Lark Valley Path
Distance: 23.8km (14.8 Miles)
Start: Mildenhall Bus Station
Finish: Bury St Edmunds Train Station
The Lark Valley Path follows the River Lark from the town of Mildenhall into the heart of historic Bury St Edmunds. It mostly sticks to the towpath with some sections away from the water due to lack of rights of way. There are plenty of historic features to see along the way including ancient churches, the Iron Bridge in the Culford Estate and Culford Hall. The walk can easily be completed in a single day or over two days.
After just a couple of minutes from the bus station in Mildenhall the trail arrives at the River Lark.
Swans along the river.
It was such a beautiful day with sun forecast all day.
Slightly further along the riverbank path.
The towpath.
With almost no wind the river was like a mirror.
Such a beautiful start to the walk.
The first waymark. Unfortunately the route isn’t well waymarked but a few do exist along the trail, more so closer to Bury St Edmunds.
Having crossed the A11 dual carriageway the route sticks to the riverside path for quite some way.
Looking over plains and woodlands.
A view back along the trail from high in the sky.
The path ahead towards Icklingham.
The River Lark.
The River Lark from the Weir.
Icklingham Church.
A little detour to the River Lark to visit the Civil War Earthworks.
The Earthworks from the air.
The second church in Icklingham. This is All Saints.
From here I joined the Icknield Way Path to reach the Icknield Way itself.
Heading towards the Icknield Way.
It was at Lackford I stopped for today as there was only an hour of light left and came back the day after to continue the walk. Sadly the weather was no where near as nice!
West Stow Country Park.
The Reconstructed Anglo-Saxon Village.
Following the path through the woods.
West Stow Church.
Culford Lake.
The Iron Bridge.
Grade I listed and the oldest iron tubular bridge in the world…
Culford Hall.
One of the many Locks along the River Lark where the path enters a golf course and then into Bury St Edmunds.
