The Suffolk Castles, Coast & Villages bike trip cycle through one of England’s best-kept secrets and enjoy some of the highlights of the delightful rural county of Suffolk. In this Suffolk bike trip you could discover thatched cottages and oak beamed pubs, imposing flint castles and the unspoiled heritage coastline. Cycling is mostly on very quiet country lanes, linked by short stretches of busier road. The terrain ranges from flat to gently rolling countryside Asolo you carry onto Treviso. Following the River Sile, you finally reach Mestre/Venice.
DAY BY DAY
FIRST DAY: Travel to Ipswich
Ipswich is the county town of Suffolk, birthplace around 1475 to Cardinal Wolsey, King Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor. A busy market town with a medieval street plan including 13 medieval churches and some impressive historic buildings such as the 17th century Ancient House with its highly decorative plasterwork (‘pargetting’), the red brick stately home, Christchurch Mansion, (now a museum and gallery) with its beautiful parklands. The modern, lively waterfront contrasts
with delightful restaurants and bars as well as the opportunity to take to a gentle cruise down the River Orwell.
SECOND DAY: NEEDHAM MARKET – HALESWORTH
travel by train from Ipswich to Needham Market (depart Ipswich 0920, arrive Needham Market 0928 / Sundays and public holidays 0902, arriving 0912)
We will collect clients at Needham Market station at 0928 (0912 Sundays) and transport them to our nearby office where we will provide the bikes, maps and route information cycling 62 kms (38 miles) – generally level cycling mostly on quiet country lanes. Head through the lanes to Debenham, a pretty, historic village with its overhanging, half-timbered houses, antique shops and huge church, then continue on to Saxtead Green. Here you can visit the beautifully restored 18th century post mill before discovering the charms of nearby Framlingham, a very English town with a bustling market square full of interesting little shops and a mighty 12th
century castle. Stop a while for refreshments and to drink in the atmosphere – or to walk the castle walls for stunning views of the town and its rolling Suffolk countryside. Leafy lanes and open, undulating countryside lead on via cottage-lined villages and more medieval churches to the market
town of Halesworth
THIRD DAY: HALESWORTH LOOP
cycling 40 kms on a circular route to the coast and return. Generally flat, mix of quiet lanes/ traffic
free trails with some urban routes with a little more traffic.Halesworth has a wide range of historic facades and welcoming little shops, and medieval St Mary’s church is worth a visit too before setting off on a circular route towards the coast to discover more of Suffolk’s historic treasures. Pass the post mill at Holton en route to Wangford, a village packed with a variety of cottages, time-honoured houses and an impressive coaching inn all with stories to tell. The Suffolk Heritage Coast and Sole Bay are soon on the horizon together with Southwold, Suffolk’s very dignified and charming seaside town with wide open greens edged with smart, historic houses; a pier and lighthouse, excellent local brewery and a prom lined with really colourful beach huts. Cross the River Blyth by small bridge or foot ferry to historic Walberswick and on along the estuary of the River Blyth to picturesque Wenhaston and back to Halesworth
FOURTH DAY: HALESWORTH – WOODBRIDGE
cycling 49-57 kms on generally level cycling, mostly on quiet country lanes. Head coastwards again to Dunwich, once the medieval capital of East Anglia, now largely
disappeared beneath the waves. Take a look at the ruined Greyfriars Priory clinging to the cliff tops, then continue along breath-taking heathlands, perhaps visiting the famous bird reserve at Minsmere. Leafy lanes lead through Eastbridge past more ruins at Leiston Abbey towards the winding creeks of the River Alde. Here at Snape Maltings, the Aldeburgh Festival concert hall sits amidst a great little collection of galleries, shops and antique sellers and is a lovely place to enjoy refreshments whilst drinking in the river views. Follow the lanes by heathlands, woods and historic parklands towards the next estuary and the bustling maritime town of Woodbridge. Sutton Hoo, nearby site of a famous Anglo-Saxon ship burial, is full of treasures and the walks there give wonderful views across the River Deben
FIFTH DAY: WOODBRIDGE – STOKE BY NAYLAND
cycling 57 kms through rolling countryside with a mix of rural and urban roads and cyclepaths. Head up to Woodbridge’s historic market hill or visit the waterfront with its famous tide mill before setting off into ‘town’. Edged by heathlands and parks, Ipswich soon gives way to rural landscapes as you head towards ‘Constable Country’. In the rolling countryside that is the setting for the Stour Valley and Dedham Vale, you will discover the still recognizable subjects of renowned 18th century landscape artist, John Constable. Visiting his birthplace at East Bergholt, the water meadows of the River Stour and Flatford Mill. The villages here, great and small, have impressive churches and some wonderful half-timbered houses and rambling inns, testimony to the medieval wealth of the local wool trade. Your destination, Stoke by Nayland, is a fine example
SIXTH DAY: STOKE BY NAYLAND – LONG MELFORD
cycling 37 kms of rolling countryside on mostly quiet country lanes Rolling countryside leads across from Stoke by Nayland and the pretty village of Shelley to the fine ‘Wool Town’ of Hadleigh where a Tudor red brick Deanery Tower sits alongside the most impressive medieval church topped with a spire and leaning houses with bright pargetting line the main street. Next historic Kersey thrills with a downhill from church to watersplash. Together with nearby Chelsworth, it counts amongst the prettiest villages in England. More historic farmsteads and villages line the undulating route to the impressive wool town, Long Melford. This impressive village has not one, but two red brick Tudor manor houses, wide greens, a remarkable medieval church and a mile long main street, busy with interesting shops, antique centres, historic pubs and restaurants.
