Constable Country Hike - Manningtree & River Stour

For this hike we're going to an area best known as the birth place and inspiration for one of England's most famous landscape artists - John Constable. We'll spend the day walking around some very old fashioned looking villages near to the river Stour and see some of the landscapes made famous in pictures like this:

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We'll star the hike in the town of Manningtree in Essex and walk through some picturesque countryside to the lovely old fashioned village of Dedham where we'll stop for a picnic lunch on the village green and a quick drink in a very nice country pub:

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After lunch we'll walk through the village of Stratford St Mary where we'll cross the border into Suffolk and head back in the direction of Manningtree along the river Stour. On our way we'll pass by Flatford Mill, Constable's exact birthplace and inspiration for several of his paintings.

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We'll finish the hike in a pub in Manningtree where we'll have some well earned food and a drink or two before heading back to London.

We'll meet at Liverpool Street station (outside of the ticket office) at 10:00 and take the train to Manningtree at 10:30, arriving in Manningtree at 11:31.

As usual the hike is free to join so you'll need to buy a ticket at the station. A standard return to Manningtree costs £22.10, but if you team up with 3 other people you can get a group save return for £11.05 each.

Distance: 9 miles

Meeting time: 10:00

Meeting point: Liverpool Street station (outside the ticket office)

Trains back to London go at the following times: 17:19, 17:53, 18:02, 18:53, 19:02, 19:19, 19:53, 20:02, 20:20, 20:58 (and 2 or 3 times an hour after this for anyone who wants to stay in the pub late!)