Suffolk - any tips ?

Karen Lipkow said:

Hi,

We are planning a short cycling trip around Easter and
were thinking of Suffolk, e.g. Norwich to Ipswich along
the coast (North-South). Is this a good route, or can
anyone suggest anything better ? Which campgrounds are
nice ? Which villages/castles/landmarks/beaches...
shouldn't we miss ? Will it be a problem to take the bikes
(and a trailer) on the train from Cambridge ? Advice of
any kind will be highly appreciated !

Thanks, Karen

My one piece of advice..

Drink lots of Adnams beer.

Pete

in article [email hidden], Ningi at
[email hidden] wrote on 25/3/04 9:49 pm:

Quoted message said:

Karen Lipkow said:

Hi,

We are planning a short cycling trip around Easter and
were thinking of Suffolk, e.g. Norwich to Ipswich along
the coast (North-South). Is this a good route, or can
anyone suggest anything better ? Which campgrounds are
nice ? Which villages/castles/landmarks/beaches...
shouldn't we miss ? Will it be a problem to take the
bikes (and a trailer) on the train from Cambridge ?
Advice of any kind will be highly appreciated !

Thanks, Karen

My one piece of advice..

Drink lots of Adnams beer.

Pete

Gosh, where to start. Suffolk is hard to beat for cycle
touring. Make sure= you take in Snape Maltings, the view
down river is one of the finest I know. And you can spend at
least an afternoon there, unusual shops, a fantastic pub
(Yes, Adnams!), a river trip maybe, Henry Moore sculptures
even a concert if you time it right.

Aldeburgh is arguable England's finest seaside town. Check
out Regatta =8B an excellent seafront bistro. Also Maggie
Hambling's controversial sculpture on the beach (see it
before it's vandalised or blown up!).

Orford on the way to nowhere, a couple of great pubs. The
National Trust runs boat trips out to the Ness which is a
really spooky place, fascinating if you're either in to
military history or geography but need to check in advance.
Can in any case walk along the river bank. Nearly forgot,
there is also a castle in Orford (and before I do forget,
*THE* Suffolk castle is at Framlingham). And if you are a
foodie, there is a smokery run by some weird old geezer, but
my is the produce fantastic.

Back track from Orford to an area know as The Sandlings,
feels very remote. There is a pub called the Ramsholt Arms
(at Ramsholt!) with idyllic river views and if pubs with
river views are you forte, then the classic pub is the Butt
and Oyster at Pinmill. Meanwhile back to Sandlings...this
is the site of Sutton Hoo. Now my history is appalling but
basically this was one of the premier archaeological finds
of the 19th century =8B a buried Viking ship. For years it
was forgotten about but a few years ago it got a full-on
makeover by English Heritage (NT?) and I recall it's been
very well 'done'. Finally, I was introduced to cycling in
Suffolk by an outfit called Suffolk Cycling Tours years
ago. They would put a route together for you with a nod to
your cultural preferences, even book your accommodation if
you wished. I'd give them a very strong recommendation.
Enjoy! Merrick

Following on from Karen Lipkow's message. . .

* Check the URL in the sig
* 1 and 3 day train passes available from Anglia trains
(Except they won't be around at Easter) - So check
carefully.
* You'll be unlucky to find wicked hills in Suffolk (There
are a few but I can't think of any in the coastal part)
but beware of the wind.
* Beware of the sea fog (haar) - chilly - damp - grey and
miserable when 10 miles inland the sun is out.
* North-Walsham - Yarmouth : The possibility of a bit of
road less than a mile from the sea. Windfarm (you wanted
excitement!) and a bit of broad. WINDY but otherwise easy.
* Yarmouth - Lowestoft : Difficult to hug the coast -
Holiday camps & lack of access to sea after Gorleston.
* Trams and buses at Carlton Colville(Lowestoft/Oulton
broad)
* South of Lowestoft there is no pretence of a 'coast road'.
* There is a lot of pleasant cycling in the band 10 west
of the A12
* You can cross the river Yare at Reedham
* Look at a map of WW2 airfields to give you an idea of how
the land lies. In Suffolk they were mostly built on flat
plateau land.
* Southwold is quaint - But the beer is monotonous. You can
get across the river at Walberswick.
* There is heath and forest around Dunwich (Visit while
stocks last!)
* Leiston has the Garratt museum but it was rather sad
when I went.
* Framlingham has a castle (But I always go to the Station
hotel NB not the Railway)
* Laxfield has the Kings Head (AKA Low House) Worth a visit.
* Beccles may have a lower boredom quota than some places.
* The Mus. of East Anglian life at Stowmarket may interest
you but a lot of it needs somebody to interpret the
exhibits to make the most of them. Mostly it is just a
collection of 'things'.

