FOOTPATHS ON RUSMERE COMMON
There are a number of footpaths on Rushmere Common, some are Public Footpaths, which are rights of way others are permissive paths which have appeared over the years to suit the pedestrian users of the Common.
The Trustees have recently agreed that to make identification easier, the main paths be named as follows.
Trafalgar Walk: A Public Footpath which runs along the Ipswich - Rushmere St Andrew border, from Woodbridge Road to the Tank Traps on Heath Road opposite Heath Lane, passing the Golf Clubhouse and continuing between Tasmania Road and the 1st Fairway. This is an historical name commemorating Nelson's great victory in 1805. Nelson was High Steward of Ipswich at the time of his death.
Pond Walk: A Public Footpath which runs from where Trafalgar Walk meets Woodbridge Road, past the pond, on to and over Brendon Drive to the Common boundary.
Heath Walk: A Public Footpath (except for the first 50yds or so from Heath Road within the Ipswich side of the boundary) beginning at the south end of Trafalgar Walk, crossing the 2nd Fairway just beyond the 2nd Tee, and the 9th Fairway in front of the 9th Tee. It joins the Pond Walk to the right of the 12th Fairway, on the right of the 12th Green and between the pond and the Sandlings Way Nightjar sculpture.
Rushmere Walk: A Public Footpath which runs from the Woodbridge Road junction with Linksfield, from the 17th Tee, across to the path between the gorse which separates the 17th and 16th Fairways, coming out below and to the east of the 11th Tee, crossing Pond Walk and the 11th Fairway into the gorse, coming out on the practice area opposite the Clubhouse.
Linksfield Walk: A Public Footpath which runs alongside Linksfield from Woodbridge Road, crossing the 13th Fairway and Pond Walk and continues (off the Common) on Rushmere Heath past the Water Tower to the Bixley Farm residential area.
Boundary Path A Public Footpath which is not on the Common but runs from the Broke Hall residential area and then between the Common and the Sandlings recreational area and ends where it joins Pond Walk.
Long Wood Path: Mostly on Rushmere Golf Club land and not a Public Footpath, which runs through the long narrow wood which separates the Common from the Golf Club owned part of the Golf Course. This path is well used as it starts at the lane by the Water Tower to the Bixley Farm residential area, skirts the houses, crossing Boundary Path and enters the wood at the Common boundary. At the western end the path stops at the end of the wood and walkers cross the 7th Fairway to join a path which crosses Heath Walk.
The term 'Walk' is used to identify footpaths on the Common and emphasises the fact that they are footpaths and legally only for use by pedestrians.