gentle adventures, expertly organised
Cycling holidays in
England & Europe
Walking holidays
in England
WELCOME
Self-guided adventures with real peace of mind
Whether you fancy days by the Danube, pedalling in
Provence, wheeling around Tuscany or Venice s watery
wonders, coasting along in Norfolk or putting your best foot
forward in Suffolk s Constable Country, let us invite you to
stretch your independent legs in the gentlest of ways and set
off on your cycling or walking break with real peace of mind.
We ve selected a great range of destinations, tours and very
comfortable accommodation in England and Europe,
designed to interest and excite as well as help you unwind
and claim space as your own.
Our focus is on your time Contents
It s your activity holiday and we want you to feel better for it. Be sure to relax before you even arrive: Cycling Holidays
we ll take care of everything from accommodation bookings to luggage transfers, always with the
8  25 England - Suffolk
expert knowledge and real personal attention which comes from over twenty years experience in
26  33 England  Norfolk
organising cycling and walking tours.
34  57 France - Loire/Dordogne/Provence
58  59 Germany
Our complete service to you
60  67 Austria
" Arranging the best accommodation
68  75 Italy
" Transporting your luggage for you
Walking Holidays
" Preparing the most attractive and inspiring routes
76  81 England  Suffolk
" Providing expert advice on route details, distances and ease of terrain
82  83 England - Norfolk
" Supplying good mapping and a personal itinerary for every party.
For all tour prices, our booking form and information
Also, for cycling holidays
about travelling to our tour destinations, please refer to
" Providing comfortable, reliable, quality bikes
our separate price insert.
" Electric bikes now available on selected tours
The information provided in this brochure is provided in good faith
" Offering on-road help should you need it. and is correct to the best of the publisher s knowledge at the time of
going to press, but is subject to alteration.
Our additional tours, short breaks and latest deals
Published by Cycle Breaks. January 2012.
Why not visit our websites for even more great tours and offers?
Design & production:
www.wearedrab.net / www.xtrahead.co.uk
Printed in the UK by Fuller Davies on 50:50 recycled paper.
cyclebreaks.com walkingbreaks.com
Photography courtesy of Cycle Breaks, East of England
Tourism/Britainonview/Rod Edwards, National Trust/British Museum,
Xtrahead.co.uk, LVT, Eurofun, CDT Touraine, CDT Dordogne-
Périgord, ATOUT FRANCE/Emmanuel Valentin /Jean Malburet/Michel
To find out more or make a booking  call us on 01449 721555 or email us at
Angot/R-Cast/Martine Prunevieille/Oxley/Michel Laurent/Pascal
[e-mail] [e-mail]
Gréboval.
cyclebreaks.com I 3
 Breathe-in space
Real exploration
There s something amazing and immediate about experiencing a culture, a country, a landscape or
coastline through the personal power of your own two legs. The breeze seems more exhilarating, the
people more accessible, the sunshine more welcome and the local flavours even more special and
refreshing.
Don t forget to look up
It s great to be so close to nature, leaving your car behind you and being a  responsible visitor or
 sustainable tourist. The exercise is welcome also, though so too are the pools and massages available
at some of our hotels perhaps. But don t forget to look up, be it at Bolzano s intricate façades, the
jagged points of the Dolomites, the Mediterranean haze shimmering over the Camargue or the
wrap-around skies of Suffolk and Norfolk. There s something positively uplifting about the views
we ve selected on all our tours.
Going that extra mile (or not)
We like to think that once you re in the saddle or have your walking boots firmly laced up, the rest is
up to you. That doesn t mean you re on your own with our extensive maps and meticulously planned
routes; support is always at hand. Part of the appeal is that the pace of your break and the distances
you cover are up to you, so you can be as active or relaxed as you wish, visit the sights you want to
see and enjoy every minute of your holiday.
More pedal power if you need it
We ve introduced electric bikes as an option on a selection of our tours overseas, so should you have
 I could just see the stress lift
any concerns about your pedalling ability, you can still feel the wind in your hair and really rest
assured all route long! from my man s shoulders,
even on the first day!
