Roman Rougham Walk

  • 1.5 hours
  • hard
  • 3.7 Miles

About

This walk visits the important Roman burial tumulus at Eastlowhill, first excavated during the 1840s by John Henslow and returns down an major Roman Road, Margary 33A, which linked Chelmsford with many points in East Anglia and via Peddars Way to the Wash and so on to Lincolnshire and the North of England.

Please note that this walk involves crossing some stiles and involves crossing over and walking on the public road for short sections.

The walk starts at Blackthorpe Barn where you can find plenty of free parking as well as Roots Café and the Garden Room shop. Please remember that the gates to the avenue entrance are locked after the Cafe and Shop close. More details here.

For more general information about this and other walks, see Walks around Rougham Estate. We hope you have a lovely walk.

Use the Google Map below on your phone to follow the path shown or print the route out, if you prefer, using the Download PDF button near the top of the page.

If you can’t access the map through the image above, use this google map link

Go on the Roman Rougham Walk with George Agnew, whose great grandfather bought the Rougham Estate in 1904, and Bolly the dog, where George talks about fascinating facts and Roman history while walking along the path:

Points of Interest

Weather

Waypoints

01

Step 1

From Blackthorpe Barn turn right and pass through the carparks along the concrete road until you reach a wood on your right. A path leads into the wood shortly after you reach its boundary.

02

Step 2

Follow this path bearing left and then turning left after 50 metres. Follow through the wood to the far end.

03

Step 3

At this point turn right at a T junction. Follow this path out of the wood with a hedge on your left. Follow this path until it meets a path from the right.

04

Step 4

At this point follow round to the left heading for Rougham Church which appears dramatically in front of you. At the far end of this path cross the school and church carpark. Cross the public road with care.

05

Step 5

Enter the churchyard and walk up to the great western tower. Turn right here.

06

Step 6

Follow this path to the west and leave the churchyard by a metal pedestrian gate made to commemorate the Rougham Harvest Fair which was one of the Tree Fairs that were a feature of life in Rougham during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Continue down this path until you reach a hedge in front of you. Turn left here.

07

Step 7

Follow this path past Rougham playing field, over a foot bridge and over two stiles and passing through a meadow before crossing the public road. Do so with care.

08

Step 8

On the far side, walk down Oak Lane for several hundred metres, beyond a slight left turn and a slight right turn in the lane.

09

Step 9

Turn right from the lane onto another footpath. This will take you to the public road on a sharp bend which actually provides good visibility for walkers coming from this direction.

10

Step 10

Go straight ahead on this road. The next section of the walk is on a quiet public road and takes about 10 minutes. Please take care.

11

Step 11

On your right you will pass an ancient meadow belonging to the Rougham Estate. The oak trees in this meadow are very old and the place has an extraordinary atmosphere. There is a public footpath leading through this meadow but there are often cattle in the meadow. A stile leads into the meadow, so you can go in and have a look.

12

Step 12

Continue down the public metalled road until you approach a T junction with a pair of brick-built houses on the right. At this point look left where you will see the huge Roman burial mound known as Eastlowhill Tumulus. This was originally one of a group of four tumuli built along the Roman road that we are about to join. It related also to a nearby Roman villa site.

13

Step 13

Turn right down Whitebridge Lane which is just before the cottages. This is the original Roman road and now a beautiful green lane. Follow this for half a mile.

14

Step 14

After walking along the side of a small wood to your right, you will see a footpath set off across the fields to your right. It is the route of the Roman road. We, however, do not follow this but continue straight on the green lane until encountering a hedgerow ahead of you.

15

Step 15

Turn left here and follow this green lane for 100 metres before turning right down another green lane called Mouse Lane. This lane becomes quite narrow in parts but, when followed, brings you out at some mid-century houses also called Mouse Lane.

16

Step 16

Turn left onto the metalled road with a pavement also called Mouse Lane. Follow this to the public road.

17

Step 17

Cross here with care as it can be busy and follow the footpath on the far side for 100 metres.

18

Step 18

Turn right into the Blackthorpe Barn avenue and right again to return to the Barn itself and Roots Café for some well-earned refreshments!

Important information

What are the difficulty levels?

We have given each walk a difficulty level, as a guide to the potential walker as to what to expect, from “easy” to “hard”.

The Rougham Estate walks are largely based on existing Estate paths and public rights of way, at times passing through woodland and along field-side paths.

A difficulty rating of “easy” means the path is most accessible.
A difficulty rating of “hard” means the path is one of the most challenging possibly including stiles, kissing gates, steps, steep slopes and meadows with cattle.
A difficulty rating of “medium” is between the two.

None of the walks are very hard as we live in Suffolk, not the Lake District, however some people are looking for something very gentle and others, something a bit more challenging.

What should I wear for these walks?

These walks lead through the Suffolk countryside and so expect to find muddy patches, nettles and thistles. It is important to remember that the weather may change during your walk too, especially if the walk is a long one.

Remember to wear sensible boots and take something waterproof along as well.
A sun hat for warmer weather is important too.

Are all these walks on Rougham Estate land?

We have endeavoured to provide a real variety of walks based on land within the Rougham Estate, however some destinations are a little remote and to achieve circular walks rather than walks which just retrace their steps, where necessary, use has been made of the extensive footpath network and chosen public footpaths on our neighbours’ land, to complete the journeys in more interesting ways.

Must my dog be kept on a lead?

Here at Rougham we love dogs and really appreciate the importance that they hold for people in their lives and on their walks and outdoor adventures together.
We ask that you keep your canine friends on a lead when you are walking in Rougham. It is safer for the dog and much safer for wildlife.

