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squiz
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Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 3072
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25th October 2017
Hiking - Walking: Freston to Pin Mill and beyond Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: sunny and warm :) Max Speed: Distance Covered: 10 miles (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
Wednesday 25th October – walk ***** Freston to Pin Mill and beyond –
sunny and warm :)
With sunny, warm weather with light winds forecast we toyed with the idea
of having a night away in the van but decided to use what’s left from our
Birthday pub meal voucher. So, we headed over the Orwell Bridge parking in
a lay-by near Stoke Sailing Club at Freston setting off at 11.30 and
walking down to the River Orwell by the sailing club. With the tide low and
the mud full of feeding birds it offered great views of the bridge. This
opens up to an area of marshy grass with sheep but there is no footpath
signs and we had to back track as you can’t get to Woolverstone Marina
along the shore! You have to head up the hill to Freston Folly, a
six-storey tower built in the 1550’s, we have been to the top when our
boys were younger:) The footpath heads inland on farm tracks coming out at
the marina road which we cross to the church in the park, St Michaels where
I look inside to take a pic. Over some styles through sheep filled parkland
past the impressive Woolverstone Hall, now a private school. There were
some lovely sections through woodland with sunshine coming through the
autumn leaves seeing deer, pheasants and loads of grey squirrels:) Then
it’s back down to the Orwell, past the holiday houseboat to the pretty
Pin Mill proving a popular spot today with half term in full swing and the
Butt and Oyster Pub busy with people enjoying a meal in the sunshine:) We
ordered our fish and chips and found a table outside with great river
views. Mag then had a nice chat with friend of many years who has been
under the weather recently:(. The nice meal arrived which we enjoyed while
watching the tide come while two young girls had fun on their horses
playing on the slipway in the water then galloping out which they did
several times:) There were children in wellies in the water, while others
headed out onto the water to make the most of the light airs with the most
brilliant blue sky with some amazing clouds:) With the meal finished we
walked to the end of the long wooden jetty to get some great pics of the
sailing barges before continuing further along the river. We made it past
the pub before the high tide blocked the way, past the many houseboats
including the boat grave yard and up into the National Trust Cliff
Plantation, a beautiful woodland leading to Clamp House with views down to
Levington. We head inland here and with farmland one side and wood the
other we make it back to Pin Mill. The tide has just started to retreat but
the harbour road is covered with shallow water, Mag walks across the small
green and around the back while I take some pics of the stunning blue sky
which has also turned the water blue:) Mag and I then lose each other,
it’s my fault as I continue along the path without her but we met up
again by the holiday barge and take the river path to Woolverstone Marina.
We are now getting our six-mile legs and it’s a long way up the marina
road to re-join the footpath! Retracing our steps back past the Folly
beautiful in the setting sun and onto the van knackered after being out
nearly six hours covering ten miles!!! We then drive to the lay-by near the
Orwell Bridge for a much-deserved cuppa and cake and are treated to the
most wonderful sunset with the sky turning an amazing blue/red:) It’s a
shame there is nowhere with a nice view to ‘wild camp’ over this side
of the river so we headed home and a 5-star day :)
Photo Gallery Here
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