Mrs R. & party, Orsett, Essex
4 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more  call us on 01449 721555
Flexibility and freedom Exercise your independence
Rec: 22 We can organise extra nights at the
Most of our routes feature a range of detours or short cuts and all our descriptions detail
Min: 21 beginning and end of your stay, and usually
minimum, maximum and, in the UK, recommended mileages. Some longer trips may
along your route too. At some of our period or
Max: 38
offer rest days.
coastal hotels in particular you might wish to
All our cycling and walking tours are graded as some routes offer more challenges than others.
upgrade to enjoy special views or a spot of
Please remember though that gentle holidays are what we do, so there are no  extreme days in any
four-poster luxury. Upgrades are also avaialble
of our programmes.
on some of our French tours.
Very easy Cycling: Very short/short rides. Mainly flat terrain. Some small hills. With only a few exceptions, (see tour facts for
details), you can start your break on any day
Walking: Short day walks. Generally flat terrain. May include some
GRADE
of the week.
1
small hills.
Look out for our English and French single
Easy Cycling: Slightly longer rides. Mainly flat terrain. Some small hills.
centre holidays too - great for first timers or
Walking: Slightly longer walks. May include gently rolling hills or
GRADE those who might just want to spend more
2
stretches of beach. time relaxing at the hotel than in the saddle.
Moderate Cycling: Longer rides - generally same itineraries as  Easy tours, but
with the longer route options selected. May include
GRADE
Key to maps
slightly more or bigger hills.
3
All our maps are to scale
Walking: Moderately long walks. May include some hills or
Routes Overnights
stretches of beach.
Extension Towns/villages
More challenging Cycling: Longer rides with more frequent climbs and descents and
occasional (although possibly avoidable!) challenging climbs.
Highlight Châteaux
GRADE
4
Walking: Longer walks with frequent ascents or descents.
Railways
Cycling: Electric bikes an option.
EB GRADE
To find out more  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 5
Gentle adventures
 expertly organised
 We ve been holidaying with
About us
Cycle/Walking Breaks for nearly
At our base under huge Suffolk skies, we ve been listening to and learning from our walking and
20 years & you ve never let us down.
cycling break customers since 1991. Over this time, we have refined and added to our tours
portfolio, but have never lost our very personal touch. Mr & Mrs D., Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire
In this internet age, we appreciate that choice is at your fingertips. Again and again though, we
see proof that our high level of service, valuable knowledge and attention to detail is very much
appreciated and considered good value for money.
How our holidays work
Transporting luggage from place to place
Travel light with just the bare essentials  camera, book, picnic etc. In the morning, we pick up
your bags and ensure they are waiting for you by late afternoon at your next overnight stop.
Characterful accommodation that s comfortable and well chosen
It s an essential ingredient, so we get it right. Well-positioned and relaxing accommodation with
en-suite facilities and breakfast provided. Evening meals are either available on the premises or
close by. Our route notes give additional tips for the best places to eat and identify any fine
dining opportunities. More information is provided in this brochure s section introductions.
Maps, guides and detailed route notes
We believe in well-planned, meticulous itineraries with plenty of information and options, and we
really pride ourselves on the personal service behind our tours. Details of the maps/guides
provided are included in this brochure s section introductions.
6 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more  call us on 01449 721555
Sensible distances and bespoke itineraries
Specific to cycling holidays
As a guide,  occasional cyclists should expect to cover between 6  10 miles an hour at a gentle
Great bikes provided...
pace, allowing for short stops on the way. For walkers, our daily distances are between a gentle stroll
We supply hybrid tourers, a comfortable bike,
and a healthy hike depending on the tour you choose. Dedicated cyclists and walkers ourselves,
more rugged than a road bike, but lighter and
we re very much hands-on and can usually tailor our holidays to the requirements of each party. We
faster than a mountain bike. The bikes have
can add extra nights, cut rest days, arrange taxis  just ask and we ll do our very best to help.
easy to use gears, flat or  quarter-rise handle
Children s discounts
bars and are available with a ladies or gents
frame. Panniers, handlebar bags, map holders
Cycling and walking can make an ideal family holiday provided the right distances are chosen for
and support equipment are supplied. We now
the younger members of the party. Do give us a call to discuss your requirements. Discounts and
also offer the option of electric bikes on
facilities are included in our price insert.
selected routes.
