Constable Country - Essex/Suffolk border

Good evening,

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Since we are home this week to celebrate the festive period with family and friends we have been enjoying some of our favourite Suffolk walks. Today I would like to share Constable Country with you - in particular the iconic walk from Dedham to Flatford along the River Stour.

Willie Lott's house, the famous location inspiring John Constable's 

The Hay Wain (1821) - December 2018 iPhone 5s.

It's easy to see why Flatford was so close to John Constable's heart. Dedham itself is a quintisentially British village that lays on the Essex/Suffolk border. The High Street is well worth a look, lined with impressive Georgian fronted houses. There are a number of walking routes that can be taken from Dedham. We love to follow the winding river, which beckons you across the (very flat!) lowlands, past grazing cows, walkers and rowers, all the way to Flatford Mill. This is certainly still a navigable river, just as Constable asserted.  

 Pick your route to Dedham, Flatford, or Manning tree - 

December 2018 iPhone 5s.

River Stour views from Dedham Vale - December 2018

iPhone 5s.

River Stour from bridge - December 2018 iPhone 5s.

Enjoying all the fantastic landscape views, you will eventually reach Flatford, now a National Trust site and incredibly well maintained. The clear river is often dotted with ducks and swans, and the trees lined with singing birds. We always look fondly over Bridge Cottage and Willie Lott's house, where artists still flock to unleash their creativity. A new addition is Flatford wildlife garden, also known as 'bug heaven' - a small wild garden where children, and us adults of course, can go to spot rarer bugs, bees and birds.

Flatford, a National Trust site - December 2018 

on iPhone 5s.

My favourite tree, sat by River Stour - December 2018

iPhone 5s.

Bridge cottage by the river - December 2018 

iPhone 5s. 

It's a pleasure to share one of my favourite places in the whole of the U.K. with you all. For me, Constable Country is defined by its mix of all the best parts of the countryside. Great views, a clear running river, wildlife and lush grassland. We hope you enjoy it as much as us.