The "girls" really enjoyed our 2021 Cycling trip discovering Suffolk last year, and so we decided to do another one. This time, Jeanette was free to join Gill, Daphne and me. We selected the tour from Cycle Breaks called 4H. A 4 day tour called "Heritage Coast Encounter", but I requested that the route would also include a visit to Lavenham on day one. I had read online that on Wednesdays at 2pm, a walking tour is available, so our mission was to get to Needham Market early to park, then peddle to Lavenham for lunch! Up and away at 7.30 then. 😕
Day 1 Needham Market to Bildeston via Lavenham
Day 2 Bildeston to Framlingham via Debenham
Day 3 Framlingham to Westerton via Southwold
Day 4 Southwold to Needham Market
We were staying at THE CROWN, each night, but in 3
different locations.
Day 1 Needham Market to Bildeston via Lavenham - 23 miles
We were welcomed by Mike and Peta, who is the newest member of the team, who provided us with our useful personalised guidebooks. We already had our GPX routes downloaded, so knew roughly where we were going.
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Mike and Peter from Cycle Breaks labelling our bags
to move them to our first hotel "The Crown", in Bildeston. |
(There were a lot of cabinet resignations on the morning news, including the chancellor Rishi Sunak.)
There was a mini heatwave forecast for the next few days, but it wasn't much in evidence as we started our ride out from Needham Market! We needed some hills to warm us up, so thankfully, our wish was granted. 😉
Crossing the river Gipping over two bridges on a double bend, we passed a lovely Mill house, but with a couple of cars behind, no chance to photograph it. But we retrace our route this way tomorrow.
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| We're off, and pass through Needham Market town. |
Once out of the town, we were immediately into pretty countryside heading for Barking then a climb on Hascot Hill to warm us up, and on towards Batisford. (Hascot Hill a similar incline to "Flower Pot Hill" back home, so not too bad.)
Being July, the crop fields were ripe, and so quite a different feel to our trip last year in October. Rolling terrain to Brettingham.
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| A little climb to warm us up. |
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| Most crops as yet left uncut, but we passed this farm with huge piles of Hay bales. |
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| Fun thatch cat on the roof |
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ha ha. These workmen all "high fived" as we passed, except that I said NO! not me...
... I'm holding a camera! 😂 |
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I spotted this vehicle backing up to this open barn door. Whilst the others carried on,
I waited to see what would happen. The first one rolled off on its own, and the farmer just
rolled the last two quite easily. |
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Brettenham Green. And a stall at the church with a few items for sale. Honesty box.
Daphne spotted a BIG mug with a fox on it. (Fitted nicely in her saddle bag.) |
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| Waiting for Daphne to finish her "shopping". |
We approached Lavenham on Bottom Lane, and I could see a big SPIKE on the profile. A bit of shocker of a hill for the final push into Lavenham. Mike had warned us. It is the steepest hill in this area. We did it though. The best bit is that we also came down it as we left Lavenham 4 hours later.
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| Top of the steep climb into Lavenham. Guess I was first up with the camera! |
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| Bikes chained up behind the bench, and into the NT tearoom for lunch. |
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| The NT Tea room garden, attached to the Guild Hall. |
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| Our guided walking tour at the Guild Hall. |
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One area of the Swan Hotel, where we met to start the walking tour.
The hotel is a warren of corridors and rooms, wrapping around a corner of the main street.
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| Several houses have "doors within doors". |
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The overhanging first floor. It's thought possibly done since it would
have been cheaper foundations for the ground floor. |
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| Very few level buildings, due to the movement of timber. |
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This more recently painted property a bit controversial with the timbers painted the same colour
as the rest of the building. (Doesn't look right) |
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| One of the wonkiest upstairs in the village. |
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| Front of the Swan Hotel |
And a few more around the village, trying to miss out the parked cars.....
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| the modern information office between the two old houses. |
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| We saw lots of homes painted in these colours over the next 4 days. |
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| Another overhang |
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| At The Swan hotel. WOT no cake!! Ok, toasted teacake it is then. |
We left Lavenham at 5pm! Time to peddle more miles to our first night's accommodation. We did meet with a bit of traffic on the final leg, but not too bad. We rode through Kettlebaston and Hitcham and spotted thatched roofs with Witches and Boxing Hares amongst others.
