Cycle through a true rural idle. Rich in history, and packed with charm, Suffolk is sure to win your hearts with its thatched cottages and oak beamed pubs, great old castles and unspoiled coastline. Discover one of Britains best kept secrets by bike this summer.
Day 1 - Arrival in Ipswich
Make your own way to Ipswich, one of England's oldest towns, with parts that date back to Saxon times! Here, you will find a town packed with historic buildings, such as the 12 medieval churches, and the Ancient House which has amazing pargetting. The beautiful red brick Christchurch Mansion, which sits in its own beutiful park land, houses a fascinating free museum which home to paintings by John Constable. The town also boasts rich maritime heritage, which can be explored at the interesting waterfront and marina area.
You leave Felixtowe this morning, heading in the direction of the river Orwell. Here you can enjoy some small ferry trips, before later following the river Stour into the heart of Contable Country. You will cycle through some amazing landscapes; the setting of Stour Valley and Dedham Vale. Later today, you will visit sites made famous by the iconic 18th Century landscape artist John Constable.
Day 6 - Stoke by Nayland – Long Melford - Approx. 40 km
Rolling countryside will take you 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, St Mary's, which topped with an impressive spire. In the quaint town centre, traditional leaning houses line the main street in their many colours. Next, you will come to historic Kersey which, together with nearby Chelsworth,counts amongst the prettiest villages in England. More historic farmsteads and villages line the undulating route Long Melford. This impressive 'wool town' village has not one, but two red brick Tudor manor houses, wide greens, a remarkable medieval church, and a mile long main street, which is packed with interesting shops, antique centres, historic pubs and restaurants.
Day 7 - Long Melford – Bury St. Edmunds - Approx. 40 km
Start the day with the medieval labyrinth of half-timbered houses that is Lavenham; perhaps the most famous of all the ‘Wool Towns’. You will then come upon more rolling countryside on your way to the pretty village of Hartest,before dropping in at the eccentric, oval stately home of Ickworth House, which is just a few miles outside the ancient market town of Bury St Edmunds. Bury is full of history, charming, narrow streets, and old Suffolk charm. Walk through the massive stone gateway to the ruined abbey, where you will find the beautiful Abbey Gardens that lead all the way down to the River Lark. The cathedral here gained its impressive tower to celebrate the new millennium.There are market days twice a week, and you can always take the chance to drink at The Nutshell, the smallest pub in Britain.
Day 8 - Departure or extension
Today is the end of your tour. Leave your bike at the hotel and depart after breakfast. Alternatively you can book extra nights to discover ' the jewel in Suffolk's crown', Bury St. Edmunds, some more.
Route Overview
You will be cycling mostly on very quiet country lanes, linked by short stretches of busier road. The terrain ranges from flat to gently rolling countryside
Overall Difficulty: Easy - Medium - Mostly flat with some longer routes and slightly rolling sections.
Overall Distance: 290km Approx.
Route Map (For guidance only)
Routes maybe subject to change or alteration. All route notes, maps and day-by-day information will be given to you upon arrival at the first hotel or at the welcome meeting. GPS/GPX Files are available for most our the cycling holidays we offer. Please ask us for details
This trip is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Clostest Airport: London Stanstead
Closest Train Station: Ipswich
We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best flight prices by date or Rail Europe for European rail travel. There is customer car parking available at most hotels for a supplement. Please contact us for more details.
Please use local transport to arrive at the starting point or call us on 0161 703 8161 for more specific travel advice.
You do not need to go back to the starting point of the cycling holiday as all hire bikes are left at the final hotel.
Important: Please book your flights only after the cycling holiday has been confirmed by invoice or email. Flights and transfers are not included in the advertised holiday price.
Arrival / Parking / Departure:
Things to note:
Included:
Not Included
This cycling holiday uses quality crossbar and unisex hybrid bikes based on KTM frame technology, Selle Royal saddles, Shimano components and puncture-proof tyres to ensure that you have an enjoyable cycle tour. The bikes feature modern V-brakes, aluminium frames with mudguards, comfortable saddles and a rack for a supplied waterproof pannier.
