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From Cottages to Coast

Tour: 3J
Circular Cycling Holiday
Hotel To Hotel Cycling Holiday

From an impressive castle to clifftop ruins, charming Suffolk villages brimful of picturesque cottages and some of the East’s most renowned birdwatching coast, this great little tour reveals treasure after Suffolk treasure. The quiet country lanes lead through smooth, rural landscapes and timeless market towns to truly unspoilt coastline and inland creeks with plenty of excellent opportunities to savour Suffolk’s delicious flavours along the way. Truly a Suffolk encounter worth pedalling for. Read More

Destination

England

Start Day

Any Day

Board Basis

Bed & Breakfast

Prices from

£348.00

Duration

3 Days, 2 Nights

Availability

Feb - Nov

Tour Grade

Grade 3 (Moderate)

Read Overview
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Overview

From an impressive castle to clifftop ruins, charming Suffolk villages brimful of picturesque cottages and some of the East’s most renowned birdwatching coast, this great little tour reveals treasure after Suffolk treasure.

Tour Code:
3J
Activity:
Cycling
Type:
Circular Cycling Holiday, Hotel To Hotel Cycling Holiday
Country:
England
Area:
Suffolk
Duration:
3 Days, 2 Nights
Board Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Availability:
Feb - Nov

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive & explore

Arrive at Needham Market, explore the area and spend your first night in or near this small market town with interesting shops, pleasant lake, river walk and a nostalgic feel.

Day 2 From pink cottages to village greens

Head through the lanes to historic Debenham, with its overhanging houses, antique shops and very own teapot pottery. At Saxtead Green a beautifully restored 18th century post mill sits proudly alongside the huge village green before you reach the market town of Framlingham where the 12th century curtain wall castle gives superb views across the ancient mere, church and fine Victorian college. A quick stop at a vineyard perhaps, then more scatterings of pink cottages on the way to Peasenhall where history lines the street, before reaching the wide greens of Westleton. Your night’s stop is in this characterful village close to the heathy coast of Dunwich. The pedal up to the cliff top site is optional but well worth it for the views and you can always leave the renowned RSPB reserve at Minsmere until the morning.

Mileage: Rec 38 Min 36 Max 44

Day 3 Celebrated creeks and a colourful route homeward

Today you might choose to be an early bird and catch a quick detour to the extensive wetlands of Minismere before steering inland to visit abbey ruins or to stop at the famous concert hall complex at Snape Maltings on the marshy creeklands of the River Alde. Refresh with a pint or spot of retail therapy, then let the villages unfurl as you wheel across the Suffolk countryside passing historic churches and whizzing through the occasional watersplash on the route back to Needham Market.

Mileage: Rec 38 Min 38 Max 40

Dates & Prices

Download Prices

For tour start days/dates, seasons and all prices, please click on the PRICES button above

PRICE INCLUDES

Ensuite accommodation as described with full English breakfast (prices based on two adults sharing)

Hire of hybrid bicycle and ancillary equipment (single pannier and handlebar bag or map holder, pump, basic tools, spare inner tube & puncture repair equipment, helmet if required)

Luggage transfer between hotels

Local assistance on call (we will attend for puncture repair in Suffolk)

Detailed itinerary with meticulously planned and researched routes following quiet country lanes with a choice of routes available each day (usually recommended, long and short)

Route notes, descriptions and use of good OS mapping (maps available on arrival). We pride ourselves on our detailed level of documentation which includes plenty of top tips for places to visit or for relaxing and sampling the local fare along the way. We send electronic versions of these documents by email approximately two weeks before your stay so you can plan ahead and look forward to your gentle cycling adventure

We have now switched the default navigation system to GPS – in our opinion this is now the most convenient method as it eliminates the need for frequent stops to check the map

  • We provide you with access to a premium GPS smartphone navigation app (IOS or Android) and send you links so that you can download all of the route options before you leave home. We will provide a handlebar bracket for your phone if required; it is also recommended that you bring a spare battery/powerbank to make sure that your phone lasts the day
  • We can also provide GPS tracks in whatever format if you prefer to load them into your own GPS Unit
  • Finally, we can provide a limited number of GPS units with the routes preloaded – this is on a first come first served basis – please let us know as soon as you can if you would like to use one
  • We also provide OS 1:50,000 mapping on arrival as additional support to allow for any impromptu route changes
  • Traditional map-based navigation (using marked OS maps) is still available as an alternative at extra cost upon request (at least two weeks in advance)
Please note that the price EXCLUDES

Costs of getting to and from the start point

Accommodation Options

Selected 3 star hotels at Framlingham and Westleton. We can substitute a boutique unrated inn at Dunwich subject to availability.

We are pleased to discuss details on request.

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