Use the Grazing Walks for the Wool Towns and Mid Suffolk to discover walks and great food, off the beaten track.
With over 20 villages to choose from, we have pulled together walking routes and places to eat in every location, making it really easy for you to pick a starting point, find some food and take a walk.
Visit St Mary Church (nicknamed the ‘thank God church’ during the 2nd world war). Take a look inside at the unfinished arcading where the mason downed tools in 1349, when the Black Death reached the village. This a lovely place for a walk, with great routes to help you work up an appetite.
The Bell Inn. Kersey
The Miller’s Kitchen, Kersey Mill
Pick from one of two Kersey circular routes
A great village to start a walk. Call in at the Community Shop, to pick up some local produce and your walking map. Visit Dollops Wood for the bluebells in spring and see how many species of bird you can spot. If you are here between July and September, call in at Dedham Vale Flower Company to pick yourself some flowers to take home.
Polstead Community Shop (local produce and walking routes info).
Explore three, circular walking routes.
The birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough, home to Gainsborough’s House Museum, and the silk capital of the UK. The water meadows are a great starting point for a walk and a picnic, and the thriving town is packed with places to eat and drink. Visit on the Thursday or Saturday for market day, or on the last Friday of the month for lots of Farmers Market foodie treats.
Valley Trail – Around Sudbury along River Stour 3.5miles
See the flint and dressed stone church built in the 15th century, and look out for the Grade II listed stables and coach house, the only bit of Assington Hall park now remaining. Call in at the local shop, pub, church or village hall to pick up a footpath map and start exploring.
Assington Parish map, available locally in the church and shop.
As well-known as Lavenham at the peak of the wool trade, wealthy Boxford merchants even minted their own coins at one point. On your walk, look out for the village bus shelter. Originally a lock-up for criminals it still retains the initials ‘B.G.’ – Boxford Gaol – above its doorways. And if you visit the Fleece pub, spare a thought for the poor woman accused of witchcraft, she managed to escape and avoid being burned on the pyre built in the pub yard.
Boxford Parish footpaths walk.
Walks off the Stour Valley, exploring Boxford Valley.
A relaxing market town nestling in spectacular countryside. Inspiring Constable and Gainsborough, it was also the former home of the East Anglian School of Art at Benton End. Visitors will spot the highly ornate plasterwork (pargeting) decorating the walls of many houses dating back to the 17th century. With lots of lovely cafes, pubs and places to eat and drink, Hadleigh is a quiet place to take a break and include on a walk.
A pretty village, nestling in the Brett Valley with St Peter’s church at the top of the hill overlooking the village green. A lovely, relaxing place to stretch your legs, and the Lindsey Rose pub also has some great walking routes to try.
A lovely, six mile walk in the Brett Valley.
Picture book, medieval village with many houses untouched due to the decline of the wool trade making modernisation unaffordable for many homeowners. Famous for its Crooked House, and being featured in Harry Potter movies, the town is full of choice when it comes to food and drink, whether you are picking up a picnic or sitting down for a full meal. It is also the perfect place to start a walk.
A circular walk from Lavenham taking in Nature Reserve and Balsdon Hall and ancient moats.
A beautiful village famous for the longest high street in the UK. Long Melford is a place to dwell awhile, packed with great places to eat, and places to explore. Visit Kentwell Hall, Melford Hall and Country Park, the Melford Water Meadows or venture into the hidden countryside of the Melford Walk along the disused railway line.
Find copies of the local walking routes in the Walkers Hub in Hall Street or Holy Trinity Church.
Alternatively, take an hour or so to explore the Glem Valley Trail and uncover for yourself the fascinating links with Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.
Discover Suffolk Cycle routes are also available.
One of the largest villages in Suffolk, with wealth from the historic manufacture of wool. The village suffered heavily when the industry declined, though some weaving continued in the 1800’s with silk, horsehair and coconut matting all being produced here. A lovely village for a walk or a bike ride with food and drink available to reward your exertions.
Explore the Glem Valley trail route.