Ground nesting birds and other wildlife are seriously threatened by dogs running loose. They can also frighten other people who are less comfortable with dogs, but who would also like to walk.

Finally, you will not be able to see where they poop and so will not be able to clear it up and leave a hazard for future walkers.

Some of the walks shown here include sections on public rights of way over land owned by other people. As a courtesy to them too, please always keep your dogs on the lead.
Thank you!

What about dogs and poop bags?

Please ensure that you carry poop bags with you on your doggy walks. If you don’t have any with you, you can buy some in the Garden Room shop. It is so important that you clear up after your dog and then take the bag away with you.
You will find poop bins located near Blackthorpe Barn and Roots Café. Finding abandoned poop bags hanging in the branches of trees or just left on the ground is very unattractive for future walkers on the route so please do take them with you.
Thank you so much.

How can I best get my dog over a stile?

Stiles enable people to cross stockproof fences safely. Our stiles are built to Suffolk County Council standards.
If you have a dog with you then you should look for a small dog gate at the base and to the side of the stile. This may have a flap on a spring or a sliding door. Encourage your dog through first, then pass the dog’s lead through and take hold of it from above the fence. Then cross the stile yourself. This enables you to cross the stile without taking your dog off its lead.

Will there be cattle in the meadows?

Our ancient meadows are a wonderful sight and well worth a visit on one of our walks. The reason they remain like this is that they provide grazing for cattle as they have done for many hundreds of years. You must assume that there may be cattle in any meadow that you visit.

Leave all gates how you find them and ensure that any dog you have is on a short lead and kept close to you. Cattle are curious creatures and may well approach you to see who you are. They are also herd animals, so they tend to move together with one taking the lead. They are also frightened of dogs. This is an inherited memory linking back to the times of wolves. Just walk steadily through the meadow. Don’t let anyone chase the cattle or make loud noises.
If you or anyone in your party is uncomfortable about cattle it may be best to choose another walk.

Can I do this walk with a wheelchair?

The Rougham Estate walks, starting from Blackthorpe Barn, are largely based on existing Estate paths and public rights of way. They mostly pass through woodland and along field-side paths.
Each walk is given a difficulty rating ranging from “easy”, which are the most accessible, to “hard”, which are the most challenging and may include stiles, kissing gates, steps, steep slopes and meadows with cattle.

All these walks follow existing paths and are subject to mud and puddles in wet weather, fallen branches and trees during and after storms, ice and snow during frozen weather. Brambles and nettles are common anywhere and will overhang the paths during the summer. Stinging insects including wasps, bees and hornets may be encountered and midges and mosquitos are common on summer evenings. Adders are rare but do exist and should not be approached.
The Blackthorpe Barn has a defibrillator available for emergency use.

Rougham is located in a very flat part of Suffolk and as such is more accessible than most other parts of the country, but concepts of accessibility are all relative and the final judgement must be the responsibility the visitor themselves.

The Rougham Estate does its best to make public areas as available as possible.
The Estate cannot accept responsibility for accidents or injuries incurred during visits or walks on the Estate, though every effort is made to make them as usable as possible.

Roots cake landscape

Start your walk with a coffee, end with a cake.

Experience a charming and cosy spot located in the heart of the beautiful countryside. The café boasts a tranquil and serene atmosphere, making it the perfect place to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life.

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NEVER MISS A THING

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It’s just like stepping into Narnia…

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Have you been to the Country Christmas Shop yet? What are your thoughts?

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For more information and for reduced online tickets, see: roughamestate.com/welcome
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#roughamestate #burystedmundschristmas #burystedmundsandbeyond #suffolkchristmas #discoversuffolk #suffolkchristmasshopping #suffolkcrafts #igersuffolk #daysoutsuffolk #suffolkmums
#artisan #artisanmade #craftfair #craftmarket #folksy #craftyfeatures #craftyfeaturesmarket #craftgifts #craftsposureuk #craftsmanship #designermaker #independentmaker #madebyhand #madetolast #contemporarycraft #oneoffdesign #craftsmagazine #craftscouncil #contemporarycrafts #contemporarydesign

Unique quality is what you find at Arts&Crafts at Blackthorpe Barn. For five weekends from mid-November, you’ll be amazed by the huge range of talented craftspeople who gather at Rougham Estate to show and sell their handmade creations.

At the same time as the Christmas Craft Fair, on the first weekend, you can double the excitement and come and pick your own Christmas tree on the plantation here. And every day the Craft Fair is open, the Christmas shop is open just next door, with a tantalising range of festive decorations and Roots Café too, all under the same roof. Make a day of it here at Blackthorpe Barn!

Shown here are @tuliphousenorfolk @birdfeedertree @artistcaz @hannahdowdingfurniture @mattbrownmakes who each make stunning pieces, from soft furnishings, wooden furniture, metalwork for the garden to recycled robots and the most mesmerising of artworks from natural materials. Come and enjoy!

For more information and for reduced online tickets, see: roughamestate.com/welcome
Link in profile

#roughamestate #burystedmundschristmas #burystedmundsandbeyond #suffolkchristmas #discoversuffolk #suffolkchristmasshopping #suffolkcrafts #igersuffolk #daysoutsuffolk #suffolkmums
#artisan #artisanmade #craftfair #craftmarket #folksy #craftyfeatures #craftyfeaturesmarket #craftgifts #craftsposureuk #craftsmanship #designermaker #independentmaker #madebyhand #madetolast #contemporarycraft #oneoffdesign #craftsmagazine #craftscouncil #contemporarycrafts #contemporarydesign

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