To be in England in the summertime....

Old May 25th, 2011, 03:59 AM
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To be in England in the summertime....

Thought you might like to see some pictures I took of 'Constable Country', in England. This is on the Essex and Suffolk borders, and so-called because the artist John Constable came from the area and used it as inspiration for pictures such as 'The Hay Wain'.

These were taken over the Easter holidays, a couple of days before the Royal Wedding. I took a walk from Flatford Mill to Dedham Mill along the Stour river and took these pictures en-route. It is a very pretty area with lush water meadows and old cottages. I planned the walk using the iphone app 'Readers Digest Amazing Walks' , though when I got to Flatford Mill, there was an excellent visitor centre giving out free maps, so used one of those instead.

Flatford Mill is now a private residence (I think), but you can view from various angles across the river, or down the lane. One of the neighbouring buildings (Willy Lott's cottage?) is now a tearoom selling local produce. It has a riverside garden.

The walk from Flatford Mill to Dedham Mill and back through thr water meadows is around 3 - 4 miles. It is a level walk, picturesque and easy. Parking for the mill is £2.80, though I got let off about 50p of that as I didn't have the right change and it was getting quite late in the afternoon! You can stay as long as you like, and there are picnic tables set out.

I urge anyone visiting the area to consider this walk (please note you must like cows as there were a fair number coming down to the river to drink). I also like Manningtree (just a few miles down river).

Lastly, I had taken these pictures with Shirley in mind (the lady who was too poorly to come to England). I am very sorry these have been posted too late for her, but hope perhaps her relatives and other Fodorites might get some pleasure from them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4945230...7626798758420/
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Old May 25th, 2011, 04:29 AM
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Hi RM67,

thanks for posting this. like you, I am always trying to persuade visitors to these shores to think of places other than London, Bath and York, lovely though those places are.

and a lovely thought to have done it for Shirley.
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Old May 25th, 2011, 05:42 AM
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Thanks for your kind words, Ann - I had been feeling bad about taking so long to get these posted.
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Old May 25th, 2011, 08:24 AM
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Lovely photos RM. You can almost hear the water and the birds -- really puts you there.

Thanks for posting them.
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Old May 25th, 2011, 08:30 AM
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Lovely photos RM; it's a nice little corner of the UK that is off a lot of visitors' radar.
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Old May 25th, 2011, 08:40 AM
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One of my favourite walks. It's also possible to make this a circular walk from Manningtree station (about an hour by train from Liverpool Street) - stopping for morning coffee at Flatford (it's a National Trust property, with an exhibition about Constable), lunch in Dedham, and afternoon tea at Flatford again on the way back. There's a variety of routes available on the net and in different guidebooks.
http://www.visiteastofengland.com/th...ion-walks.aspx
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Old May 25th, 2011, 09:05 AM
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Thanks for sharing your pictures and info, RM. And, Patrick, thanks for sharing how to make a day of it. I have only spent a couple of days in that part of England and it is on my list for a longer visit.
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Old May 25th, 2011, 09:14 AM
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Lovely photos RM, thanks for sharing and giving me an idea for a future trip.

Very kind of you to think of Shirley too.
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Old May 26th, 2011, 12:37 AM
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RM, charming photos - scenes remind me of the settings for many English novels.
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Old May 26th, 2011, 03:36 AM
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Thanks everyone - have just realised that the tea room is not in Willy Lott's cottage - it's in Bridge cottage (in case anyone is gasping for a cuppa after a long walk and tries to sit themselves down in a private residence!!). But the photographs are at least labelled correctly..
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Old May 26th, 2011, 03:43 AM
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To just make it clear - Flatford Mill itself has NO public access and isn't where the tearooms/exhibition is housed. The Mill itself is privately owned and runs as a study field centre. I have been lucky enough to stay there (I knew someone who ran the catering side of things in the mill) and I slept in a room overlooking the millpond - it's a beautiful building with 'secret' staircases etc.
You CAN visit Bridge Cottage etc, and you can also take a rowing boat out on the river.
http://dedhamboathouse.co.uk/boat-hire
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Old May 26th, 2011, 10:28 AM
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Lovely pictures! Thanks for posting them.

Lee Ann
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Old May 26th, 2011, 03:39 PM
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I love the countryside. Thanks!
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Old May 29th, 2011, 06:38 AM
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thanks for sharing these pictures they are wonderful
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Old May 29th, 2011, 11:43 PM
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Those pictures are just amazing! I find England fascinating too and is really a good place to travel. And by the way, nice review here. It seems like you had a great time.
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Old May 29th, 2011, 11:52 PM
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Lovely pics!!
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Old Jun 3rd, 2011, 03:18 PM
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Art of noise fan?
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Old Jun 4th, 2011, 06:34 AM
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Yes!
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Old Jun 4th, 2011, 08:26 AM
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Lovely photos, must have been a wonderful walk. Thanks for sharing a new, for me, part of your country.
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Old Jun 5th, 2011, 03:49 PM
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Gorgeous--thanks so much for these. Row boat def on for next visit.

http://megrobb.typepad.com/britishtravel/
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