Your payment protected
... or bring your own
We value your peace of mind, so we ve also ensured that your holiday payment is safe with us,
We re happy to give you a discount if you d
through our secure online payment system and payment protection insurance arranged through
prefer to bring your own bike on your holiday.
IPP (International Passenger Protection) on your behalf (included in the holiday price).
If you have a problem with it whilst on the
tour, we ll bring you a replacement for the rest
of your holiday and charge back the discount
A note on our European holidays
you were given.
Many years ago specialist cycle tour operators from Europe approached us to look after their clients
when holidaying in Suffolk. Our relationships developed and, in 2002, we decided to reciprocate.
On the road support
The tours we offer in Europe blend our experience and understanding with the expert knowledge
We ensure that your bike is a  good fit before
of our local partners who share our commitment to quality, service and great cycling.
you depart and you will receive a briefing
We have developed our European programme slowly, choosing tours carefully. We visit the hotels
about the route, how to fix a puncture and
personally, refining the suggested selections where we feel it is appropriate. Although not always
how to make contact in case help is needed.
able to guarantee the same organisational flexibility on offer through our UK tour programme,
we work with our expert partners to accommodate special requests wherever possible.
cyclebreaks.com I 7
cycling in
SUFFOLK
Leaning half-timbered legacies and pink thatched cottages. The gentlest
of rolling landscapes and Constable s meandering Stour. Amusing
crinkle-crankle walls, big skies, bustling market towns and enormous flint
churches. Cambridge Colleges and Kings. A ship full of buried treasure.
Broad estuaries, boldly-coloured beach huts and yellow gorse heathlands.
Britten s mystifying melodies and booming bitterns at Minsmere. Kersey
ducks at the watersplash and a freewheeling whizz to remember.
Accommodation
We ve selected our favourite places to stay, where the welcome is warm, the facilities inviting, the
atmosphere pleasant, and where the comfortable en-suite rooms will help you relax after your time
in the saddle.
All our accommodation is of a very high standard, with many hotels and B&Bs awarded 3 or more
stars according to national classifications. We also feature a couple of 5 star B&Bs which have won
the much-coveted gold award for quality. Each establishment is very different in character, for
example: half-timbered coaching inns in small market towns; historic pubs and fine dining restaurants
with rooms taking pride of place at the centre of a medieval village; the smartest hotels in Southwold
and seafront properties in Aldeburgh. Our special single centre breaks feature a Tudor mansion and
more modern club hotel. These, like all our establishments, are well-located for your gentle
adventures, but also offer great leisure facilities so you can really relax into your time away.
 ...good cycling, lovely villages
& towns, sea & castles.
Highly recommended.
Ms McA. & party, Sheffield
How to get there
Rail to: Needham Market for our
main tours. Woodbridge /
Manningtree for our single
centre breaks, followed by
a taxi transfer.
By car: Free parking is available
for the duration of your stay.
Go on, spoil yourself
Fancy a four-poster for the night in your historic
inn or simply a sea view to wake up to in the
morning? Upgrades are available at a number of
Get a taste of the place our hotels and, at some destinations we can
arrange for you to stay, if you prefer, in especially
Our hotel stays are arranged on a bed and breakfast basis but our route notes point out great places to stop
sought-after establishments. We are also pleased
for lunch, tea, a picnic or refreshing pint, encouraging you to try specialities such as Newmarket sausages,
to book additional nights at either at end of your
creamy cheeses or succulent local asparagus. We also give tips for evening meals, either at the hotel or nearby
tour, or along the way too, if applicable.
restaurants.
