A rural circuit from Castle Hedingham

The Castle Hedingham story begins with Aubrey de Vere, a favourite knight of William the Conqueror, who was rewarded for his valour at the Battle of Hastings with land. This included Kensington and Earls Court in London. Aubrey's son built Castle Hedingham in 1140, which became the de Vere stronghold for the next 550 years and is still owned today by one of their descendants.

The de Veres became extremely rich and influential over the years and often entertained royalty, including Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. But they are best known for being great Crusaders, fighting alongside Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) and taking leading parts in the famous battles at Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt and Bosworth. Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford, was one of the barons who persuaded King John to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215.

But in 1703 the de Vere title fell out of use when Aubrey, 20th Earl of Oxford died, leaving no sons. The castle was purchased by Sir William Ashhurst, a Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London, who landscaped the grounds and built a fine country house, which was completed in 1719. The estate eventually passed to his great granddaughter, Elizabeth Houghton, who married Lewis Majendie. The Majendies owned Hedingham Estate for 250 years before it was inherited by a cousin – who was descended from the de Veres.

A star and boar

This walk starts from the grand Norman Church of St Nicholas where, above the window of the Tudor bell tower, you can see the star and the boar, both symbols of the de Vere family. The star is said to have fallen from heaven upon the shield of the first de Vere on one of the crusades, and since then has become the family emblem. The castle dominates the view as you walk along Castle Lane and uphill into open countryside dotted with farms, which date from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Distinguished drinkers

The tranquillity of the surrounding countryside is a far cry from the mayhem of the Crusades and other famous battles. When you return to the village via a pleasant country lane, you cannot fail to notice the castle looming in the distance, a constant reminder of the power and influence of the de Vere dynasty. In the village, the tiny houses in Church Ponds cluster around the church, while those in Church Lane were the homes of weavers, built 400 years ago when the community benefited from the wool industry. Wander around and perhaps call in at the oldest pub, The Bell Inn, which dates back 500 years and is where Benjamin Disraeli downed a pint or two after a speech.

With the church on your right, walk along Church Ponds into Falcon Square, with its medieval houses. Turn left into Castle Lane, with the 17th-century former Youth Hostel building on your right, and walk uphill to Bayley Street. Cross the road and, at the castle entrance, turn right and walk to the T-junction. Turn left into Sudbury Road and, just after New Park Road on your right, turn left at the uphill narrow track to Rosemary Farm.

Turn left, follow the track to the Y-junction and bear left, signposted 'Rosemary Lane', at Rushley Green. Passing the red-brick, thatched Keepers Cottage on your left. Pass several houses and admire the fine view of rolling countryside beyond the stile on your left, opposite Yeomans cottage. After 200yds (183m) the track bears right, with the converted barns of Rushleygreen Farm on your left. Ignore the timber footbridge immediately after the farm and continue along the main farm track, with arable fields away to your left.

Pass Lippingwell's Farm on your right, and follow the meandering field-edge path. Pass the front of Newhouse Farm, with its pond on your left, and continue to Hewson's Farm and a brick-built tower on your right. Turn sharp left at the public footpath sign along the field-edge path to the small row of trees at the rear of Newhouse Farm. At the waymark bear right across fields to Kirby Hall Farm.

Turn left at the crossroads to Kirby Hall Road and, ignoring all footpaths left and right, follow this wide farm track, passing through high embankments of hedgerows and an impressive row of oak trees to return to Castle Hedingham. Before rising towards the village of Hedingham you can see the top of the castle keep, peering above trees to your half left.

Walking into the village, pass de Vere Primary School and the modern housing estate on your left. At the T-junction, turn left into Nunnery Street and right into Crown Street, where jettied buildings and medieval cottages herald your return to the old village and the church.