A Favourite Walk from Needham Market

Start at Needham Lake car park.

Needham Lake

Walk under the railway bridge, turning left into Lion Lane, taking the road up to the crossroads.

Cross over with the Lion Public House on your left.   Walk 25 yards before turning left up Mill Lane.

Make your way up the path, Needham Chalks will be on your left until it opens up into a wide green path.

Carry on along the way marked path bearing right and then left.

Go straight on past Botty’s Conifer Plantation on your left, taking a pretty cart way until you come to Priestley Cottage on your right.   Ignore the driveway going left and carry on walking with the hedge on your left until you come to a distinct grass track.
Turn right, (not a very well defined path), skirting the field with the hedge on your right.

Enter a small copse and turn right at the end and walk 50 yards to an old oak tree on your right, way marked.

Turn left and cross straight over the field, no distinguishable footpath, and walk through a gap in the hedge.

Turn right and skirt the wood on the right hand side until you come to a path which takes you through Priestley Wood and down to the Barking Road.

Turn left for 50 yards and then turn right onto Parson’s Lane, signposted, “To Church”.

Walk past Barking church on your left and onto The Causeway as far as the footbridge.

Turn right and take The Drift back to your starting point via the rear of the Swan Public House car park.

Walk up to the Station and take the subway at the left of the station into the Camping Land.   Turn right and walk past Needham Lake to the car park.

Distance approximately 5.5 miles.