This was a solo backpack adventure that had been on my bucket list for a few years. The day I picked in September unfortunately ended up being unseasonably hot and humid, with temperatures reaching 25°C and no shade to provide relief. This made running difficult during the hottest parts of the day, and meant I had to carry lots of fluids, both of which slowed me down.
The route is beautiful, initially through woodland and then rolling green countryside. With train stations at either end, it's nice and convenient for public transport.
During the day, I topped up at places like the cafe at West Stow County Park, Tesco in Bury, Co-Op in Lavenham, and Long Melford, but then needed to make do over the final 50km as everything I was passing was shut overnight. The trail was very overgrown in several sections, worst between Lavenham and Long Melford, where it was impossible to get through the nettles without getting stung. Definitely a trail more suited to anything but late summer!
The night was peaceful and quiet. One of the highlights was spotting around 10 badgers, which was a special moment for me since I'd never seen one alive before. As I got to Bures, I was extremely tired and decided to stop for a few hours in the churchyard, setting up my bivvy. I didn’t have a sleeping bag to save weight in my pack, so I woke up very cold after an hour or so.
The morning had a glorious sunrise to enjoy as I chipped away at the last 30 or so km to reach Manningtree station.
I definitely want to come back and do this route again. Hope you also enjoy it!