Get ahead: early start options
What s included in the price
If you haven t got too far to travel to start your
" En-suite hotel accommodation as described with full English breakfast
Suffolk adventure and can be with us by
" Route notes and descriptions (we post these out to you approx. two weeks before departure) 10.00am, then you are welcome to skip the first
night in Needham Market and go straight into
" OS mapping with marked routes provided on arrival
day two of whichever tour you choose.
" Luggage transfer
Alternatively if you would prefer to start your
" Hire of bicycle and ancillary equipment  cycles generally available for collection on day one of your tour
tour on the day of arrival but cannot get to us
" Local assistance on call
until later, we are happy to suggest alternative
" The tour price does not include the costs of getting to and from the tour area
first night accommodation.
For more details, please refer to our price insert,
visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call.
To find out more and book a tour  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 9
Needham
Heart of Constable Country
Market
TOUR 3F
3 days (2 nights)
Lavenham
Chelsworth
Ipswich
Picture the gentlest of English landscapes: smooth vales full of water meadows and meanders,
Kersey distant churches and dragonflies, boats and bridges. Sketch  Constable Country roughly as the
area which the 19th century artist could reach on foot or horseback, and it s not surprising that
Hadleigh
the places where he set up his easel are all within easy pedalling distance of each other around
the Stour.
Settle into Suffolk at Needham Market before encountering the half-timbered
TOUR
phenomenon of the medieval Suffolk  wool towns. Cycle country lanes to Hadleigh
Stoke-by-Nayland
Bures
with its redbrick deanery tower, massive flint church and delightful painted pargetting
Stour Flatford
of the historic High Street. Continue through the tiny riverside hamlet of Shelley to East
Dedham
MILES
Manningtree
Bergholt. A plaque marks the site of Constable s birthplace by the fascinating church
0 1 2 3 4 5
with its unique churchyard bell cage. At Flatford Mill perhaps take a guided walk to
seven sites painted by Constable, row out on the Stour for a different perspective or
Rec: 22
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
drink in the atmosphere over tea by the river.
Min:
2  321
Day 1 Arrive & explore
Max: 38
Constable went to school in Dedham and the pretty village has plenty of treats in store
Overnight In or near Needham Market
today, boasting connections with Gainsborough and Munnings as well as many a
Rec: 32
Day 2 From wool towns to the
contemporary artist. Heading back to Needham Market, there are options to visit
Rec: 29
water s edge
Min: 19
Langham Church and Stoke-by-Nayland, both closely linked to Constable, then weave
Min: 20
Needham Market  Hadleigh 
Max: 37
through wool towns great, small and undoubtedly some of the prettiest villages in
Shelley  East Bergholt
Max: 30
England. Splash through the ford at Kersey, then on to cottage garden country at
Overnight Dedham
Rec: 37
Chelsworth. There is also an opportunity to visit Lavenham, the most spectacular of
Day 3 Hidden gems & hollyhocks
Min: 16
Rec: 33
wool towns with its medieval maze of half-timbered buildings.
Dedham  (Stoke by Nayland) 
Max: 43
Min: 27
Kersey  Chelsworth 
The Dedham Vale is an Area of You ll be sure to recognise the famous site
Max: 39
(Lavenham)  Needham Market
Rec: 17
Outstanding Natural Beauty of Constable s  Haywain by Willy Lott s
Min: 17 designated by Natural England in house. From here there are idyllic walks
1970. It stretches from Manningtree across the water meadows west towards
Max: 28
to Bures on the Suffolk / Essex borders. Dedham or east towards Manningtree.
10 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 3F  call us on 01449 721555
TOP TIPS
Constable Country Landscapes
TOUR 3H
3 days (2 nights)
Gently does it. Landscapes don t come more calming than the rolling idylls immortalised by John
Constable. Combine pedalling through these pictures with time out discovering half-timbered treasures
and tearoom temptations in South Suffolk s inspiring medieval villages; add a renowned country retreat
and, hey presto, you have the perfect getaway break to leave you both inspired and refreshed.