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| Arriving at The Crown, Bildeston. |
Beautiful rooms at The Crown, matched by a fabulous meal! We mostly chose 2 starters each. I had Mackerel with Torched oranges and fennel starter. Cheesecake with Mango. The bar now set high!
Day 2 Lavenham to Framlingham via Debenham - 32 miles
At 9am, Boris Johnson resigned as PM. But we don't care. We are too busy enjoying ourselves. 😊
We had a short walk around Bildeston, but decided to miss the walk to the church, since it was up hill. The receptionist informed us that the village used to be higher up, but after the plague, and lots of bodies buried in the woods, the village moved to it's current lower location. "Lots of ghosts in the woods" she said. And the hotel, also haunted. Jeanette worried about ghosts in the night, and Daphne said a lady joined her in the room during the night..... or was she winding us up?
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| Leaving The Crown, where our bikes had been secure in the locked courtyard area overnight. |
A cool start again today but with strong winds. An immediate climb out of the village, as we left next to the Kings Head pub, climbing to pass the former RAF base at Wattisham.
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Mid day. Forget tea ... it could be lunchtime.
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| We might have overeaten. Jeanette and I opted for Corned Beef Hash. |
A little tour of Debenham (or was it Bentals!). Very pretty village, and interesting church too, surrounded by Hollyhocks. Also had nesting boxes, but with "fake" bird calls. Trying to get the swallows to use the boxes and not the roof?
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The cushions really added a lovley splash of colour
rather than have them on the benches or floor as normal. |
With any threat of rain now passed, it was a glorious afternoon riding to Framlingham, passing through Bedfield.
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| The front of a bike coming through the front wall! Very strange. |
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| Every village has a unique signage. |
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| Daphne and Jeanette catch us up. |
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| Saxted Green Post Mill. A couple of miles before Framlingham |
Arriving in Framlingham, we then did a detour of a couple of miles, passing a great view of the castle, on our way to Shawgate vineyard.
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| Framlingham Castle. A better view than the one you get in the town. |
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It was rather hot by now. We had a short walk, and headed to the shade of the wine tasting area.
The Roses are planted as they are a good indicator of any pests on the vines. |
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The white wine was clear, since it is only stored in aluminium, and not oak barrels.
It looked more like gin than wine. Daphne opted for some cider. |
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She wasnt expecting a whole bottle, but waste not..
.. she decanted into her waterbottle to enjoy the rest later.
(she also bought 6 bottles, which Cycle Breaks collected the next day.) |
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| The Crown, Framlingham. Another great hotel, with good food on offer. |
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| A short walk around Framlingham in search of ice cream, with success. |
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looking across the lake from the castle side, a better view of the
school we passed our way to the vineyard. |
We were all a bit stuffed from our lunches and ice creams, so shared a dip for starters. For mains, I opted for Seabass with Samphire. and we each had a "mini" dessert, just a mouthful of Cheesecake or Lemon Tart. Day 2 done! 😋
Day 3 Framlingham to Westleton via Southwold - 37 miles
Today we rode a lot of the time on NCR 1, initially passing the Vineyard we visited yesterday signed to to Bruisyard and Peasenhall.
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Poppies with Purple Tansy or "Fiddlenecks"
Latin name Phacelia Tanacetifolia |
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| "Fiddlenecks" |
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| As we rounded a left bend, we almost missed this church with its round tower in Bruisyard. |
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| Teasels near the church door. |
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| More beautiful scenery this morning. We even stopped to enjoy the birdsong. |
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Arriving in Peasenhall, at this very unsual Village Hall.
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But a little further, the silence was shattered as we approached this huge roadblock. We spent 15 mins or so watching as two more farm tractors joined in.
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| Road block! Rather large. |
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the dust was not good! And it stirred up thunder flies. We were covered in them,
and for the next few miles, we were all rather itchy. |
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| This tractor also crossed the road to join the combine harvester |
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| Here's one they had prepared earlier. |
A bit further and arriving in Bramfield, we had to shout STOP to Jeanette who was ahead on the downhill. We spotted another round church tower, which also had a thatched hall, but opposite was a very unusual wall, called a Crinkle Crankle or Serpentine Wall. There are around 50 of these in Suffolk, but it's origins are Egyptian. Jeanette hadn't noticed as she shot passed them. 😂
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| the rood screen. |
We were ready for a drink, but too early for a pub and no cafes around here. This lack of cake stops is getting a bit beyond a joke! It's day 3!!