You will also receive a handlebar bag and map holder for easy navigation when riding your daily itinerary. Prices advertised on the website include standard bike hire (unless stated). Colour and specification may vary from the image shown.
Unisex Bike (Colour may vary)
Men's Bike (Colour may vary)
Electric Bike (Colour may vary)
Rental Bike PLUS
For 2020, there is an additional bike rental option available for a supplement. The PLUS hybrid bike now available on most cycling holidays is sportier with higher quality brakes (Magura HS 11) and better specification gears (Shimano Deore XT). The riding position is designed to have a slightly sportier sitting posture and a high quality Suntour suspension fork gives smooth riding on most surfaces. All accessories are compatible with the new PLUS bike rental option.
Accessories
If you would like GPX files for a suitable device, please request them at the time of booking. Devices are not provided and please make sure that you bring along with you any fittings required to attach the Garmin (or similar) to the handlebars. You might want to download maps onto your phone to avoid data charges when roaming.
All bikes are provided with standard flat pedals. You can bring your own cycling pedals, but ensure that you have the correct tools to remove the pedals if the tour does not have a welcome meeting. You may also not be able to travel through airports with the tools if you are carrying hand luggage only.
You can rent a men's bike with a crossbar, unisex/female bike with a sloping tube or an electric bike for a supplement.
Gears
7 speed bikes are equipped with a Shimano Nexus gear hub and 21 speed bikes have a Shimano Alivio derailleur. We request 21 speed bikes for all cycling holidays (when available).
Frame Sizing
When you make a booking with us, we take your height(s) and the appropriate bike size is matched up accordingly. Unisex frame 21-gears with freewheel. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 / 43 cm. Unisex 7-gears-bikes with back pedalling brake. Sizes: 56 / 51 / 46 cm. Men’s speed bikes 21-gears with free wheel and crossbar. Sizes: 64 / 60 / 56 "sloping" cm. Helmets are not provided and you will need to bring your own to use.
We always recommend wearing a helmet when on your cycling holiday!
Bike Hire Insurance
This cycle tour benefits from bike insurance against rental bike theft and damage in the holiday price. Please make sure you lock up the bike, leave it where told by the hotel and treat your hire bicycle as if the bike was your own. Any negligent treatment of the bike will exempt you from cover. We advise you to ensure that you have adequate travel insurance for your cycling holiday prior to arrival.
Electric Bike Hire
Why not upgrade your cycling experience to an E-Bike (Electric Bike)? Using a power assisted bike is a great way to go on a cycling holiday and will help you smooth out inclines or longer days in the saddle. Each E-Bike features an LCD display, removable batteries for easy charging and assistance up to 25 km/h with a range of around 120 km for each full charge depending on usage.
This cycling holiday stays in good quality hotels/ guest houses - mostly 3/4* standard. All accommodation has private facilities, and has been carefully selected for its proximity to your cycle route and comfort. If you wish to know specific information about the hotel facilities, Wi-Fi and upgrades used on the holidays, please contact us on 0161 703 8161 for more information.
Please note that the hotel list is subject to change and should be used as a guide only.
We will confirm the exact hotels prior to arrival.
You can find out more about this cycling holiday by calling 0161 703 8161 to speak to one of the team.
Season | ||
Season 1 | May 28 - June 30 2021 | September 1 - September 23 2021 |
Season 2 | July 1 - July 17 2021 | July 26 - August 31 2021 |
Season & Room Type | Prices (per person): |
Season 1 Double | £ 780 |
Season 1 Single | £1185 |
Season 2 Double | £ 845 |
Season 2 Single | £1255 |
Extra Nights | Room Type | Prices (per person) |
Ipswich | Dbl/bb (on request) | £55.00 |
Ipswich | Sgl/bb (on request) | £105.00 |
Bury St. Edmunds | Dbl/bb (on request) | £65.00 |
Bury St. Edmunds | Sgl/bb (on request) | £105.00 |
Type | |
Rental bike 27-gear | £85.00 |
Electric bike (on request) | £190.00 |
Date From | Date To |
---|---|
28 March 2021 | 23 September 2021 |