Ickworth Estate | Lady Hervey Walk

A circular parkland walk starting from the Porter’s Lodge before heading down the main drive towards Adkins Wood. Visit the Fairy Lake and Canal Lake then up to St Mary’s Church (Hervey’s family church) before finishing at the West Wing.
Near to
Ickworth EstateStart point
Porter's Lodge, grid reference TL8154161537Trail information
Difficulty
Full trail
DistanceMiles: 4.08 (km: 6.53)Address
Ickworth Estate, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. IP29 5QE
By trainBury St Edmunds 3 miles
On foot4½ miles via footpaths from Bury St Edmunds, please use the main entrance through Horringer village.
By busIckworth is on the road between Bury St Edmunds and Clare/ Haverhill. There are regular bus services from Bury St Edmunds town centre including the Number 14 and 15 bus. The bus stop is in the village of Horringer and it's about a 15 minute walk from the bus stop to Ickworth's visitor centre.
Cycling4½ miles via the road and cycle paths from Bury St Edmunds, please use the main entrance through Horringer village for access to Ickworth. We have a multi-use cycle trail as part of the estate offer.
By roadFrom A14 take junction 42 towards Westley; on west side of A143. For all other routes head towards Horringer. Parking: Welcome kiosk situated on the drive for entry, visitor information and direction to the main car park or overflow car parking as applicable when visiting. Please stop at the kiosk and have any membership cards ready. Sat Nav: Please don't use our postcode for your SatNav, the main entrance to the Ickworth Estate is via Horringer Village on the A143 and follow the brown signs. Please avoid routes through Chevington (as this is a no through road).
- Car park
Normal admission charges apply, free for National Trust members.
- Toilet
Toilets are available by the car park, the West Wing and by the Walled Garden (summer months only)
- Café
West Wing Café and Porter's Lodge both serve hot drinks and tasty treats.
- Shop
Shop selling souvenirs and gifts.
Woodland and grass paths, with gravel and tarmac road. May be quite muddy in wet weather (Winter) – suitable footwear advisable. Not suitable for wheelchair / mobility scooters due to muddy conditions; pushchairs may be possible.
Woodland and grass paths, with gravel and tarmac road. May be quite muddy in wet weather (Winter) – suitable footwear advisable. Not suitable for wheelchair / mobility scooters due to muddy conditions; pushchairs may be possible.
Ickworth is a wonderful place to walk especially with a dog, but we do ask that your dog is kept on a lead at all times on the Estate for the wellbeing of all visitors and kept under close control near livestock. Please remove all dog litter (Dog bins located near Car park, Five Bar gate to Adkins Wood, Walled Garden and number 11)Total stages: 12
Total stages: 12
Start point
Porter's Lodge, grid reference TL8154161537
Stage 1
From the Porters Lodge turn left past the car park, bear right past the kiosk and down the main drive to the main gates.
Stage 2
Just before the Park gates turn right through the five bar gates. Following the pink way marker posts along the path.
Stage 3
Shortly the path splits bears right and where the path turns left you will see the old Adkins Wood stone marker. Keep walking along this windy path until you re-join the main path.
Stage 4
When you arrive at the Fontainebleau Grove sign bear right. Keeping to this winding route following the Pink way markers you will come to a wide crossroad.
Stage 5
At the crossroad continue straight across onto a smaller path which takes you into Lady Hervey’s Wood and winds its way around the back of Fairy Lake.
Stage 6
Your path now joins a gravel path. Walk up to the Fairy Lake have a seat on the bench and take a moment to enjoy the view and peaceful surroundings.
The Fairy Lake
The Fairy Lake was dug between 1842 and 1866 as a boating lake, but now is more a haven for wildlife; you might see a heron, if you're lucky. With ever encroaching reed and reed-mace reducing the open water, proposals are being drawn up to balance the nature conservation value of the lake with the need to clear silt and reeds to ensure the lake's future.
Stage 7
To your right are steps leading down to the boardwalk which joins your path further along (Not suitable for pushchairs).
Stage 8
Walk to your left and turn left following the gravel path. Along this trail you will catch glimpses of the Rotunda. Where the gravel path bears right following the field take the left grass path.
Stage 9
Shortly you will see an Iron Gate ahead through the trees (entrance to Walled Garden), here turn left across the river Linnet through the five bar gate. Dogs are welcome to the Walled Garden on short leads.
The Walled Garden
This 5-acre plot, which was once part of the estates walled kitchen garden, was formerly the only commercial winegrowing vineyard on National Trust land. The vines have now been removed, and the land is being returned to that of a walled garden. Two plots either side of the old Georgian summer-house is where vegetables and fruit are grown by the garden team some of which is used by the Cafés in their meals. Keep an eye on the veg stand at the Welcome Point where garden produce is occasionally sold for donations.
Stage 10
You now find yourself alongside the Canal and opposite the Walled Garden. The 1st Earl of Bristol shortly before 1717 built the kitchen garden, summerhouse and dug the Canal Lake. Ickworth over the seasons are visited by a variety of water fowl (e.g. Canada and Egyptian geese). Herons are also seen here.
Stage 11
Keep following the bank of the Linnet river until you join the gravel road crossroad. Turn left across the bridge and up the hill. You might be lucky to see a buzzard or hawk in flight here. Half way up the road look back to your left and take in the view over the valley.
Stage 12
This gravel road leads you past the Walled Garden and St Mary’s church and onto a five bar gate, look out for the Parson's pond on your left. Through the gate and take the second right turn and so back to West Wing.
St Mary's Church
At St Mary’s church walk to the back wall and look over the field behind the church yard. This is the site of the Medieval Ickworth Hall. Entre into the church and see the 13th Century Altar with the 14th Century wall painting depicting the Annunciation of Angel Gabriel. Looking up into the roof you will see the Oak Cross above the triple-decker pulpit dating from 1770s. To your right and above is the Hervey family pew constructed in the 1830, below which is the family vault (closed to visitors).
End point
West Wing grid reference TL 815061385
Trail map
Lady Hervey Walk | Ickworth Estate | Suffolk | © Ordnance Survey
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