A cycle ride to Lackford

I warmed up for Juneathon with a 16 .4 mile ride out to Lackford in Suffolk.  I woke early this morning and eventually got up at 6.30am. The weather was overcast and the dark clouds threatened rain as I set off through Bury St Edmunds and out of town to Fornham Saint Martin. Out at Culford I disturbed a muntjac deer which was crossing the road and then made a bolt for it crashing through undergrowth to reach safety. Muntjac deer were in the local news this week after repeatedly raiding allotments in Bury St Edmunds the local gardeners want some action to cull them.


At Brockley Corner I decided to veer towards West Stow rather than Ingham. I notice on the map there is at Brockley Corner a Hill of Health Tumulus. Not sure how this got it's name ironic for a burial mound.

After West Stow I followed the road past the Anglo Saxon Village. Here you are just within the KIng's Forest . Here there is a mixture of pines and broadleaf trees and you are always likely to see deer. I turned for home along the Mildenhall Road and the next village I reached was Lackford. The run for home was fairly straight taking me though Flempton, Hengrave, Fornham All Saints and home.

Risby Suffolk

A Friday lunch time a break from work enabled me to do a ten miler out to the village of Risby near Bury St Edmunds Suffolk.

My 10 miles took 1hr 25 minutes 26 seconds which is an 8.31 average pace. This gives me 23 miles for the week and 88 miles for the month. I am certainly puttin gin the miles and have got used to my new Nike Air Pegasus 25 shoes. Having bought a pair in JJB Sports in Bury I saw the same shoes in Cambridge at Sportshoes Direct at Lionyard Walk for £20 less! Always frustrating to waste money but I have learnt lesson not to touch JJB Sports and I generally haven't had cause to use it previously buying on the internet to find running gear.

There is a good waffle tread on these shoes which gives a good grip for off road running .

The weather was good, sunny but with a fair amount of cloud so the temperatures were not excessively warm for running. I ran out along the Newmarket Road , up Westley Road and immeadiately first leftpast the Crematorium. Close to Hyde Cottage the poppies are in full bloom.

In Risby I took this picture in the village centre presumably of a former pond? This is quite a large green area with a central hollow.






















I followed a minor road known as the Lackford Lane which leads straight to the Bullock Lodge Farm. However before going that far I chose to follow a footpath off road which leads out to Risby Little Wood.

Here the fields are planted with wheat which is green unlike the barley which is on the point of turning yellow.

















































On my return back into Risby I was confronted by a young family of expectant ducks hoping for a meal .

I returned to Bury feling in good form . I checked my splits which were at 5 miles 43.17 and for the return I ran 42.08 a negative split always leaves you feeling good.



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Lackford, Suffolk

10am 4 miles in 33 minutes.

Year to date mileage 1181

Month to date 92 miles

Average miles per month 109

Average weekly rate 25.0

Weather:Cool, sunshine and showers

Lackford is about 6 miles from Bury St Edmunds out on the Mildenhall Road. I parked up on a side road in a fairly modern housing development. I set of on my run towards the church. The church of St Laurence is really quite impressive the tower dates from 1350 so there is nearly 700 years of history here.

I followed a footpath sign which took me along the back of the modern housing development before this ended back on the main Mildenhall Road. So I crossed over and headed along the road towards Cavenham. I quickly spotted another footpath which was very muddy across farm land owned by Lackford Estates. I was tempted to climb up a small mound to see what was on the over side . It turned out to be a man made lake or reservoirs presumably for water storage for the farm. I returned on the same route back to the car.

I suppose Lackford is now most well known for its Lakes which were established on old gravel workings next to the River Lark. It has been popularised by support from Bill Oddie a well known ornithologist and former member of the Goodies. It is a great place to see all kinds of birds but particularly the kingfisher.

Suffolk's Pride

But come, my county, let me build thy claim Upon a base of more enduring fame, that thou hast earn'd thyself by art and toil. First Honours in the culture of the soil That prime of occupations and the best , Ordain'd divinely and divinely blest, That peaceful life which Patriarchs employ'd, Which Kings have lov'd and more than Kings enjoy'd. Here SUFFOLK, is thy theme for glory - here For honorable pride the lawful sphere. Then rest your fame, friends on your faithful ploughs, For here the staff of life abundant grows, And blesses him that reaps and him that sows.

Robert Hughman, extract from Suffolk.