Lark Valley Circular Walk via Culford & Timworth

A lovely walk along the wonderful Lark Valley Way taking in parts of the villages of Culford and Timworth, including parts of the old Bury to Thetford GER Railway Line. Lesser seen birds that can be spotted : Kingfisher, Egret, Green Woodpecker.

The first part of the walk edges Bury Golf course, if youre lucky you'll see Kingfishers along the bank at this stretch (we saw four!)

The walk exits across the Fornham St. Genevieve Road. Carry on straight across along the Lark Valey. Continue along the river bank until you exit the path at the bridge near Mill Farm (4 miles)

At the bridge the route turns right and takes a quiet road which then exits after a short while onto the equally quiet West Stow Road. Turn left here and after a short distance the footpath appears on your right at Little Farm.

Follow the path along through South Wood until the path exits out onto the road (B1106), cross the road turning left towards the village of Culford (there is a paved footpath into the village). After about 1/4 of a mile take the footpath on the right just passed the famous Culford Park School entrance (which you will see across the road to the left).

Turn right and follow this track along the field edge until it exits on a lane with a large factory nestled behind it. Turn left here and head slightly uphill towards Place Farm, passing the large factorys' glass houses on your right.

After about half mile at the wooden footpath sign turn right, noting the large reservoir on the right as you approach. Walk through Manchetts Car pound where a clearer view of the reservoir can be seen,
Continue through Stennets transport Weighbridge yard until you exit onto the A134 Bury to Thetford Road.

Turn right here and walk along the footpath and then grass verge about 100 yards until you reach the lane on your left .

Turn left and continue along the lane through a wood then across the horse racing track and you'll see the footpath just beyond the race track ahead.

Turn right here and you are now following the route of old GER Bury to Thetford line.

The track is obvious and continues slightly down hill across the field. Here you have a fine view of the the elevated edge of Bury St Edmunds with the British Sugar Beet factory towers dominant on the horizon.

Continue over a small river bridge heading toward St Andrews Church off to your left slightly. After passing the Church the path meets a road.

You have now reached the quiet village of Timworth. Turn right at the road and after about 1/4 mile of a mile bear left at the Y in the road onto a rougher road which passes some very old quaint cottages on your left.

Where this track meets the main road go straight across onto a grassy way marked footpath.

You have a choice here you can take the left side of the hedge with a brook on your right or the right side track. Both reach a field at the end which unfortunately was ploughed and impossible to walk across and all evidence of the footpath route has been erased. 

At this point I suggest you turn right follow along with the edge of the field on your left until you reach the corner, instead of turning left at this corner and following the field walk to your right for a few yards and go up the bank where there is a gap in the bushes, cross a horse trottibng track, and then down the bank the otherside, ( it's not too steep) , turn left and walk along the edge of that field with the horse track on your left until you reach a footpath sign pointing whence you've came. The path exit here onto the B1106 road again.

At this point the track again should continue across a field opposite. Again all evidence of the footpath has been erased and the field is ploughed.

At this point I suggest turning right and walking along the B1106 until you reach the roundabout. Note this is the busy A134, so cross with care. 

Keep to the right hand side of the roundabout (there is room to walk along the paved edge of the roundabout ). Leaving the roundabout keep right onto the grass verge heading towards Fornham St Genevieve.

After about 50 yards you'll reach a road to a business complex on the right, walk aliong this road up to where it bends right and walk straight ahead along an avenue of trees which runs parellel to the main road until you exit the path at the roundabout in Fornham St. Genevieve.

Go straight across here, (again being mindful of the traffic) onto the main footpath. Carry on this road walking passed All Saints Hotel on your left until you reach the bridge which intersects with the Lark River path and turn left here and retrace your steps back to the start.