Walks

Paint a landscape

Distance: 6.0 miles
Ascent: 165 metres
Duration: 1 hour 57 minutes

Walk 11: Constable Country - Flatford and East Bergholt

"I could just do with a painting of this," said a woman as she leant on her bicycle at a path junction overlooking Dedham Vale. She made a frame with her fingers and thumbs, held it up in front of her and no doubt mapped what she saw onto her living room wall. Later I passed a largely completed painting, left out on its easel presumably to dry in the sun.

This is painters country. Always has been I imagine. But for the past 180 years, people have been coming here to try their own depiction of Willy Lott's cottage and the mill pond. Mine doesn't come close to the one hanging in the National Gallery but you can tell it's the same place.

Dedham Vale provides easy walking, with plenty of views to spark the imagination. Yes, it was busy with tourists today. I imagine from now through to September it'll just get more crowded. Still, if you've never been it's well worth it despite the tourists.