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Of all the places we could have chosen to sit...
Daphne chose this spot in the shade in Bramfield on the main road!
(she is reflected in my glases.) |
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| lol. Not exactly scenic opposite the garage on the main road. |
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| Little house amongst the weeds. |
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| the second thatched church today this one with a timber tower. |
We crossed the busy A12, Wyford Bypass, then into Wangford and to The Angel pub where we had another excellent lunch.
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| A tripod Go pro shot. |
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| fish finger sandwich. How are you supposed to eat that? |
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| A nice bit of shade with a light breeze in the Angel garden. |
Not far to Southwold, and no sooner had we arrived, and Gill got her costume on, and in for a swim. I just paddled, but it is quite stony along the waters edge, so Gill had fun getting out. But it was very refreshing she told us.
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| Empty beach where we sat. |
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| Not so easy getting out, with the stones. |
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| "Usual fee" he said. I did ask. |
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| What a daft place for a lighthouse. |
A ride around the town, including a stop at a shop selling "retro" clothes, where Gill bought a skirt, with the plan to cut it up for her sewing projects. Her cycle bag is a bit like Mary Poppins! Swimming costume, two towels, usual kit, and now room for a skirt! 😂
We continued our tour to the other side of town, ice cream enroute, then spent a few minutes photographing next to the ferry and the fascinating fishermen's huts. (Gill had been here once before, crossing from the opposite side, and thought I would enjoy the huts. They are great, and would love to return with a different camera.) A few photos...
And then the fun of getting 4 people and 4 bikes onto a very tiny ferry! It was £2 each plus £2 for each bike. The captain was very helpful, other than his approach to the landing stage, when he bumped the side and Daphne nearly ended up in the drink. Oh how we laughed.😅
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All smiles, seconds before the jolt from the ferry and screams as we nearly went in!
"That's why you are supposed to wait behind the red line" he said. Fair point. |
Having "safely" crossed the river to Walberwick, a little mystery tour, led of course by Gill out across the sand dunes on an extra little loop, before continuing with the planned route. A few bits of farm machinery on the road, before we turned off on a quieter road, alongside some lovely woodland, heading towards Dunwich.
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Shady woodland heading towards Dunwich, where we had
a brief stop as climbed up passing Greyfriars Medieval Friary. |
And a few miles later, we arrived at The Westleton Crown in glorious evening sunshine. A cold beer shandy in the garden before a rest before another lovely dinner.
Not the best night for me however, as I was joined in my room by "creatures" of the flying/biting nature! Had to squash every last one before I could even think about going to sleep and had to shut my window. A hot sticky night, with not much sleep. 😔. But a good breakfast to start our final day.
Day 4 Westleton to Needham Market - 33 miles
I had suggested to the ladies that we could visit Beth Chatto gardens near Colchester on our way home, so with that in mind a 9am start to ride the 33 mile route back the van at a leisurely pace. Our luggage transfer was arranged to coincide with our arrival at Needham Market at Cyclebreaks HQ for 2pm, where we would have a lunch at the farm shop.
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Jeanette's "piece to camera" for our video on our final day.
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| The old mill at Carlton, now a residence. |
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| Today's ride profile was undulating most the time. |
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| The old WW2 airfield at Parham. Jeanette out front setting the pace.😄 |
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| This beautiful round thatch in Easton, one of 2 that we spotted. |
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| The Easton Crinkle Crankle wall is 2.5 miles long! |
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| The Easton church, so in we go. |
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| Another beautiful signage, which we sit near to have a drink. |
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| A red splash along this verge for quite a long way provided a bit of video footage too. |
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Passing the gate house of Helmington Hall. Annoying that its not open on Satudays
as would have loved to have gone in to see the gardens and had lunch here. |
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| Almost back, just go the gravel track to come now. |
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Gill did it, Daphne for off seconds later, Jeanette and I walked most of it.
Horrible surface with deep gravel and sand. |
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| the end point. |
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| Time for lunch, and load the bikes into the van, with our luggage. |
A fabulous 4 days. Wonderful safe, quiet lanes with good variety of scenery, excellent accommodation, great food, the perfect weather, and the company of good friends all who ride at the same pace.... and who don't mind me stopping for photos. Thank you all for your company.
Happy memories.
