Walk #1028: Gipping Valley River Path: Stowmarket to Ipswich

Directions

This walk starts off at Stowmarket railway station at TM05165884. Leave the station and head down the short station approach road, passing the Kings Arms on the left. When the road soon ends, turn left down Station Road East for about twenty metres, until some steps lead down immediately before a bridge over the River Gipping to reach the riverside path at TM05085880.

Descend the steps and follow the riverside path as it heads southwards through Stowmarket, passing the various buildings and structures of chemical plants on the left. Simply follow the river, crossing any roads that cross the river and continuing with the water on the right. It passes under the A1120 and then a maltings on the left, and then under a railway bridge. 6.5km after joining the riverside path in Stowmarket, Hawks Mill Street is reached on the northern side of Needham Market at TM08945540.

Cross the road, and continue on for another 1.3km until the B1078 road is reached at TM09655469; ignore any bridges leading over the river towards Needham Lake. The path emerges out onto the B1078; carefully turn right to cross the bridge, and on the other side turn left through a clappergate beside a field gate to join a track, with the River Gipping now on the left and a fishing lake on the right. At the end of the track, go through a pedestrian gate and continue following the river on the left. 2.5km after the B1078, the path curves right for a short distance away from the river, and then left to run between fences along the base of a railway embankment on the right. The path is initially narrow, but it climbs up to the level of the railway and widens slightly. After 650 metres of following the railway, it meets a road at TM11055256, with a level crossing immediately to the right.

Turn left to follow the road away from the level crossing; it crosses a bridge over a stream, and then after 220 metres meets the River Gipping once more beside an old white mill building. Do not cross the bridge over the river, and instead turn right through over a stile to join a path that heads south alongside the river on the left. Do not take any paths that head away from the river. The path passes under a low bridge that carries the railway line overhead, and reaches great Blakenham. 2.5km after the mill; the path curves right away from the river, squeezing between two buildings to join a track. Turn left down the track, and after a short distance, turn left down another track that crosses the river beside Great Blakenham Lock sluice at TM11935088.

On the other side of the river, turn right to start following the river on the right. It soon passes under another railway bridge, and after 1.4km reaches Gipping Road at TM12755010. Go through a pedestrian gate onto the road, carefully cross the road, and then turn right to cross the bridge. On the other side, turn left down a slight bank, and follow the path as it curves back towards the river. It then turns right to start following the river on the left. 2.1km after Gipping Road, the path passes an old-style mill building on the other side of the river, and then curves left to meet a road called Paper Mill Lane at TM12664813.

Turn right to follow the road south for about thirty metres, and then turn right down a path, initially with a wall on the left. The wall soon ends, and the path continues on with the river on the right. It passes under another rail bridge. 2.0km after the road, the B1067 road is reached in Bramford at TM12754644.

Here I left the riverside path to go into the village to find a shop; there is a shop and pub 500 metres down the road to the right. The directions below continue along the riverside path.

Cross the road, turn right for a few metres, and then left to descend some steps to reach the riverbank. Turn left to follow the river on the right. After 2.4km Spoughton Bridge is approached at TM12554507; the path climbs up a slope to reach the road.

Carefully cross the road, and on the other side go through a pedestrian gate and descend some steps to rejoin the riverbank. Continue southeastwards with the river on the right. The path diverts to pass under an elevated enclosed walkway linking two buildings (part of a water treatment complex), and then heads under the A14. 2.0 km after Spoughton Bridge, a railway bridge is reached at TM14084493.

Pass under the rail bridge, and immediately afterwards climb up some narrow concrete steps and then pass under a second, newer, rail bridge. Continue along the surfaced path with the river away to the right for another 430 metres to reach a third rail bridge at TM14374524.

Pass under the rail bridge, and then continue along the surfaced riverside path. The path passes under a low bridge carrying the A1214 Yarmouth Road overhead, and continues following a river cut on the right until the path ends at a bridge carrying the A1071 Handford Road. Carefully cross the busy road, and on the other side turn right across the bridge, and then turn left to follow a path, now with the river on the left. After another 380 metres the path ends at the A137 road bridge at TM15254426.

Carefully cross the road, and then turn left to cross the river on its bridge. On the other side, turn right to join a path that squeezes between the river on the right and the road on the left. As the road curves away to the left, head straight on along the riverside path as it heads under the Sir Bobby Robson cycle bridge. It then passes under an old rail bridge and curves left, still following the river downstream. 450 metres after the Bobby Robson bridge, the Princes Street road bridge is reached at TM15744390 There is no direct way up onto the bridge from the path; if you want to shorten this walk by going directly to Ipswich station, then take a path that heads off to the left shortly after the rail bridge.

Otherwise, continue east along the riverside path for another 560 metres from the Princes Street bridge until it passes a skate park on the left and ends at the B1075 Bridge Street. Carefully cross the busy road, and on the other side turn left and then right to head down St Peter's Dock, with the River Orwell to the right. As the road soon curves right, angle left to head under some buildings, with a dock away to the right. Continue east along the dockside, initially along Albion Wharf, then Common Quay, then Wherry Quay and Neptune Quay, with yacht moorings in the dock to the right. The dock curves right and becomes more industrial; after 1.2km the dockside path ends near dock gates at Ship Launch Lane at TM17024338.

Turn left along Ship Launch Lane, and when it soon ends, turn left up the B1458 Cliff Road. When a roundabout is reached, take the road straight ahead that heads north off of it, Duke Street. This ends at a T-junction with the A1156 Fore Hamlet; turn left to head west, and then turn right up Grimwade Street. Follow this road as it heads north through Ipswich, and then turn left along St Helen's Street. As the road curves right, turn left along the pedestrianised Carr Street through the town centre. It becomes Tavern Street and then Westgate Street as it passes the town hall on the left, before the pedestrianised road finally ends at a T-junction with the A1156 at TM16004476.

Turn left along this road for a short distance to reach a roundabout, and then turn left to follow Civic Drive downhill to another roundabout. Head straight on at this roundabout, still along Civic Drive. Shortly after the road starts to curve to the left, carefully cross to the road's right-hand side and turn right down Princes Street. This road slowly curves left and reaches the A137; cross this road, and then a second road, and continue on to reach a bridge over the river. Finally cross the B1075 road to reach the forecourt of Ipswich station at TM15714381, where this walk ends.

P2018DSC06667 A rather rickety stretch of boardwalk to the north of Needham Market.		P2018DSC06669 Following the River Gipping south towards Needham Market.