for company.

And so on to Sudbury where the Common was awash with buttercups. Yellow all over. Dropped into the Mill House to pay my respects to the cat. Quaffed some more cider, headed for station. Met some of the others there who mentioned that the tea in the Mill House was good. All in all, a good day out.

p.s. I think the Anchor pub in Sudbury is just a pub sign now.

Adding to Ian's posting, 3 of the 7 on this walk were first timers (all architects) and they seemed to enjoy their day.

The paths were very overgrown in places - oil seed rape being the main culprit - and come July, with full vegetation, several of the paths are likely to be impassable (as in previous years). But back to today, a lovely walk - and good to learn Rear Gunner made it to the finish: we must have missed him by minutes at the Henny Swan pub.