A new footpath has appeared between Little Cracalt and Hawes Lane. It’s a variation of the path which is a public right of way through Cracalt Farm buildings, but now there is this new permissive path following a similar route.
First you turn off the Sedgwick Road just beyond Appletree School. Then you turn first right up a little lane just beyond Little Cracalt. It has been newly restored by the Highways Authority and the hazardous bridge and stile have gone. Now you go through your first galvanised gate and then another one on your left. Enter the field and you can see another gate across the field, and then another across the next field. The third field you cross diagonally right towards the canal bridge where you can emerge onto Hawes Lane. You could turn left and walk along the old canal at this point too. This isn’t signposted at the moment though the route you’ve just come along is.
So it’s possible to make the route longer or just take a short circular route to and from the village now, in either direction. Either way you could reward yourself with a trip to the Dairy Shed at Cracalt Farm.