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Suffolk

Castles, coasts and villages.

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.

Medium
Medium
  • 8 Days / 7 Nights
  • Self-guided Tour
  • Minimum number of participants: 2
Paula Plafinger
Paula Plafinger
+43 6219 60866 128 Contact
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Itinerary

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.

Tour character

               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 and events

All data for 2023 at a glance
Place of arrival: Ipswich
  Season 1
01.05.2023 - 30.06.2023
01.09.2023 - 28.09.2023

Arrival: daily
Season 2
01.07.2023 - 31.08.2023

Arrival: daily
Suffolk, 8 days, UK-SURSU-08X
Base price
829.00
899.00
Surcharge single room 439.00 439.00

Surcharge arrival on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday EUR 39 p.p.

Category: 3***- and 4****- hotels and guesthouses, in Felixstowe 1x a more simple accomodation

Season 1
May 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 - Sep 28, 2023
Arrival: daily
Season 2
Jul 1, 2023 - Aug 31, 2023
Arrival: daily
Suffolk, 8 days, UK-SURSU-08X
Base price
Surcharge single room
829.00
439.00
899.00
439.00

Surcharge arrival on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday EUR 39 p.p.

Category: 3***- and 4****- hotels and guesthouses, in Felixstowe 1x a more simple accomodation

Season 1
May 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 - Sep 28, 2023
Season 2
Jul 1, 2023 - Aug 31, 2023
Ipswich
Double room p. P.
Surcharge single room
Bury St. Edmunds
Double room p. P.
Surcharge single room
75.00
59.00
79.00
49.00
75.00
59.00
79.00
49.00
Additional nights
Place of arrival: Ipswich
  Season 1
May 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 - Sep 28, 2023

Arrival: daily
Season 2
Jul 1, 2023 - Aug 31, 2023

Arrival: daily
Ipswich
Double room p. P. 75.00 75.00
Surcharge single room 59.00 59.00
Bury St. Edmunds
Double room p. P. 79.00 79.00
Surcharge single room 49.00 49.00
Filter
24-gear unisex
24-gear gents
Electric bike
99.00
99.00
199.00
Prices per person in EUR

Services and infos

Services

Included:

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer

 

  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
  • GPS-data available
  • Service hotline
Infos

Arrival / Parking / Departure:

  • Ipswich train station
  • London Stansted Airport
  • Please note that a valid passport is required for this trip

Things to note:

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price!
  • Train journey: Ipswich-Needham Market approx. GBP 5 / person
  • Ferry across Deben approx. GBP 4 / per person incl. bike
  • Ferry across Orwell/Stour approx. GBP 7 / per person and bike
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
Contact & booking
Do you still have questions about the tour? We are happy to help and look forward to your inquiry.
Paula Plafinger
"I will help you with the planning of your holidays with advice and action"
Paula Plafinger, Travel specialist
Book now

Ratings

5 of 5 Stars (2 Ratings)
5 stars
Manuela Lorenz AT | 30.08.2023
Traumhaftes Suffolk
Unsere Erwartungen wurden mehr als übertroffen. Organisatorisch hat alles sehr gut geklappt. Die Radstrecken waren gut gewählt und führten uns durch wunderschöne Landschaften mit entzückenden alten Steinhäusern. Die Schlösser und Kirchen, sowie die mittelalterlichen Dörfer versetzten uns in ein anderes Jahrhundert. Die Unterkünfte waren gut gewählt und das Abendessen im jeweiligen Hotel hervorragend. Die Leute, ob im Hotel oder an der Strecke, waren sehr freundlich und hilfsbereit. Es war ein großartiges „Abenteuer „ dass ich absolut weiter empfehlen kann.
Paula Plafinger
Paula Plafinger answered:
Vielen Dank für Ihr Feedback, es freut uns sehr zu hören, dass Sie die Reise in vollen Zügen genießen konnten.
5 stars
Heinrich Weßeling DE | 25.05.2017
Sehr gut organisiert und sehr flexibel
Wir sind als Gruppe von 6 Personen (50+) mit eigenen Rädern per Fähre nach Suffolk angereist. Wir fanden die bereit gestellten Unterlagen sehr ausführlich und gut. Die vor-gebuchten Hotels waren exzellent und zum Teil in historischen Gebäuden untergebracht. Die Länge der einzelnen Tagestouren passte mit 45-70km zu unseren Vorstellungen. Die Tour war insgesamt landschaftlich sehr schön und leicht hügelig, aber so, dass man auch mit einer 8-Gang Nabenschaltung problemlos durch kam.Besonders gefallen hat uns die Flexibilität mit der wir die Reise aus dem Katalog an unsere eigenen Vorstellungen anpassen konnten. Zusatztage, eigene Räder statt Leihräder, kein Gepäcktransport, etc. das war alles kein Problem.Die Vorort-Betreuung durch den lokalen Partner in England war auch sehr gut.Alles in allem können wir diese Tour und den Veranstalter vorbehaltlos empfehlen. Das war ein toller Radurlaub.

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