ANGLES WAY - JULY 2015 - DAY THREE

NORTH COVE NATURE RESERVE TO BUNGAY

Summary - Another very hot day, 26c in the shade low 30's in the sun. Started where we left off yesterday at the North Cove Nature Reserve and returned to the banks of the River Waveney which we followed for four miles. The grass had been cut but it was rough going underfoot. After watching the Beccles Sailing Club doing races in the river we entered Beccles. It is a smart historic town on a hill in a bend in the river with several marinas below it. Lunch was taken in a pub in the little square. We then continued through fields to Bungay. Not very photogenic as it was miles of ripening corn fields with a few fields of rape and maize. Glad to finish today as it was very hot. Did 12.1 miles.

 Jim and I started again from the small car park at the North Cove Nature Reserve where the GPS was reading -6 feet. North Cove is a quiet relaxing place with a patchwork of wetland habitats including grazing marsh, wet woodland and pools, all lying in the valley of the River Waveney. Characteristic marshland plants like ragged-robin and yellow rattle (so named because the dried seeds rattle in their pods) have become established along with nationally scarce marsh fern which is thriving here. Bog pimpernel occurs in the meadow and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage can be found near the old decoy pond.The reserve is also a great site for fen meadow plants. The mature woodland is good for birds like warbler, siskin, redpoll and all three types of woodpecker. Woodcock nest and feed in the scrub and young carr and sparrow-hawk can often be seen hunting, their swift swooping flight low to the ground. Extract from http://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/reserves/north-cove
We were soon back on the banks of the River Waveney heading generally west towards Beccles, the above picture was taken near where the path through the nature reserve meets the river banks which prevent the marshes being flooded.

There are places where river boats can tie up overnight. This was the one at the end of Marsh Lane.

To maintain the marshland habitat and to prevent encroaching scrub, cattle are used in the summer months. They cannot wander freely as large ditches make a patchwork of different fields.

 

Every now and then was the sound of a boat passing partially or whole obscured by the riverside vegetation. This picture was taken from one of many locations used by a fishing club where a view up the river could be obtained.

This is part of the abutments of a former railway bridge over the River Waveney on the former line from Beccles  to Aldeby and on the Yarmouth South. It was closed on 2 November 1959.

 

This nice property sits on the river bank near Boathouse Hill.

As we approached Beccles we came across members of the Beccles Sailing Club having races around buoys in the river. http://www.becclesasc.co.uk/

Time for a break on a bench for a drink stop as we watched the competition heating up.

It was then on under the A146 (the Norwich Road) and to follow the quays of a marina, over a footbridge from which this picture was taken and into Beccles. Here the Angles Way follows Fen Lane and Northgate.

On reaching a square called "Old Market" we diverted into the Bear and Bells for a lunch and a pint.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beccles for more about the town.

We left Beccles along a road called Puddingmoor until reaching the Bungay Road (B1062). After walking along this busy road passing Roos Hall it was back onto farm tracks again. The route passes to the south of the remains of Barsham Hall with views to the south towards Barsham and its church.

Ripening crops were everywhere including trees with wild cherries.

Rape was also a popular crop this year https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapeseed

The Angles Way goes to the hamlet of Shipmeadow and we stopped in the churchyard for a rest and a drink. Unfortunately it did not have a seat and was locked. This is the view from the church north over the valley of the River Waveney.

 

The route then is through fields but there is a good view across at what is called on the map "Viewpoint Mews" but was the Wangford Union Workhouse http://www.workhouses.org.uk/Wangford/

It was now very hot and the field side paths through the corn and bridle roads to Highfields Farm were taking their toll. A brief section of road through Crow's Nest Wood and passed Moat Cottages and then it was back to unsurfaced lanes between hedges.

Nearing the end of today's walk we came over a rise to a view of Bungay where we had parked a car in a road called Annis |Hill.