The walk
From Washbrook village take the drive to Amor Hall, once the
manor house of Washbrook, passing between the hall and farm
buildings. The track leads out to a section of pasture on the left
where a stile part way along marks a short cut back to the
village.
Continue to the oak tree at the track junction and turn right up
the hill to the stile. In 1586 this path was described as "The way
to the Vicarridge" and in 1646 Isaac Moulton was fined for letting
the path become unfit for use. In the pasture, turn left following
the fence to the next stile where a visit to St. Mary's Church,
Washbrook can be made. Continue over the stile along the headland
path to Fen Farm, a 16th century timber frame building dating from
Domesday. At the end of the farm drive, join Hollow Road; turn left
along the lane passing the roads to Washbrook and Great Wenham and
turn right at the kissing gate in Elm Lane. Follow the hedge to
reach the old A12. To short cut back to the start, turn left on the
roadside footway.
To continue the walk, turn right along the footway past the Moat
House Hotel, crossing the road at Glebe Farm to a wrought iron gate
at the start of a path. Keep to the right of the conifer hedge and
follow the path close to the new A12 where access can be gained to
the end of Honeypot Lane. This ancient track is probably older than
the Roman Road (old A12) and joins with a made up road where, after
150 metres, a stile on the left leads to a path through pasture and
headland to Pound Lane and St. Peter's Church, Copdock.
Follow the road for a short cut back to the village, or rejoin
the walk at the corner of the churchyard. The former manor house of
Copdock Hall can be seen on the left together with a fine example
of a late 16th century barn. Follow a series of stiles and headland
to Copdock Mill and a cartbridge over Belstead Brook. There was a
mill here in 1086; the present millers house is probably 16th
century and was carefully restored a few years ago. Cross the
bridge and follow the field edge to a subway under the old A12 and
on to a footbridge over the brook. Turn right along Mill Lane to
return to the start position.
