Castles, Coast & Constable Ferry Hopper
Conquer a couple of estuaries with some handy ferry-hopping using long established foot ferries across the Rivers Deben and Orwell to cover even more Suffolk sights to your tour. This route takes in all the destinations and attractions of our 8A tour - castles, cliffs, coastline both wild and cultured, Constable Country, the medieval treasure villages plus time in stylish Southwold - and gives you even more time to explore the area around Orford, to discover Felixstowe and the Shotley Pensinsular on your way to the inspiring Dedham Vale and Stour Valley. Read More
England
Any Day
Bed & Breakfast
£1,059.00
8 Days, 7 Nights
Apr - Sept
Grade 3 (Moderate)
Overview
Conquer a couple of estuaries with some handy ferry-hopping using long established foot ferries across the Rivers Deben and Orwell to cover even more Suffolk sights to your tour. This route takes in all the destinations and attractions of our 8A tour – castles, cliffs, coastline both wild and cultured, Constable Country, the medieval treasure villages plus time in stylish Southwold – and gives you even more time to explore the area around Orford, to discover Felixstowe and the Shotley Pensinsular on your way to the inspiring Dedham Vale and Stour Valley.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive & explore
Arrive at Needham Market, explore the area and spend your first night in or near this small market town.
Day 2 Winding lanes & windmills
An excellent day’s ride to Debenham, a pretty village with its overhanging houses and antique shops, Saxtead Green’s beautifully restored 18c post mill and into Framlingham. Here you stay the night with time to visit the massive castle in this lovely old market town.
Mileage: Rec 22: Min 21: Max 38 miles.
Day 3 Huge castles & haunting coastline
Today you can visit Shawsgate Vineyards before reaching the coast at Dunwich, the onetime capital of East Anglia, now largely lost under the sea. You’ll cycle across the heather clad Dunwich Heath, through the RSPB reserve at Minsmere to Aldeburgh for the night.
Mileage: Rec 31 Min 19 Max 35
Day 4 Scallop sculptures & shingle beaches
A day to rest in Aldeburgh, a charming old fashioned seaside town. Watch the fisherman haul up their boats onto the beach and later you can taste the local fare at the highly recommended restaurants.
Mileage: Rec 21: Min 21: Max 28 miles.
Day 5 Waves & warrior kings
Going inland to find river crossings you visit the arts centre at Snape, climb to the top of dramatic Orford Castle, reach the tip of Orford Ness at quiet and beautiful Shingle Street, visit the site of the Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo and finally to Woodbridge for the night.
Mileage: Rec 37: Min 16: Max 43 miles.
Day 6 *Ferry-hopping across the estuaries
Start the day by heading south to cross the mouth of the River Deben by foot ferry at Felixstowe Ferry. Follow the coast south west through the seaside town of Felixstowe before using another foot ferry to cross the River Orwell to the Shotley peninsular.
Visit the home and still recognisable subjects of renowned 18c landscape artist John Constable near the village of East Bergholt before reaching your destination near the pretty village of Dedham.
Mileage: Rec 41 Min 40 Max 44
Day 7 Weaving around the wool towns
A fascinating day’s ride to the ‘Wool Town’ of Hadleigh, reportedly the 14th! most prosperous town in the country in the14th and 15th centuries. On to the half-timbered houses of Kersey, certainly one of the prettiest villages in England, and then to Lavenham. Here you spend the night surrounded by the jumble of Tudor houses in this most famous ‘Wool Town’.
Mileage: Rec 27 Min 20 Max 33
Day 8 Rural return
Enjoy a leisurely morning in Lavenham before taking a gentle ride back to Needham Market, perhaps visiting on the way the Museum of East Anglian Life at Stowmarket.
Mileage: Rec 24: Min 16: Max 40 miles.
*Day Six – Please note that operation of the ferries is weather dependent and in April and October may only run on ‘sunny days’. An alternative schedule may be necessary for this day.
Gallery
Dates & Prices
Download PricesFor 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 will 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 4 star historic inn in Rickinghall close to the market town of Diss, 3 star hotels in Framlingham, in Aldeburgh (2 nights), central Woodbridge, Dedham and Lavenham.
Holiday pricing is determined by start day and includes any weekend supplements.
We are pleased to discuss details on request.
Request Booking
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