Dedham Vale & Flatford Mill - Optional Return Route

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From the square in Dedham, cross the road, bearing slightly to the left, then walk north up Mill Lane (initially running alongside the Marlborough Head Hotel). Just after passing what used to be a large mill building to your left (now flats), turn left by a footpath signpost and walk along a path that leads to the old mill pool. Cross two bridges in succession (one across the mill race and the second across a restored stretch of canal) and the descend a set of steps into a field. Turn sharp left and follow a well-defined grass path which soon takes you to the north bank of the River Stour. Follow the path along the river bank for approximately nine-tenths of a mile (1.5 Km) until the path veers away from the river to a gate (at this point, the river runs under a bridge). Go through the gate then go under a bridge supporting the A12 road. On the far side, the track reaches a road (Lower Street). Cross the road and turn right along the pavement beside the road, soon passing into Suffolk. Follow the road until you reach the southern end of Stratford St Mary village. There is a pub on the right, The Black Horse (telephone: 01206 323112), which does food. Whilst it is possible to turn right and follow a series of paths to a point near the northern end of the village, we suggest keeping to the road as you then pass a number of very old houses in the village. The road bends to the right and becomes Upper Street. A little way along, you pass The Anchor Inn on your left (telephone: 01206 322143), which does food at lunchtimes.

Keep walking along Upper Street, which soon curves to the right and runs under the A12 road. Keep on Upper Street until, just after passing the old parish church on your right, you reach a T-junction with another road. Cross this road and turn left – you soon reach a footpath signpost pointing to the right. Here, turn right and follow a path between two fields, then follow a path that runs along the left-hand edge of a ditch to the corner of the field. Here, cross a wooden footbridge to your right and then bear left to follow a farm track with fences on both sides. Follow the track as it descends to the bottom of a shallow valley and crosses an earth bridge over a stream before climbing again on the far side. At this point there are good views to the right across Dedham Vale. At the top of the incline, go straight ahead by way-marked posts across a tree-lined lane (Dead Lane) and enter a narrow fenced path on the far side, heading east. The path runs along a ridge before descending into another valley bottom. At the bottom, go straight ahead across a gravel drive by a way-marked post, cross a wooden footbridge and enter a narrow path to the left of a house. This path climbs to reach a wooden gate at the top. Go through the gate and bear slightly right to enter a tarmac lane. Walk along this lane, soon passing to the right of East Bergholt cemetery, until you reach a T-junction with a road in East Bergholt village (The Street). If you turn left here, you soon reach the Red Lion pub (telephone: 01206 298332).

To resume the walk, turn right and follow The Street past the village church. Where the road curves round to the left, turn right into a narrow road (Flatford Road). Soon you reach a footpath signpost on your left – here, bear left to follow a way-marked path that runs parallel to this road for some distance down to the bottom of a valley. At the end of this path, re-join the road as it crosses a stream and ascends a hill. At the top of the hill, turn right through the car park for Flatford Mill and walk through it as it descends a slope. At the bottom of the car park, bear right to enter a lane which runs down to the River Stour. Follow the lane as it curves round to the left to see Flatford Mill and Willy Lott’s Cottage.