Tummel’s Grave Walk

Step 1

From Blackthorpe Barn turn right and pass through the car parks along the concrete road until you reach the Downs Wood on your right.

Step 2

A path leads into the wood shortly after you reach its boundary. Follow this path bearing left at a fork and then turning left after 50 metres. Follow through the wood to the far end.

Step 3

At this point turn left at a T junction. This path leads you out of the wood.

Step 4

As you emerge you find yourself on a concrete road. Take care as vehicles come down from the bridge on your right as some speed.

Step 5

Turn right onto this road and cross over the A14 on the bridge. Again watch out for vehicles which share the bridge with walkers and cyclists.

Step 6

On the far side, follow the concrete road as it runs parallel with the A14 for 200 metres.

Step 7

You pass a row of four red brick Edwardian Cottages called Home Farm Cottages. On either side of these are the largest and some of the oldest oaks on the Rougham Estate. They have huge girths (the distance round the tree trunk at shoulder height). The one on the right is over 9 metres which makes it one of the most important oaks on the Rougham Estate.

Step 8

As you reach a sign for the Rougham Estate Office turn left. As you approach a gate in front of you, look to the right-hand side where there is a gate for walkers and those on horseback. Use this to avoid forcing the electrically operated main gate and also to avoid twisting your ankle on the cattle grid. Close the gate behind you and continue down the driveway.

Step 9

The sound of the A14 will gradually diminish as you adjust to the new parkland landscape with huge oak trees, meadows which you see but do not enter and ahead of you the park of Rougham Hall. You pass another cattle grid with a side gate which you should close behind you.

Step 10

Ignore a turning to the right, after which a roadway goes off to the left. Ignore this and continue straight on. Then take the right-hand road as it swings round the corner and continue for 150 metres approximately.

Step 11

You pass the start of an avenue of conifers. The older trees were planted by Sir George Agnew in around 1910. They are Douglas Fir and are reaching the end of their lives. Interplanted between them are Wellingtonias or Giant Redwoods, which were planted 20 years ago to replace them.

Step 12

After some 150 metres you will see a track coming in from the right which forks as it reaches the driveway you are walking on. Turn left as you pass the further branch of the fork, taking you off the driveway, between the avenue of trees. As the path drops down you will see that you are about to pass the start of a Christmas tree plantation.

Step 13

Follow this path with the Christmas tree fence on your right. There is a strip of shorter-cut grass guiding your route. As you move beyond the plantation, the land opens up but keep on the cut grass strip. This will bring you to a wooded area with the path leading through it. Follow this path and continue for another 200 metres.

Step 14

At this point you will see an earth bank on your right and a path leading away to the left up the slope. Follow this path until it joins a driveway crossing you at right angles.

Step 15

This driveway is now hardly used and is thickly covered with leaves so look carefully. When you reach it, turn left and follow it as it winds its way along, eventually reaching some buildings on the right-hand side.

Step 16

The first of these buildings is the old Coach House for Rougham Hall. It has now been converted into a house which is lived in, so please respect the residents’ privacy and walk quietly by. Next on the right is a bungalow which was built for Sir George’s chauffeur. This is also lived in. In the distance you will see the clocktower of the old stable block. Do not walk further up this way as it is all a residential area. Instead follow the driveway round to the left.

Step 17

This road now gradually makes its way downhill. In the distance you can see the avenue that you walked along earlier, planted with Douglas Fir and Wellingtonia trees.

Step 18

Just over halfway down the slope look to your right. You will see the stump of an Oak tree which had to be cut down for safety reasons. This is the very tree under which Sir George’s dog Tummel is buried. His grave is marked by a small gravestone with the name Tummel and the date 1936. Tummel was named after Loch Tummel in Scotland, which was Sir George’s favourite place to visit on holiday. Tummel was appropriately a little Scottie dog.
The vast trunk of this tree has been used to create a very special sculpture which is on display in the meadow near Blackthorpe Barn (see waypoint 25).

Step 19

Continue down the drive until you meet the avenue drive coming in from the left that you walked up earlier. Keep right.

Step 20

Continue down the drive, with forks joining from the right and left as you approach the cattle grid that you passed on the way out earlier. Use the side gate now on your left front.

Step 21

Continue retracing your steps to the other cattle grid and the Estate Office. Here turn right and follow the concrete road beside the A14 to the bridge which again takes you over the very busy road.

Step 22

On the far side follow the roadway to the right which will bring you back to the Downs Wood, now on your left front.

Step 23

This time just stay on the concrete road as you pass the wood on your left and some Christmas tree plantations on your right. This will lead you back to the Blackthorpe Barn carparks.

Step 24

Don't forget to visit the vast trunk of the oak tree that was growing at Tummel's grave, which has been used to create this very special sculpture, here in the meadow near Blackthorpe Barn.
The sculpture is called Forest Floor and is inspired by the extraordinary discoveries recently made about the interconnectedness of life forms in areas of ancient forest where they remain undisturbed for hundreds if not thousands of years. Take some time to enjoy looking at this wonderful tree, and then enjoy the welcome you and your dog will receive at Roots Café.