Naughton & Gt. Bricett

Like much of Suffolk, the fields and woodlands around the parish of Nedging with Naughton offer many good opportunities for dog walking, crammed as they are with ancient footpaths and byways.  Located midway between Ipswich and Stowmarket on the B1071 Naughton is home to the Wheelhouse, an excellent dog friendly pub.   From the pub, footpaths arch round in circles across what was once an old family estate.  In the landscape can be found many moated structures, ponds and ancient woodlands which speak of long-standing occupation and agricultural practice.  With evocative names such as Fidget’s Farm and Nunnery Mount most of the area can easily trace roots back to medieval times. On our visit we decided to extend our walk a little further and made our way to the neighbouring village of Great Bricett.  Recorded in Domesday as “Brieseta" this pretty little village is bordered on one side by woodland through which the footpaths make an excellent circular dog walk.  Entry to the woodland is gained via two footpaths each having a poo bin situated as the path meets the main road.  Starting at the easterly end we first crossed a small water meadow and was quickly away from traffic and onto the fields behind.  The farmers of Great Bricett must be doing well, as the field edge paths are very broad and well-kept and are great for dog walking.  At the northerly extent of the walk you come near to the border of Wattisham Airfield; once a major flying base for the RAF and the United States Army Air Force in WW2, the airfield is now home to the British Army and its elite corps of Apache attack helicopter pilots. Back in the Wheelhouse after our walk we heard from locals how you can often catch a show of the daring acrobatics the helicopters perform as they loop over and skim the surrounding land in practice.   On the day of our visit though, with the sun broadening out rays of sunshine across the meadows and fields, this all seemed a world away.