Walk 3: East End

Walk reviewed: 12/9/19
Instructions last updated: 18/9/19

Case Walk 3: OS Maps online
Walk 3 route map (1 page)
Walk 3 instructions (text only; 1 page)
Walk 3 photos (larger size; 3 pages)
This page (compact combined text & photos; 2 pages)

This walk is approximately 3.5 miles and is a circular walk from the Case through woods and fields to East End and then return via Dodnash woods. The route can be somewhat marshy in places.

From the Case is Altered turn right out of Case Lane (WP1), cross the main road and turn down Bergholt Road. Walk approx 500 metres then shortly after a 30mph speed limit sign on the right and just before you reach the Threeways junction, take a path on the right between hedges (WP2). The path shortly opens out at the edge of a field. Follow the path to the end of the field keeping to the left of the line of trees marking the field boundaries and join a wide crossing track (WP3). Turn left and follow this wide track until you reach the main entrance to the woodyard (WP4).

Waypoint 1

Approaching Waypoint 2

View At Waypoint 2

Waypoint 3

Waypoint 4

Footpath Beyond Waypoint 4

Cross the drive and take the path alongside the woodyard fence to join the track at the rear (WP5) through Great Martin’s Hill Wood. Walk straight on along the main track, ignoring any side turnings (eg. as at WP6), to reach the brow of the hill marked by a footpath sign (WP7). Follow the path ahead as it meanders downhill to eventually reach a substantial wooden bridge over the Dodnash Brook (WP8). Beware – there are many opportunities to drift away from the main public footpath in this section so keep an eye out for post mounted, yellow footpath markers which identify the route and use the annotated photos for guidance, ie. the images captioned WP7, Footpath Beyond Waypoint 7, Approaching Waypoint 8 (1), Approaching Waypoint 8 (2) & WP8.

Waypoint 5

Waypoint 6

Waypoint 7

Footpath Beyond Waypoint 7

Approaching Waypoint 8 (1)

Approaching Waypoint 8 (2)

Once you’ve crossed the Dodnash Brook footbridge, follow the path around to the left then up a set of steps. At the top of the steps, pass through a kissing gate (WP9) then head diagonally left across the field to reach another kissing gate (WP10).

Waypoint 8

Approaching Waypoint 9

Waypoint 9

Pass through the gate and follow the track round to the left and up to the rear of the caravan park and around the edge to reach Straight Road (WP11). Turn left and walk to the junction at the end of the road, then turn right (WP12) and pass the Royal Oak pub on your right. Continue around the next left bend and, at the next right bend, leave the road and continue straight on along the path ahead to the right of ‘Southview’ and to the left of the field entrance (WP13). See if you can spot the ‘fairy grotto’ on this section of the walk.

Waypoint 10

Footpath After Waypoint 10

Waypoint 11

Waypoint 12

Waypoint 13

Waypoint 14

At the junction at the end of this path (WP14), turn left on a field-edge path and then, at the end of the field, around a gate to reach the Bergholt Road (WP15). Turn immediately right to walk on a new footpath through a gap in the hedge and diagonally down across the field to the corner. After passing through a gap in the next hedge continue straight down across the next field and through yet another hedge to reach a footbridge over the Dodnash Brook again (WP16).

Waypoint 15

Just After Waypoint 15

View Beyond Waypoint 15

On the right in the meadow is the Dodnash Priory Stone, reputably all that remains of the 12th century Augustine Priory that once existed here and believed to have been founded in 1188 by an ancestor of the Earl of Norfolk. Originally spelt Dodneis, the priory is perpetuated in the modern name for the area now dominated by the extensive Dodnash Wood.

Cross the marshy area of meadow ahead, diagonally right to a stile (WP17), and again diagonally right up the next section of meadow to a stile in the fence at the edge of Dodnash Wood (WP18). You may wish to rest for a while at this point, making use of the commemorate bench (newly fitted in 2019) to enjoy the view back across the valley. When ready, walk on and upwards through the wood. Please keep to the main path through the woods identified by yellow footpath markers. This path soon becomes a wide track and will eventually reach a kissing gate at Hazel Shrub (WP19).

Waypoint 16

View Beyond Waypoint 16

Waypoint 17

Waypoint 18

Beyond Waypoint 18

Waypoint 19

Turn right along the road and, at the right hand bend, just before The Arbour, turn left on the bridleway across the fields (WP20). At the large oak tree (WP21) keep left to join the unmetalled road, Link Lane. Follow the lane out to the main road through the village (WP22) and turn left to return to the Case is Altered.

Waypoint 20

Waypoint 21

Waypoint 22

Return to Walks From The Case