Walk 9: Newmarket Town Circular Walk: An early morning ‘Gallop’

The ‘Needs to Know’

Distance: 3 miles (4.8km)

Time to walk: We did this walk at dawn & it can be done in around an hour, but we had the intention of spending time on The Gallops watching some of the 3000 racehorses that train there each morning

Difficulty: All on hard footpaths

Parking: All Saints Road near the start of the walk, or in one of the side streets

Public toilets: Opposite the Post Office on the High Street or in plenty of pubs, cafes etc

Map of the route: cc AA

So what can we tell you about Newmarket…

Newmarket is situated in Suffolk approximately 65 miles north of London. It’s considered the birthplace of thoroughbred horse racing & the largest racehorse training centre in UK. It’s also the largest racehorse breeding centre in the country, home to most major British horse racing institutions, & a key global centre for horse health

Newmarket has over fifty horse training stables many of them within the town itself. There’s two racetracks, The Rowley Mile & The July Course & one of the most extensive & prestigious horse training grounds in the world

The town’s home to over 3,000 racehorses, & it’s estimated that one in every three local jobs is related to horse racing

Newmarket’s also home to the National Horseracing Museum & Tattersalls, the racehorse auctioneers & two of the world’s foremost equine hospitals for horse health. The town is surrounded by over sixty horse breeding studs

It’s also been a centre for British royalty since James I, & Charles II amongst many others had a home here

Anyway…we’ll pick up on much of this on our short walk around this historic market town so…

Let’s Walk!

We got up early to see the sunrise over the famous Gallops & weren’t disappointed…

1. Our short walk starts opposite the All Saints Church in Palace Street

…& heads up the street towards the High Street…

2. On the left is our first building of note…Palace House

This property is the oldest surviving part of King Charles II’s royal residence

3. A little further on the right is the house of Charles II’s mistress, Nell Gwyn

4. Carry on up Palace Street & pass under Newmarket’s equivalent of ‘The Bridge of Sighs’…

It’s actually a connecting bridge for The Rutland Arms hotel

5. At the end of Palace Street we turn right into the High Street & can see the famous clock tower ahead…

…but before we get there turn right into Rous Road

The shop above is Corney & Barrow, who are 230 years old, & one of the longest established Independent Wine Merchants in the UK. The original shop, opened by Edward Bland Corney, was in Old Broad Street in the City of London, & sold a small selection of Port, Sherry & Bordeaux. Their Head Office has remained City based ever since

Still privately owned, Corney & Barrow has grown nationally & internationally into every sector of the market. They have shops in Newmarket & Ayr

6. What else can we find along here…

…& then the road sweeps left past some attractive properties…

…before we come to the junction with Old Station Road

7. We turn right & start heading out of town. On the right are the Rous Memorial Cottages which were almshouses for former jockeys. They still have the association today – see the above link

And on the left’s another mansion…

8. Just past this on the left is one of the most famous Gallops in Newmarket…Warren Hill

There were plenty of horses queuing up to get a good run up the hill & we’ll have another look at the end of this walk…

The training grounds are closed to pedestrians until 1pm each day, but after this time you can follow the exercise track on the left to Moulton Road. As it’s early morning we have to retrace our steps along Old Station Road…

…& walk down the alley on the right between numbers 13 & 15

9. We emerge on Moulton Road which, if you carry straight on, leads to the top of Warren Hill where you can park & get some great shots – see at the end of this walk

Ahead of us at the end of the alley is Curtis & Sons the internationally renowned farriers…

…where we turn sharp left & right again to finally arrive at that clock tower

The clock was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. The tower was paid for by public subscription, but local trainer Charles Blanton donated the clock made by Smith of Derby Group. to the town. The clock tower was officially opened in 1890. It takes 115 turns to fully wind the clock every week

10. Now head down the right hand side of the High Street. There’s several eating places here – we understand the Thai Street Cafe is recommended

There’s also some good pubs & it looks like The Blues Brothers have been in town…

11. A short distance further on turn right along an alley towards The Rookery Shopping Centre…

…where, on the left, is one of Newmarket’s most famous pubs…The Bushel. This pub is supposedly the oldest in Newmarket & was where Charles II is thought to have attended cock fighting

12. At the t-junction in the centre turn left into the Market Square…

…& head to the right, crossing the road in front of the large white house. Again this is a public footpath & horse path. It’s fab to see them walking through the centre of town

13. Follow the horses down this road. Behind the high wall on the left is The Hastings Centre, an equine swimming pool & a therapy clinic.

At the end of the road turn left…

…& head up the hill

14. At the top turn left & walk back down into the town as far as the Methodist Chapel on the left…

Next door is The Five Bells pub…a Grade II listed building

15. Now we cross over the road & another horse way towards St Mary’s Church…

…passing through the churchyard into Fitzroy Street

16. On the right is Newmarket’s King’s Theatre…

…& then higher up on the left is a ‘Real Tennis’ court. Have a look at the link for a video

17. At the t-junction turn left into Black Bear Lane. On the right is Fitzroy Stables…

…& then we head to the end of the Lane

18. It’s time to turn right & walk up the High Street out of town once more

The White Lion‘s open for brekkie if you fancy a stop…

…otherwise let’s continue towards the monument further up the road

19. This is the Cooper Memorial drinking fountain which was commissioned by Lady Harriet Cooper in 1910…

It really is an impressive structure, but after viewing we head up the right fork known as Birdcage Walk…

…& at the end arrive at the entrance to The Rowley Mile racecourse…

A peep over the hedge & you can just make out The Millennium Grandstand

20. Right…peeping over, lets walk carefully towards the main road & cross over & into the cemetery

21. We love cemeteries – they hold so much history & tell many stories. We follow the left hand path towards the Chapel…

…passing some fabulous monuments…

…& exit via the gates below crossing Dullingham Road back onto the High Street

22. After a short stroll on a corner we pass Richmond House which is the headquarters of the British Bloodstock Agency. At the junction of Queensbury House turn right & walk up a private road

23. On the right is an entrance to one of the world’s most famous equine auctioneers…Tattersalls

…& then a bit further down the lane is Gibson Saddlers who are suppliers of racing silks to the Queen

24. At the t-junction we turn left & stroll back towards the High Street…

25. As we head back down the High Street towards the town centre we pass Innocence Nightclub…

26. On the right just after the post office we come to the Jockey Club…this is a fab link – have a look

27. Almost next door is somewhere else well worth a visit…The National Horseracing Museum…

28. Just beyond the Museum turn right & pass Moons Toy Shop…

…& continue up the alley below to our start point

So what did we make of our dawn walk around the home of British Racing? Well Newmarket is a typical British town, but when on a main road you have to stop the car to let horses across you know you’re somewhere special & a little bit different.

Personally we love this town & would get up at 6am 365 days a year to witness this spectacle.

It’s very special so…

Go Walk!