Walk 21/2009 – Stetchworth

Sunday 23rd August 2009

There were just the 5 of us that met up on a sunny morning – Alan being the only male, so was very brave to not to bail out at this point [Ed – no problem, I’ve got my lippy so can mix it with the best of you!]. We piled into the one car and headed for Stetchworth – a small village but which managed to have the obligatory bike race in progress. After an unnecessary comment from our walk leader about my parking (which was perfectly adequate!) [Ed – true, we were in the right village!] we set off towards the Stour Valley Path and over the first very intricate style. It was generally agreed that it was a question of “how much can we spend and get away with, on one piece of equipment” at the local Council meeting. My guess is only one as we did not encounter any more of this elegance.

The pathway was a shaded glade – a welcome cover from the powerful sunshine. Alan and myself stopping to pick up and discuss the abundance of nuts lying on the ground, Alan stating these were hazelnuts. Many in their green pods and as many again having been cracked open by forest inhabitants – not that we saw any – but some saw/heard a Woodpecker or two – Claire being able to identify their calls.

On leaving the covered way we carried on alongside paddocks and gallops and into the open countryside where we met a lady walking her dog along the river near Kirtling Green – who reliably informed us that every year a dog drowns in the water and about 20 years ago a man drowned in the water whilst trying to rescue a dog. The water eventually runs into the River Stour – one of the first navigable rivers in Britain – I’ve just watched “Rivers” on BBC1! She also stated there were deer about but no sightings were made. 11am the welcome pit stop.

Continuing across the corn fields we encountered 8 race horses being taken out for a trot and was given a wave by their leader who was possibly Arabic – we could tell by the way he waved! We then saw some pheasants out for their Sunday constitutional but the fork in the path took us in opposite direction alongside Darley Stud farm – owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and is a global breeding operation. Just think we could have been feet away from the next Red Rum.

We came to a strange little village called Saxon Street before entering the Ickfield Way and stopping for lunch.

Discussion was mainly about why so many paddocks, all well maintained, but empty, and the pending beer festival. After lunch we walked through more farmland and woodland, up and across Devils dyke – had to let a mad cyclist pass at one point! and back to the car park.

A local hostelry – the Marquis of Granby was calling us so we had to oblige and taste the wares – Jackie being forced by Rosemary into having a pint and not just half of the amber nectar – you could see Jackie only gave in after much protest!! Here topics such as the pea pushing with his nose and attempts to fly the Nene exploits of Walter Cornelius were discussed – who said ramblers were boring?

A good walk was the overall verdict – (around 31,000 steps – I counted each one!) in the glorious August sunshine.

Report – Sue

Pictures – Alan

Walk rating – good

Well, I guess walking around Newmarket we were bound to see lots of horses.

There were a number of quite nice wooded tracks on this walk. Surprisingly, for the area, well walked.

We were interested to come across a lot of Hazel nuts. Not something we could recall as common although a very native English species.

This was the top of the River Stour.

Here’s four fine fillies who won’t be racing at Newmarket. The going’s too soft and flat for them. They like it hard with plenty of jumps!

Kirtling Green at the top end of the Stour is where water pumped from the Ely Ouse at Denver is discharged into Essex to provide drinking supplies.

Not all the horses were racers.

We came across this ornate kissing gate.

This is typical of the scenery – large fenced fields with not a horse in sight.

This is an exercising circuit which incorporates a variety of surfaces from grass, to sand, to softer sand.

We come back along Devil’s Dyke which is a Saxon military fortification.