There has been much written about Flatford immortalised by the painter John Constable RA. This is probably the most photographed of all places in Suffolk although I'm sure that Lavenham Guildhall will lay claim to that title too. There are many walks from here to Cattawade, Manningtree, East Bergholt or Dedham.
Try to avoid visiting here in the summer on Sundays the area is usually heaving, we often park the car at Dedham (Essex) and enjoy the walk to Flatford along the meadows and River Stour which is only a two mile round trip. remember if you walk downhill from Bergholt you have to walk back up the hill.
Flatford isn't a village as such there is no church, pub or shop apart from those that are run by The National Trust. If you are just visiting the area this is a must stop and see place.....
As I took this one from the Essex side of the River Stour (above) of Flatford Mill if you then walk upstream, Essex/Suffolk/Essex side up to the bridge at Dedham tearooms, still standing in Suffolk you could see this view. The walk is just about one mile from Flatford to Dedham, you almost certainly would have been following in the footsteps of John Constable
The bridge at Flatford takes you fron Suffolk into Essex and vice-versa this shot is taken from the Essex side of the River Stour, it could be argued that all the best pictures are taken from the Essex side
This one isn't though, one of the most beautiful medieval looking houses along The River Stour
I thought that Flatford deserved a topic all on its own, it isn't a village, nor a hamlet, there is no church or pub and the only shops are the National Trust Gift Shop, icecream hut and tea rooms.
What it has is sheer beauty, man made buildings in a natural vale with a River wending its way through, Dedham is but a mile away [Essex] as too is East Bergholt. Flatford of course is immortalised by John Constable RA, the landscape painter whose art works are known throughout the world.
We in Suffolk must be mighty proud of John Constable, the area attracts visitors from far and wide, sadly too many in the height of summer and weekends. I visit once a year, sometimes walking along the River Stour from Dedham or from Cattawade Bridge and on occasions, like last Friday, used the carpark
If you have any memories of Flatford then feel free to express them here