Suffolk, the easternmost county in England, begins amidst pastoral scenes of overwhelming familiarity. Along the banks of the "border" river, John Constable painted his great series of Stour pictures. The originals of these paintings - churches, lanes, meadows, mills and farms - remain in startling reality. Little has changed. Village greens and market squares; living, working villages of lovely, half-timbered cottages; historic castles and wonderful churches.
And then there's the haunting and beautiful coastline, stretching 40 miles from the Victorian seaside resort of Felixstowe in the south to the charming market town of Southwold in the north. In between is peaceful, undulating countryside and an unspoilt coastline of lonely shingle beaches and crumbling cliffs. Discover tranquil river estuaries, a haven for a variety of birdlife, wildlife-rich heathlands, shady pine forests, colour-washed villages and historic market towns such as Framlingham and Woodbridge.
The wool trade brought great wealth to the area and financed much of the church building - the "wool towns" of Lavenham, Sudbury and Hadleigh prospered. As the industrial revolution largely passed the county by, Suffolk's inheritance is one of the greatest concentrations of Tudor and Elizabethan buildings in England.
This is ideal cycling country. There are no big hills, but enough gentle undulations to open up many rewarding views. There is an unsurpassed network of almost traffic-free country lanes and a wide selection of inviting tea shops and country pubs. Add to this probably the driest climate in the UK and you can see why Suffolk is a cycling paradise.
For these cycle tours in Suffolk, we work closely with a local firm to bring you the best researched routes and accommodation and up-to-the-minute information on local events. All these tours, with the exception of Royal Norfolk – Nelson’s County, start and finish in Needham Market, less than 10 miles from Ipswich. If you are arriving by train we can arrange to collect you from the nearest station.
