SEE THE COUNTY ON TWO WHEELS
Suffolk’s two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, myriad woods and forests, 50 miles of coastline, and thousands of quiet country roads, make it a cyclist’s paradise. It’s no coincidence that Suffolk has held stages of the Tour of Britain and the Women’s Tour. Despite its relatively flat terrain, there is cycling in Suffolk for all abilities, and all of it comes with a beautiful view. Here are some of the cycling routes on offer in Suffolk.
CYCLING HOLIDAYS IN SUFFOLK
Based in Needham Market, Cycle Breaks offer a huge range of self-guided cycling holidays in Suffolk, from two-day excursions to a full two-week tour of the county. With bikes, maps, routes and hand-picked accommodation provided, you can set off to explore Lavenham and the Suffolk Wool Towns, cross the verdant fields of Constable Country or cycle from beach to beach along The Suffolk Coast.
Any serious cyclists on holiday in Suffolk should not miss a trip to Maglia Rosso, a cyclists’ cafe in Hawkstead near Bury St Edmunds. Adjoining the pit-stop cafe is a bike shop where you can find De Rosa, Kinesis UK, Merida, Ritte, Scott and Trek bikes, plus essential cycling kit and a professional bike fitting service. If you’re brave enough, you can even test your skills and stamina on Maglia Rosso’s 1-mile Cyclo Cross course!
CYCLING ON THE SUFFOLK COAST
The Suffolk Coast boasts 155 square miles of peaceful, unspoilt landscape dedicated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We recommend exploring the Church-copses-cycle-route with this easy, circular day ride, or heading into the glorious Rendlesham-forest-Trails
Cycling to Aldeburgh on the Suffolk Coast (c) Lyndsay Want
CYCLING IN THE WAVENEY VALLEY
The Waveney Valley is a wildlife-rich valley in northeast Suffolk dotted with charming towns and villages with a gentle pace of life. The Waveney-Valley-Three-Rivers-Loop-cycle-route offers up lovely views of the Waveney Valley, perfect for a full day’s cycling. The Waveney-Valley-cycle-route-Marshes and Lanes takes you on a round journey between the picturesque riverside towns of Bungay and Beccles.
If you’re a cyclist with a passion for churches and quaint, isolated villages, the The-Saints-Tour will be your ideal day’s ride. This tour also passes the beautiful St Peter’s Brewery, if you fancy stopping off for a beer and visiting the brewery.
Take a brewery tour at St Peter’s Brewery
CYCLING ON THE SHOTLEY PENINSULA
The Shotley Peninsula is a small stretch of land between the rivers Orwell and Stour in southeast Suffolk. It is remarkable for its views and every turn there is a waterscape, from birds wading in the estuary to little boats cruising upriver. Its size means exploring Shotley Peninsula by bike can be done at your own leisure, but if you’d prefer to follow a route, this Alton-Water-cycle-route offers gorgeous views of Alton Water, the Shotley Peninsula’s reservoir.
CYCLING IN CONSTABLE COUNTRY AND THE STOUR VALLEY
Constable Country is well known for its beauty. The same lush meadows, mills, and riverbends that inspired the great landscape painter John Constable in the 18th and 19th centuries. These are still working their magic today, as anyone cycling in Constable Country will find out. The 69-mile Painter’s Trail is a cycle route through this special part of England, and can be downloaded in sections here.
Stop off at Flatford and see where John Constable painted his famous landscapes
CYCLING IN THETFORD FOREST & THE BRECKS
As one of the driest places in the UK, the Brecks are ideal for cycling and adventure sports. Starting in the village of Mildenhall, this horseshoe ride takes you through typical Breckland landscapes, past flint churches and the village of Tuddenham. The three circular routes of the Stanton Rides offer another view of The Brecks, this time of windmills and wild fens. The King’s Forest Cycle Rides will take you through the heaths and forests surrounding the village of West Stow; alternatively, keen off-road cyclists can head deep into Thetford Forest, where they’ll find two easy-going circular routes as well as two challenging trails on the Thetford-Forest-cycle-routes.
Cycling through the forest at Brandon in The Brecks
CYCLING AROUND THE HISTORIC TOWNS OF WEST SUFFOLK
Cycling in west Suffolk is characterised by the area’s two principal towns: Bury St Edmunds, which boasts a wealth of history, architecture, food, drink and shopping; and Newmarket, the hallowed home of international horseracing.
From Newmarket you can embark on one of the three circular Newmarket Rides, or in closeby Ixworth, for a route that truly takes you back in time, we recommend Millers-Trail-cycle-route of moderate difficulty that pays homage to Suffolk’s historic mills.
For more information about cycling in Suffolk, visit www.discoversuffolk.org.uk.
Cyclists enjoying a cup of tea on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds
