Jump to content
Jump to footer
Book now
To the online version
Panoramic view of Ipswich

Suffolk

Castles, coasts and villages

8 Days / 7 Nights
Medium
Panoramic view of Ipswich

Cycle through one of England’s best kept secrets and see some of the highlights of the delightful rural county of Suffolk. We are sure you will love the thatched cottages and oak beamed pubs, the big grey castles and the unspoiled coastline.

Itinerary at a glance

Green landscapes, charming cottages, and impressive manor houses await you as you cycle along England's east coast in Suffolk. Take a walk on the pier to the Southwold lighthouse and through the marketplace to the cathedral in Bury St Edmunds.

One of England's oldest towns, dating back to Saxon times - its streets are lined with historic buildings such as 12 medieval churches, and the Ancient House which has amazing pargetting. Sitting in parkland, the beautiful red brick Christchurch Mansion houses a fascinating free museum home to some of John Constable's paintings. The town also has a rich maritime heritage, with an interesting waterfront and marina area.

Take the short train journey to the historic town of Needham Market. Pick up from the trainstation and you will get your travel documtens and rental bikes. On a small cycle path you will goto 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.

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 to picturesque Wenhaston and back to Halesworth.

Head coastwards again to Dunwich, 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. You cross the river Deben with a ferry before you end the stage in Felixtowe.

You leave Felixtowe in direction Orwell. Here you can enjoy some small ferry trips before you will follow the river Stour to the heart of Contable Country. You cycle through amazing landscapes, the setting of Stour Valley and Dedham Vale. Same day you will visit the famous acts of the landscape artist John Constable from the 18th century.

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.

Start the day with the medieval labyrinth of half-timbered houses that is Lavenham, the most famous ‘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.

Day
08
Departure or extension

Route information

Medium

Cycling is mostly on very quiet country lanes, linked by short stretches of busier road. The terrain ranges from flat to gently rolling countryside.

Prices & Dates

Category: 3***- and 4****-hotels and guesthouses, in Felixstowe 1x a simpler accommodation

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
  • App for navigation and GPS-data
  • Service hotline

Optional

  • Map material on request, order necessary in advance, possibly for an additional charge

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Ipswich train station
  • London Stansted airport

Things to note

  • Minimum number of participants: 2
  • Please note that a valid passport is required for this trip
  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price!
  • Train journey: Ipswich-Needham Market approx. GBP 6 person
  • Ferry across Deben approx. GBP 9 per person incl. bike
  • Ferry across Orwell/Stour approx. GBP 9 per person and bike
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.
Paula Plafinger

"I look forward to making your vacation dreams come true."

Paula Plafinger
Travel specialist
One call to vacation bliss
Monday - Friday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Call now
One click to vacation bliss
 
I am looking forward to your message!
Contact form

5 out of 5 stars

3 ratings
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
Load more

Other tours that might interest you

from
€939
Book now Book
You now receive special conditions when you book a trip.