The Walk
Leave the Country Park to the north following the circular walk
signs to the Cavendish Road, turn right and then left into
Eastfield Farm Lane. The playing field on the left once provided
grazing for livestock from the castle, watered by the Chilton
Stream. At Eastfield Farm keep to the right on Harps Lane, emerging
at a stile leading to a field edge path.
At the corner of the field turn left to Hermitage Farm and
follow the drive out to Bridewell Street. Turn left and then right
onto Sheepgate Lane, skirting the edge of Clare Camp, formerly
known as Erbury meaning earth fortification. This is an interesting
area to explore, it has been suggested that it was an Iron Age hill
fort and also that the Romans once used the site. Clare may also be
a Roman name (Clarus, meaning renowned). Turn right along the edge
of the allotments to the path around the Upper Common where, after
turning left at the top, a good view of the town can be had,
including the castle ruin above the trees. Although now cultivated,
the Upper Common gave common pasture for the poorer people of the
town and is still managed by a Charities Committee.
Turn left by an ash tree, on the track down towards the town and
turn right at the bottom towards the cemetery. After passing the
entrance, the walk is routed around a field with walls on two
sides. This formed part of the old town wall and was probably built
of material from the castle. Continue on from the end of the wall
and turn left onto Nethergate Street then turn left again and cross
to Ashen Road. This leads to a well preserved white cast iron
bridge spanning the New Cut and displays the date 1813 on the
centre arch. The railway also crossed the road at this point, can
you see the old brickwork of the crossing?
Follow the path on the left between the river and the dismantled
railway, crossing into the Country Park via the surviving railway
bridge last used by trains in 1967, when the railway closed. Visit
the Park Centre which houses an exhibition about the castle and
railway; for information about the town, a leaflet produced by the
Clare Traders Association is generally available from local
businesses in the area.
