Suffolk is a county with much to recommend, excellent and varied coastline, medieval castles, chocolate box villages, the wonders of Sutton Hoo, the vast forests of the Brecklands to name but a few. However it is sadly lacking in panoramic viewpoints and its top is a misnomer.Suffolk can actually 'boast' two historic tops as the county was divided into East and West until 1974. Great Wood (420ft) was the top of West Suffolk and is the current county top. The lesser top of East Suffolk (295ft) is at Wattisham airfield and safely hidden behind razor wire which is an excellent excuse not to visit it. It will gain another top in 2009 when Ipswich becomes a unitary authority, but I doubt whether it will offer much of a challenge.
The best thing about this walk was the meal I had at The Plough in Rede beforehand. The Faithful Hound sat this one out and I was accompanied on the walk by friends, Frances and Trevor. It was a very mild day in December and we set out on what was meant to be a circular walk. There was nothing particularly great about Great Wood and as the GPS failed to work it was a bit of guesswork as to where the actual summit was. (I don't think it's where I'm standing in the photo!)
Faulty map reading meant we couldn't complete our circle in daylight so we had to return the way we came. The highlight of the day was seeing a hare running along a ridge in the lovely late afternoon sunshine. It looked huge silhouetted against the skyline.
So it wasn't much of a top, but there is much, much more to Suffolk. Visit Lavenham with its beautiful half timbered buildings and ancient Guildhall. Walk from Clare to Cavendish and treat yourself to a cream tea. Stroll along the coast at Dunwich Heath and go twitching at Minsmere Nature Reserve (but leave your pet at home). Flatford Mill and East Bergholt form part of Constable Country along with Dedham over the border in Essex.
Don't take my word for it, go see for yourself.
Click here for a walking guide to Suffolk.
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