If you're expecting Suffolk to be full of 'unmissable'
things you're in for a disappointment. But there is lots of
very pleasant cycling to be had.

Quoted message said:

Hi,

We are planning a short cycling trip around Easter and were
thinking of Suffolk, e.g. Norwich to Ipswich along the
coast (North-South). Is this a good route, or can anyone
suggest anything better ? Which campgrounds are nice ?
Which villages/castles/landmarks/beaches... shouldn't we
miss ? Will it be a problem to take the bikes (and a
trailer) on the train from Cambridge ? Advice of any kind
will be highly appreciated !

Thanks, Karen

--
PETER FOX Not the same since the deckchair business folded
[email hidden]
www.eminent.demon.co.uk/rides East Anglian Pub cycle rides

In article <kl_2807-
[email hidden]>, kl_
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

We are planning a short cycling trip around Easter and
were thinking of Suffolk, e.g. Norwich to Ipswich along
the coast (North-South). Is this a good route, or can
anyone suggest anything better ? Which campgrounds are
nice ? Which villages/castles/landmarks/beaches...
shouldn't we miss ? Will it be a problem to take the bikes
(and a trailer) on the train from Cambridge ? Advice of
any kind will be highly appreciated !

Thanks, Karen

Well apart from the obvious on that ther is no costal road
in suffolk, at all. none. But suffolk is a good place to
pedal, and theres some wondeful villages and country towns.
There is a cycle route that goes by the name of the Suffolk
Costal Cycle route, though why it's called that is a bit of
a mystry. It goes through my home town of woodbridge, and
theres enough history, tea shopes, pubs, etc to keep you
busy for 2 weeks all by itself. You might even see me an a
shiney new 'bent :0)

more details here

suffolkcc.gov.ukcyclepathOpen ↗

feel free to ask if you've got any specific questions.
--
.paul

If at first you don't succeed... Skydiving is probably not
the sport for you.

Merrick and Jane Moseley said:

in article [email hidden],
Ningi at [email hidden] wrote on
25/3/04 9:49 pm:

Quoted message said:

Karen Lipkow said:

Hi,

We are planning a short cycling trip around Easter and
were thinking of Suffolk, e.g. Norwich to Ipswich along
the coast (North-South).

Gosh, where to start. Suffolk is hard to beat for cycle
touring.

Much useful stuff. Also add in Southwold.

--
NC - Webmaster for 2mm.org.uk2mm.org.ukOpen ↗ Replies to
newsgroup postings to the newsgroup please.

Thank you so much for all your great advice, guys ! I've
ordered the Coastal Cycle Route Guide, as it's fantastic
value for the maps alone, and we're going look out for all
recommended stops.

Cheers, Karen
--
remove underscore and seven from my email address

On Mon, 29 Mar 2004 20:59:05 +0100, Karen Lipkow <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Thank you so much for all your great advice, guys ! I've
ordered the Coastal Cycle Route Guide, as it's fantastic
value for the maps alone, and we're going look out for all
recommended stops.

Late news: there's a small ferry across Butley Creek just
down from Orford. It cuts out some of the nasty bits of
road. IIRC you have to phoe up to see if it's running - it's
a rowing boat powered by a bloke.

We managed a tandem and a brace of solos in it.

Tim

Tim Hall said:

Karen Lipkow said:

Thank you so much for all your great advice, guys ! I've
ordered the Coastal Cycle Route Guide, as it's fantastic
value for the maps alone, and we're going look out for all
recommended stops.

Late news: there's a small ferry across Butley Creek just
down from Orford. It cuts out some of the nasty bits of
road. IIRC you have to phoe up to see if it's running -
it's a rowing boat powered by a bloke.

We managed a tandem and a brace of solos in it.

Tim

plus at Orford there are a couple of smokehouses. Great
smoked Cheddar at Richardsons smokehouse - samples to try
normally available