Walks off Stour Valley Path exploring the Glem Valley.
Discover Suffolk Cycle routes are also available.
Cavendish is often described as one of the prettiest villages in Suffolk. It is famous for its thatched cottages and picturesque green, set against a backdrop of the historic Saint Mary’s church and the Five Bells free house. A quintessential English village with a community shop that is potentially the oldest shop in Britain.
Explore local group, Clare Walkers routes.
Proud to be Suffolk’s smallest town, Clare boasts a castle, country park, museum and lovely places to walk and eat in the town centre and the surrounding countryside.
Clare Castle, circular walking route around the Country Park.
Cycling route – discoversuffolk
Situated in the beautiful Stour Valley on the Essex Suffolk border, Belchamp St Paul and neighbouring Belchamp Otten were both mentioned in the Domesday Book. Off the beaten track and perfect for a relaxing walk and some food.
A picture postcard village with a treasure trove of history Hoxne is a lovely place to start a walk. This is where the tools of early humans were first recognised, where the largest hoard of Roman treasure in the UK was discovered, and where legend has it that Saint Edmund’s martyrdom took place. On your way past the medieval church, look for the moated vicarage, or visit Brakey Wood to see the carved Hoxne man.
A circular route around Hoxne taking you right to the heart of the areas history. The combination of lovely countryside and intriguing historical events makes this a treasured Suffolk Walk.
Brome has one of Suffolk’s 38 round tower churches. Take a moment on a walk to compare this with the very simple building in Oakley, set alone with only birds for company, and don’t miss the painting of the Last Supper where St John appears to be asleep at the table.
A five mile walk including Hoxne, Oakley and Billingford. In spring look out for bulbs on the Norfolk side of the valley. You will also pass the Billingford Mill, so you might want to check if it’s open for a visit.
Eye was once the smallest constituency in England and evidence of its rich history is abundant in the remains of its Norman Castle, Medieval Guildhall and impressive Church. The town is the perfect base to start a walk and there are lots of options for eating and drinking. Market days are Wednesday and Friday morning and a great place to pick up fresh produce.
If you fancy exploring a bit of Viking history this circular walk from Eye is a great place to start and includes lots of fascinating information to really bring the route to life.
This is a perfect place to take a step back and immerse yourself in nature. Visit Thornham Walks to experience over 12 miles of peace and quiet on well-established walking routes. There is a picnic area and café for refreshments and a couple of pubs in the village, with one said to be the oldest in Suffolk.
Just a half hour walk away is Thornham Parva, and the thatched church is well worth a visit. It has some spectacular 14th century wall paintings, and is the burial place of Architect, Sir Basil Spence, famous for designing Coventry Cathedral.
Trails at Thornham Walks are well marked and easy to follow with a surfaced path leading from the car park.
A village in the beautiful rolling countryside, just 3 miles from Eye and with plenty of peace and quiet. Surrounded by ever changing arable fields, meadowland and woods, it is a lovely place for a walk and a pub lunch.
A lovely 6km walking route taking in rolling countryside and small villages.
One of the most remarkable features of Thwaite church is the set of extraordinary, 16th century carved stone faces appearing to support the porch roof. You can’t help but wonder where the inspiration came from? Thwaite was also home to Orlando Whistlecraft, b.1810, a famous weather prophet and poet.
A circular route around Thwaite in peaceful countryside giving you time to relax, enjoy the view and think about lunch.
The heart of the village is a designated conservation area so a perfect place to visit for a walk and a bite to eat. The parish walking group have produced three great routes, you can pick up in the local shop or the entrance to the woodland.
Explore these three walking routes around Mendleham, or you might want to try the Mendlesham Green circular walk.
A thriving market town with a busy train station makes it easy to leave the car at home. There are lots of places you can eat and drink in and around the main street as well as green spaces to explore, including the Food Museum. Visit on market days, Thursday or Saturday to pick up some local food to enjoy on your walk.
There are some great walking routes around Stowmarket and it is easily accessible by train or bus.
And there are lots more, including cycling routes on Discover Suffolk site.