Slow down and absorb Suffolk s alternative pace of life at Needham Market, then head
TOUR
out south down quiet country lanes at your own pace and on through history-laden
villages towards the River Stour which marks the border between Suffolk and Essex. This
is Constable s Country, a place of mills and water meadows, pointed poplars and church
tower pinnacles. Flatford Mill and impressive East Bergholt are must-sees when it
comes to paying homage to the Grand Master: places of real meaning in his life and his
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
work and very special spots to get off the saddle a while, admire the views and, like the
2 - 3
Day 1 Arrive & explore
painter himself, get things into perspective.
Overnight In or near Needham Market
Dedham Vale s smooth fieldscapes unfurl beneath the wheels on the rise towards
Day 2 Constable s home & inspiration
Rec: 33
Stoke-by-Nayland. Mighty St Mary s dominates this historic huddle of a village where tiny
Needham Market  Flatford 
Min: 24
lanes push between Suffolk pink cottages and timber-framed houses. This was once a
East Bergholt
Max: 37
market town, but times are quieter now and the rambling Angel Inn which used to bustle (Min. via Hadleigh)
Overnight Stoke-by-Nayland
with many a coach and horses is now a godsend to travellers on more gentle journeys.
Day 3 Return route options
Two route options allow for a morning that s as lazy as
Rec: 30
Stoke-by-Nayland - Boxford 
you need it to be. Both weave through wonderful little
Max: 33
Lavenham  Needham Market
wool towns, edging the rivers Box or Brett. It s worth
Or Stoke-by-Nayland  Kersey -
Min: 23
going the extra mile or more through historic Boxford
Chelsworth  Needham Market
to Lavenham, Suffolk s most magnificent medieval
jewel, but the shorter ride back to Needham Market John Constable loved the tower of Stoke-by-
just can t fail to please: taking in Kersey s watersplash Nayland church. It appears several times in
and charming Chelsworth, it allows a later start or his paintings  but not always in the right
simply time to linger over a well-deserved en-route pint. place! Don t forget to look inside.
To find out more and book Tour 3H  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 11
TOP TIPS
Constable Country & Lavenham
Needham
Market
TOUR 4A
4 days (3 nights)
Lavenham
Explore the gently rolling, oh-so-English landscapes immortalised by Constable and pedal at
Ipswich
Kersey
your own pace through the beautiful half-timbered villages - the legacy of Suffolk s medieval
wool trade-based wealth. This leisurely tour takes in the very best of both worlds, and being
Hadleigh
on the saddle gives it all a special immediacy and added dimension. Somehow taking time
gives you time to take it all in, amidst the natural peace of country lanes and the respectful
silence of person-powered pedals!
East
Bergholt
Relax into Suffolk at Needham Market, then perhaps start your cycling with a little
TOUR
detour to the lovely Shotley peninsular before you rejoin the recommended route close
Flatford Mill
to East Bergholt in the heart of Constable Country.
Dedham
Golding Constable, John s father, was the miller down at Flatford. He is buried in East
MILES
Bergholt churchyard just a stone s throw from the site of his home and John s birthplace.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Head down to Flatford Mill to take a guided Constable appreciation tour around the
mill area and the Stour s adjacent water meadows. There s time to enjoy the ducks or
GRADE
TOUR FACTS the tearoom, or even row along the Stour, before you set off to historic Dedham with
2  3
Day 1 Arrive & explore
its antique shops, inns and imposing church.
Overnight In or near Needham Market
th
Hadleigh is the next stop, reportedly the 14 most prosperous town in England in
Day 2 Constable s home & inspiration
Rec: 31 medieval times! At half-timbered Kersey the ducks have priority at the water-splash, then
Needham Market  (Shotley
Min: 19 wind your way through farmland landscapes to the medieval masterpiece, Lavenham.
