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DESCRIPTION To add variety and suit different tastes, this is not our usual heart-of-the-country walk. Instead, it winds around the quiet western fringe of the town to visit Audley End Park and Bridge End Gardens.
DIRECTIONS From the car park, turn left and walk down Catons Lane passing the football ground. Turn left up a narrow path beyond two houses. Follow this path turning left, right, left, left again, right, left and right, until you reach Bridge Street. Cross the road carefully and turn right. Turn left into New Pond Lane and follow it around to the end and up Park Lane. Turn right under an archway, through Primes Close. After passing a church on your left, turn right down Abbey Lane, passing the Almshouses on your right. Go through the iron gates into Audley Park. Take the public footpath which is on the right going across an open field. Turn left beside a solitary beech tree, Point A, and follow this meandering path until it meets an avenue of trees. Here, turn right and walk to the end of it. Turn left uphill with a wooden fence on your right. Pause at the top to look across to the green turrets of Audley End House. Turn left. At the junction of the paths, Point B, turnright and walk down to the Ice House Lodge. Go through the gate and turn left along Audley End Road. Turn left along a narrow path just before the District Council Offices. Cross Beck Road and continue along the path above the Battle Ditch. At Abbey Lane turn right and retrace your steps passing the Almshouses. Turn left, this time passing the church on your right. Go back under the arch, through Primes Close and turn left to the end of Park Lane. Find the path under the weeping willow tree and follow it over the bridge. Turn left into Freshwell Street abd follow it around to the end. At Bridge Street turn right and then cross the road carefully into Castle Street. Turn left under the arch labelled "Bridge End Gardens". Pass the Fry Art Gallery and find the gardens beyond. Enjoy their peace and beauty as long as your time will allow. On leaving, follow the path with the cricket ground on your left, going down the slope, across the bridge and up between the trees. Before the iron gates, turn left and return to the car park.
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