Suffolk

There is something very English about Suffolk. Here you will find the quintessential English village. Along the river Stour south of Lavenham is 'Constable Country', home of England's most famous landscape painter and the subject of his glorious paintings which so poignantly captured rural English life. The Stour flows peacefully through a chalky valley with willow and poplar lining lush water-meadows, and walks between Sudbury and Flatford capture the essential 'Englishness' of the scenery. Flatford is, of course, the location for one of Constable's most famous paintings and is now a major tourist attraction. Upstream at Sudbury is the birthplace of another great English painter, Thomas Gainsborough. The long distance route The Stour Valley Path follows the river all the way from from Newmarket to Manningtree.

Suffolk is also home to several mediaeval wool towns, Lavenham being perhaps the most impressive example. Here fine timber houses, many now with a picturesque crookedness, demonstrate the wealth that wool brought to Suffolk in the middle ages. Clare, Hadleigh, Lavenham and Long Melford all have important historic buildings and are worth exploring and, combined with a country walk in the local vicinity, can make a great day out. There are also many small attractive villages which make good bases for planning a walk, and many are included in the guides below.

To experience a totally different aspect of Suffolk visit The Brecks, where you can explore the remains of what was once a huge ancient heathland. The landscape is a result of the sandy soil and the winds that have blown across it over the centuries. Twisted trees, open heaths, wide horizons and a variety of habitats make The Brecks a facinating place for walking. The area of 370 square miles straddles the Suffolk Norfolk border, with perhaps the slightly larger area in Norfolk. Brandon is the best town from which to walk the Suffolk area of The Brecks. Much of the ancient character further east towards Thetford has been lost due to the large scale planting of the pine plantations of Thetford Forest.

The Suffolk coast is well worth considering as a location for walking if you enjoy the seashore, wildlife or birdwatching. There is a coastal long distance path from Great Yarmouth to Felixstowe, so excellent coastal access is available. Fourty miles of the Suffolk coastline is designated as Heritage Coast and is included in an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty, all the more reason to explore its delights. Sandlings heaths, also within the AONB, have evolved to support a rare and specialised community of wildlife which includes the nightjar and silver-studded blue butterfly. The coastal forests of Tangham, Tunstall and Dunwich have been planted on the heathlands as a timber crop, but also provide a habitat for wildlife. The forests can be explored on many way-marked trails and bridleways. There are five rivers flowing to the Suffolk coastline, where their estuaries attract many kinds of wildfowl and wading birds.

	Guide Books: [Click for further information or to purchase]
	Suffolk Walks by: John Brooks. 28 colour-coded routes to choose from, all tried and tested by seasoned walkers and varying from extended strolls to exhilarating hikes, there is a walk to suit all situations. Includes OS Explorer mapping. The guide introduces you to the area and highlights the most scenic walks. Details are included for useful organisations, refreshment stops and places to leave your car. The walking routes include Barham, Coddenham, Carlton Marshes and the river Waveney, Flatford, Cretingham, Darmsden and the Gipping Valley, Denham Castle, Dunwich, Dingle Marshes, Framlingham, Iken and Tunstall Forest, Long Melford, Lavenham, Saxmundham, Shotley Peninsular, Sutton Hoo, Shottisham and the river Deben, Blythburgh, Worlington and West Stow.
	100 Walks in Suffolk by: Robert H Stoner. An omnibus of local walks covering the whole of Suffolk. The book is ideal for family outings and as a valuable reference book for residents wanting to explore their county. The wide choice of routes are spread very evenly across the county. The walks vary in length from 2 to 12 miles, the majority being in the 4/6 mile range. They are listed in the contents by length, making it easy to find routes that suit your circumstances. In addition to the route descriptions, details are given of points of interest along the way, places to eat and drink and where to park the car. Sketch maps and route descriptions are on facing pages.
	Suffolk Waterside Walks by: Geoff Pratt. 20 circular routes between 2 and 7 miles in length and some have alternative longer or shorter routes. The walk locations are: Stour at Sudbury; Stour between Cattawade and Flatford; Alton Water and Stour estuary; The Shotley Peninsular; Needham Market Lake; Gipping at Bamford; Orwell at Freston; Trimley Marshes; Landguard Point, Felixstowe; Falkenham and the Deben; Martlesham Creek; Butley River and Boyton Marshes; Orford and the Alde; Aldeburgh; Sizewell; Blyth between Halesworth and Wenhaston; Southwold Harbour and Buss Creek; Oulton Broad and river Waveney; Brandon and the Little Ouse; Lark at Mildenhall.
	Pub Walks in Suffolk by: Geoff Pratt. 30 walks from 2.5 to 6 miles explore most areas of the county and its idyllic countryside, passing besides rolling fields and through ancient woodland. There are gentle rivers; soft sandy estuaries; and the shingle beaches of the coast. Includes many of Suffolk's most attractive villages, such as Little Thurlow, Dalham, Chelsworth, Walsham le Willows and Dunwich beside the sea. Locations are: Little Thurlow; Eriswell; Dalham; Hartest; Troston; Bradfield St. George; Lavenham; Walsham le Willows; Chelsworth; Stoke-by-Nayland; Onehouse; Redgrave; Finningham; Barham; Debenham; Stutton; Bedfield; Grundisburgh; Levington; Homersfield; Easton; Huntingfield; Sweffling; Ramsholt; Butley; Hulver; Blythburgh; Aldringham; Lound; Dunwich.
	Village Walks in Suffolk by: Jean and Geoff Pratt. The 20 routes in this book introduce the walker to nature reserves at Palgrave and Dunwich, a rare breeds farm at Dedham, ducks, geese and wading birds at Shottisham, and the Suffolk Punch horse at Ufford. There are also lovely walks besides the rivers Stour, Waveney and Deben. The route at Stratford St. Mary follows the path the landscape painter, John Constable, probably used on his daily walk to school. The villages on which the walks are based have been carefully chosen for their interest and beauty. Among those not to be missed are Lavenham, Boxford, Mendlesham and Westleton. The walks vary from 2 to 6 miles.
	Suffolk Church Walks by: John Pardy and Roy Tricker. Suffolk contains some of the finest churches in England, each a time capsule of living history, comprising craftsmanship of many periods, from Saxon times to our own. The 21 country walks vary in length between 2 - 6 miles and follow scenic footpaths, bridleways and river banks. Most include at least two churches and there is a seperate section that highlights their outstanding features. Locations are: Clare; Boxted; Long Melford; Polstead; Kettlebaston; Shotley; Falkenham; Ufford; Iken; Combs; Gedding; Gazeley; Icklingham; Stowlangtoft; Gislingham; Worlingworth; Theberton; Southwold; Withersdale; Barsham; Lound.
	Suffolk Walks with Children by: Cyril Francis. Each walk is a treasure hunt on foot - search for clues along the way and see who scores the most points. Spot the birds, butterflies and wild flowers, plus historic churches, old buildings, an old packhorse bridge, a tide mill, castle ruins and even an inland lighthouse. Designed with children in mind the book provides the perfect alternative to 'serious' rambles. Locations are: Barham; Beyton; Clare; East Bergholt; Eye; Felixstowe to Landguard Point; Gazeley, Dalham and Moulton; Hadleigh; Harleston, Shelland and Onehouse; Hoxne; Lavenham; Needham Market; Orwell Country Park; Pin Mill; Polstead; Sizewell; Southwold; Sudbury; Witnesham; Woodbridge.