Grazing Walks
Walking Routes and Pathways
A grazing walk is the perfect get-away-from it-all, explore tranquil miles of gentle walking through the heart of the Suffolk countryside, pick places to switch off, unwind and work up an appetite. Follow the links to find lots of different, long and short walking routes, including access and ability information, pick a location on the map, look at the route and explore new places, and if you want to throw two wheels into the mix and bring your bike along, there are cycle routes to explore as well. This really is idyllic English countryside at its very best!
Wool Towns
Kersey
Visit St Mary Church (nicknamed the ‘thank God’, Church’ during the 2nd world war). Take a look inside at the unfinished carving on the beautiful arcading where the mason downed tools in 1349, when the Black Death reached the village. The village is a lovely place for a walk, with great routes to help you work up an appetite.
Polstead Community Shop (local produce and walking routes info).
Polstead Heath
A great village to start a walk, so 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, and if you are here between July and September, call in at Dedham Vale Flower company to pick yourself some flowers to take home.
Sudbury
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. Sudbury is well worth a visit on the Thursday or Saturday market day or visit on the last Friday of the month for lots of Farmers Market foodie treats.
Assington
Home to a 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.
Boxford
Equal in status to 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 who managed to escape and avoid being burned on the pyre built in the pub yard.
Hadleigh
A relaxing market town nestling in spectacular countryside that inspired Constable and Gainsborough and the former home of the East Anglian School of Art at Benton End. With 246 listed buildings, 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.
Monks Eleigh
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 circular walk from Lavenham taking in Nature Reserve and Balsdon Hall and ancient moats.
Lavenham
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.
Long Melford
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, the Heritage Centre and 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.
Glemsford
One of the largest villages in Suffolk, with wealth from the historic manufacture of wool. The village suffered heavily when the industry declined, though weaving continued to offer limited respite in the 1800’s with silk, horsehair and coconut matting still woven here. A lovely village for a walk or a bike ride with food and drink available to reward your exertions.
Cavendish
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.
Clare
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.
Belchamp St Paul
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.
Mid Suffolk
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.
Hoxne
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.
Billingford, Brome and Oakley
Brome has one of Suffolk’s 38 round tower churches, but 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.
In spring look out for bulbs on the Norfolk side of the valley and if you pass the Billingford Mill, you might want to check if it’s open for a visit.
Eye
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 good place to pick up fresh produce.
If you fancy exploring the area, the Eye Town Trail is a great place to start and includes lots of fascinating information to really bring the route to life.
Thornham Magna
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 paintings and is the burial place of Architect Sir Basil Spence, famous for designing Coventry Cathedral.
Thorndon
A village in the beautiful rolling countryside, just 3 miles from Eye and with plenty of peace and quiet. Surrounded by ever-changing fields, meadowlands and woods, this is a lovely place for a walk and pub lunch.
Thwaite
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.
Mendlesham
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 has produced three great walks, you can pick up routes in the local shop or the entrance to the woodland.
Stowmarket
A thriving market town with a busy train station making it easy to visit and leave the car at home. There are lots of places to eat and drink in and around the town as well as green spaces to explore, including the Food Museum. Visit on the Thursday or Saturday market days and get a taste of the local food to take away on your walk.
A circular walk from the railway station is a good place to start and there are a few routes to choose from depending on how far you want to go. If you take the route that will bring you past Combs Wood, look out for curls of blue smoke that indicate the charcoal burners are working, part of Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s woodland management.