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Welcome to the Suffolk Walking Festival, one of the largest and longest running (and we think one of the best!) walking festivals in the country.
The festival takes place every May and celebrates Suffolk’s natural landscapes and built heritage with guided walks in every corner of the county.
The festival is a great way to discover parts of Suffolk you perhaps never knew existed, learn about the county’s fascinating and ancient history, and make new friends whilst walking and talking! There is something for everyone, from short walks to long walks, family walks to history walks, even a night walk.
The Suffolk Walking Festival is back for 2022 with a 16-day programme of over 70 walks, covering 400 miles! Whether you enjoy exploring outstanding landscapes, seascapes, and rivers, watching wildlife and seasonal spectacles, or learning more about Suffolk’s local history. There is bound to be a walk for you!
Highlights in this year’s line-up include a 12-mile Bluebell Walk starting at Wherstead, taking in bluebells, ancient woodlands, and the spectacular Alton Water Reservoir. The chance to tune into bats and owls in ancient woodlands, spot a badger on walk in Haverhill and meet the Grandmother Tree at Knettishall Heath. Encounter alien invaders and hear about the mystery of the ice age River Saracens along the River Orwell. Go for a gentle stroll along the River Lark into water meadows and a nature reserve. See the contemporary glass installation ‘A Wing and a Prayer’ in abbey ruins along the Suffolk Coast at Minsmere. Discover the history of the wool trade and the history of Lavenham on the Woads, Weavers and Wizards Walk. Push yourself and take part in 3 challenging walks, all starting from the Abbey Gardens, exploring landscapes North, South and East of Bury St Edmunds. And if you’re an experienced Nordic Walker – there are also 2 scenic Nordic Walks with stunning views for you to enjoy.
We hope you enjoy this festival as much and the Festival team enjoy putting it together. Happy walking!
Look up walk numbers below in the programme
Join us and Clare Walkers for the launch of the 14th annual Suffolk Walking Festival in the historic and atmospheric surroundings of Clare Castle Country Park.
The park has a long and fascinating history: it was occupied by the Romans; named ‘Clara’ in the Doomsday Book; has a rich history linked to the Norman de Clare family who built the 11th century castle; lost much of the castle’s stonework to building the town; and has the only railway within the grounds of a castle! Today the park is a haven of tranquillity and wildlife with nature trails, the excellent Station Café, and the 60ft castle motte providing wonderful views.
The festival launch starts at 10:30 with refreshments and nibbles and is open to all who book on one of our Launch Jaunts. We’ll have a welcome at 11:00 from Lesley Dolphin, BBC Radio Suffolk’s afternoon presenter and the Festival Patron. There are then 2 “Launch Jaunts” from 11:30: A short stroll through historic Clare Castle Country Park to see its varied green space habitats and heritage; and a walk into the beautiful Upper Stour Valley viewing Clare's natural and unique built heritage.
Get your tickets and we look forward to seeing you at the launch on 14th May.
Clare
SOLD OUT
Clare
SOLD OUT
WHERSTEAD
12 miles
Yaxley
SOLD OUT
Barking
SOLD OUT
Westleton
13 miles
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
Ipswich
3 miles
Framlingham
SOLD OUT
Sudbury
2 miles
Cavendish
3.5 miles
Akenham
3 miles
Walberswick
SOLD OUT
Ipswich
3 miles
Orford
SOLD OUT
Long Melford
7 miles
Eastbridge
SOLD OUT
Clare
5 miles
Bures
7 miles
Horringer
3 miles
Thornham
3 miles
Lowestoft
SOLD OUT
Shotley
SOLD OUT
Polstead
3 miles
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
Hadleigh
12 miles
Lowestoft
2 miles
Little Bradley
SOLD OUT
Hawkedon
11 miles
Easton
SOLD OUT
Lavenham
1.5 miles
Eye
SOLD OUT
Clare
2 miles
Mendlesham
SOLD OUT
Thornham
SOLD OUT
Dunwich
SOLD OUT
Stowmarket
1.5 miles
Stutton
15 miles
Dunwich
SOLD OUT
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
Brandon
2 miles
Ipswich
3 miles
Bury St Edmunds
16 miles
Westleton
2 miles
Capel St Mary
2.5 miles
Shotley Gate
SOLD OUT
Orford
SOLD OUT
Bury St Edmunds
16 miles
Moulton
7 miles
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
Bury St Edmunds
18 miles
Eye
SOLD OUT
Lowestoft
3 miles
Haverhill
SOLD OUT
Mildenhall
3 miles
Wiston
CANCELLED
Martlesham
SOLD OUT
Lackford
2.5 miles
Dennington
6 miles
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
Eye
SOLD OUT
Sutton
SOLD OUT
Knettishall
SOLD OUT
West Stow
13 miles
Clare
SOLD OUT
Shotley
SOLD OUT
Thornham
2 miles
East Bergholt
SOLD OUT
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
West Stow
2.5 miles
Battisford Tye
SOLD OUT
Shotley
SOLD OUT
Thank you!
The Suffolk Walking Festival could never happen without the generosity of so many throughout the county and throughout the year. Thank you to all our walk leaders, many of whom give up their time voluntarily and put in so much effort creating the walk programme.
Thank you to our media partners, BBC Radio Suffolk and especially Lesley Dolphin, the Festival’s Patron; and to Archant and especially Jayne Lindill editor of The Suffolk Magazine. Both are great supporters of the festival and do so much to spread the word that Suffolk is a very special place.
Thank you also to all of Suffolk’s local authorities and our sponsors, East of England Co-op, who generously support the festival.
