Dedham Vale

Dedham Vale, on the Essex-Suffolk border, is the classic Constable country of the River Stour: slow water, willow-lined meadows, grazing cattle and the tower of Dedham church. It is a gentle, quintessentially English landscape that photographs beautifully from modest height. Launch from the public riverside meadows on the Dedham side, around the recreation ground and the walk down to the boathouse and footbridge, where there is open grass and clear sightlines along the valley. Importantly, the famous Flatford Mill and Bridge Cottage about 1.5km downstream are owned by the National Trust, which bans take-off and landing on its land, so stay on the Dedham meadows and do not use Flatford as a launch point. There is no airport flight restriction zone over the vale; Wattisham Army airfield is roughly 20km north, so check for military helicopter traffic but you are clear of its zone. This is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty popular with walkers, rowers and river trippers, so keep the aircraft over the fields and river rather than over boats and paths, and pick a quiet time. Spring and autumn give the richest colour along the Stour. Parking is available in Dedham village and at the recreation ground. A soft, rural counterpoint to the region's coastal spots.