SEVENTH DAY: LONG MELFORD – BURY ST EDMUNDS
cycling 41 kms mostly on quiet country lanes with some busier urban roads to reach the hotel in
Bury St Edmunds Start the day with the medieval labyrinth of half-timbered houses that is Lavenham, the most
famous Suffolk ‘Wool Town’. More rolling countryside follows and a visit to the pretty village of Hartest before dropping in at the eccentric, oval stately home of Ickworth House a few miles outside the ancient market town of Bury St Edmunds. Bury is full of history, tiny streets and old Suffolk charm. Walk through the massive stone gateway to the ruined abbey flanked by beautiful gardens leading down to the River Lark. The cathedral here gained its impressive tower to celebrate the new millennium. There’s a twice-weekly market and a chance for a drink at The Nutshell, the smallest pub in Britain.
EIGHT DAY: Sweet Goodbye
Leave your bikes at the hotel and departure after breakfast.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Minimum 2 people for each departure date.
- Availability: First arrival Sunday, 29 March; last arrival Sunday, 25 October
- Start days: Any day (subject to availability) – PRICE VARIES BY START DAY (LOOK BELOW AT PRICES INFORMATION)
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Child discounts – available to those under 16 on day of departure 30% if sharing room with two adults. The 10% if two children have their own room.
| STAGE |
DISTANCE |
TIME (aprox) |
| NEEDHAM MARKET – HALESWORTH |
62 Km |
< 4,5 h |
| HALESWORTH LOOP |
40 Km |
<3,5 h |
| HALESWORTH – WOODBRIDGE |
49 Km or 57 km |
3 h (Via Ipswich) or 3,5 h (via Ferries) |
| WOODBRIDGE – STOKE BY NAYLAND |
57 Km |
<3,5 h |
| STOKE BY NAYLAND – LONG MELFORD |
37 Km |
<3,5 h |
| LONG MELFORD – BURY ST EDMUNDS |
41 km |
< 4 h |
WHAT'S INCLUDED
| INCLUDED |
| Accommodation (based upon two people sharing a room) |
| Breakfast |
| Personal tour information ‘Suffolk Castles, Coast & Villages bike trip’ |
| Luggage transfers from hotel to hotel |
| Well planned routes |
| Detailed documents (maps, route description, places to visit, important telephone numbers) |
| Telephone service hotline |
| NOT INCLUDED |
| Bicycle / E- bike |
| Guide |
| Extra nights |
| Lunch and dinners |
PRICES INFORMATION
Suffolk Castles, Coast & Villages bike trip
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High season supplement (arrivals in July & August)
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EXTRA NIGHT PRICES
This prices are double room with breakfast included (sharing double room, minimum 2 persons). Ask price per triple or other rooms.
Suffolk Castles, Coast & Villages bike trip – Extra NIGHTS
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Extra night – Ipswich / single supplement
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Extra night – Bury St Edmunds / single supplement
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Extra nights available at other locations
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HOW TO ARRIVE TO IPSWICH
Ipswich is approximately 70 minutes away from the City of London by train and enjoys a very frequent train service (from London Liverpool Street Station). The hotel is 5 minutes walk from the Railway Station.
See http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk
(Station codes are LST for London Liverpool Street, IPS for Ipswich and NMT for Needham Market).
There is a regular bus service from London Stansted Airport to Ipswich (Railway Station) – journey time 90 minutes and from London Heathrow – journey time 3 hrs 15 mins (see journey planner at: http://www.nationalexpress.com).
BOOK NOW
ALL FIELDS ARE REQUIRED