Peninsular)  East Bergholt 
Max: 46
Leave the leaning houses and crooked streets for a relaxed ride back to Needham Market.
Flatford
Overnight Dedham Near Bury St Edmunds, the magnificent rotunda, Ickworth House, is worth the detour, if
you ve energy enough, or similarly, the Museum of East Anglian Life at Stowmarket.
Rec: 27
Day 3 Weaving around the wool towns
Min: 20
Dedham  Hadleigh  Kersey
Many of the wool towns houses might As you tour the wool towns, look out
Overnight Lavenham
Max: 33
not be as young as you think - look out for raised plasterwork, or  pargetting .
Day 4 Heading homeward
Rec: 24
for Tudor buildings  modernised by the Often painted for greater dramatic
Lavenham  (Ickworth House) 
Min: 16
addition of Georgian façades. It s often effect, it is out to impress and is perhaps
Needham Market
Max: 40
the roof lines which give this away! the earliest form of personal advertising!
12 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 4A  call us on 01449 721555
TOP TIPS
Brett
Stour
Kersey
Constable Country
Single centre break
Hadleigh
Boxford
TOUR 3E
3 days (2 nights)
Polstead
Shellley
Stoke by Nayland
Club Hotel
Offering plenty of flexibility and scope for real relaxation, our single centre break is ideal if you
East Bergholt
wish to try out a cycling holiday for the first time, or simply fancy mixing a bit of cycling with
Stoke-by-
Nayland
Nayland
a comfortable hotel stay in beautiful countryside. The choice of gentle circular rides and short-
Flatford Mill
cut options allows you to cover distances you feel happy with at the same time as exploring Stour
Little
picturesque villages and countryside made famous by Constable s brushstrokes. Dedham
Horkesley
Manningtree
MILES
We ll deliver your bikes to you on the morning after your arrival, so you ve plenty of time
TOUR 0 1 2 3 4 5
to get in the saddle and head off for a pub lunch or complete day s Constable Country
cycling and savour the views from the quiet country lanes. Who knows, after a relaxing
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
1
swim or massage, you might be re-invigorated and ready to set off on more gentle
Day 1 Arrive & explore
adventures in the morning?
Day 2 Take delivery of bikes. Min: 9
We ve put together five circular routes for you to choose from during your stay. We ll Choice of circular rides
Max: 16
leave you with all of them, so you can make your choice as the mood takes you. Each
Day 3 Choice of circular rides & depart
Min: 9
is designed to give you a delightful experience to remember  the splash through Kersey
Max: 16
Overnights Stoke-by-Nayland
ford, the wander across water meadows to Willy Lott s house and the site of Constable s
 Haywain , the picnic by the pond at pretty Polstead...
Do enjoy some excellent cycling, and treat yourself to that well-deserved pint or
delicious cream tea - or even both!
Your hotel
The 3 star Stoke-by-Nayland Club Hotel
combines great facilities and picturesque
location to ensure you relax and unwind.
Enjoy a magnificent pool and fitness centre,
two golf courses, sauna and steam room
and a chance for a soothing massage and
beauty treatments.
To find out more and book Tour 3E  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 13
Brett
Box
Lavenham & Pink-washed
MILES
Bildeston
0 1 2 3 4 5
Villages of Suffolk
Lavenham
Chelsworth
TOUR 4G 4 days (3 nights)
Kersey
Hadleigh
Not too sure about how far you can pedal? Although we re sure you would be fine on our
Boxford
Grade 2  3 tours, this very gentle experience may appeal to you. It gives even more opportunity
Polstead
to linger and explore some of Suffolk s best-loved picturesque villages. Go easy, enjoy a relaxing
massage or round of golf at your first hotel and look forward to getting to grips with the pedals
Stoke-by-Nayland
and a slower pace of life.
Nayland
Start out in Stoke-by-Nayland and head up to Hadleigh with its fine old High Street and
Stour TOUR
Dedham
riverside walks. You ll soon recognise the hallmark huge churches of the once prosperous
Manningtree
Station
wool towns and pick out the rich merchants houses and candy pink weavers cottages.
GRADE
Kersey might prove that Suffolk is not totally flat, but the view is outstanding and
TOUR FACTS
1
Day 1 Arrive & relax
resident ducks seem to appreciate visitors at the water-splash. Next up, the charming
Overnight Stoke-by-Nayland
village of Chelsworth, renowned for its open gardens festival, is lined with beech and
Day 2 Spinning wheels & wool towns chestnut trees in the valley of the River Brett.
Rec: 17
Stoke-by-Nayland  Hadleigh 
Min: 13
Pedal on to Bildeston, for medieval life on a bigger scale, preparing you for the
Kersey  Chelsworth
Max: 18
magnificent treats still to come. Leave the historic overhanging buildings for rural
Overnight Bildeston
Brettenham, pedalling only a few gentle miles to the medieval labyrinth of timber-
Day 3 The medieval masterpiece
Rec: 12
framed merchants houses, shops and guildhalls that is Lavenham. An audio tour will
Bildeston  Brettenham
Min: 7
help explore the tinier passageways, or find out more about wool trade history in the
Overnight Lavenham
Max: 16
carved Guildhall of Corpus Christi on the market place. Finally head south to Boxford,
Day 4 Colourful cottages &
Rec: 14
a pretty huddle of houses, colour-washed in pale pinks, off-whites and pastel greens.
Constable Country
Min: 11
From here, a short pedal past Polstead pond returns you to Stoke-by-Nayland.
Lavenham  Boxted  Polstead 
Max: 15
Stoke-by-Nayland
Lavenham is a treat both inside and out. Take tea at the hotel; visit the museum
rooms of the great Guildhall; look up, as well as at the merchandise when you go
in the galleries and shops. Beams abound and answers to the architectural puzzle
are in evidence simply everywhere  if you look.
14 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 4G  call us on 01449 721555
TOP TIPS
Brett
Box
Historic Wool Towns Tour
TOUR 5A
5 days (4 nights)
West Suffolk s wool towns are steeped in history, nestling alongside small fleece-washing rivers in
hallmark rolling countryside. This tour is as delightful as the candy-pink cottages you ll discover
en route, and takes in ancient Bury St Edmunds, a place of pilgrimage since the 11th century,
renowned for its flower-filled Abbey gardens, Georgian town houses and classic shopping.
Start your journey in Mid-Suffolk, setting out south from Needham Market via the
TOUR
renowned  Jimmy s Farm to the Essex borderlands and Stour Valley, immortalised by John
Constable. Explore the painter s birthplace of East Bergholt with its  unfinished church,
then head riverwards to Flatford and the site of the  Haywain . Nearby Dedham was
where Constable spent his school days; today there are antique shops to tempt you and
some splendid riverside restaurants.
Leaving the Dedham Vale, the huge spire of Hadleigh church will guide you to the town
TOUR FACTS
GRADE
centre. At Kersey, half-timbered houses drop down the hillside from great church to little river.
Day 1 Arrive & explore 2  3
Overnight In or near Needham Market
Freewheel down and splash through to the other side. Stop for refreshment half-way up, or
wheel away to the best medieval treat ever  the  intact timber-framed town of Lavenham.
Day 2 A painter s home & inspiration Rec: 31
It s worth a detour to Suffolk s antiques capital, Long Melford, famed for its two red brick East Bergholt  Flatford
Min: 20
Overnight Dedham
Tudor manor houses, and the pink thatched cottages on the green at Cavendish on the
Max: 46
way to the intriguing stucco-covered rotunda, Ickworth House, and Bury St Edmunds.
Rec: 26
Day 3 Weaving around the wool towns
This ancient market town mixes modern-day chic with good old Suffolk charm. On the
Dedham  Hadleigh  Kersey
Min: 20
historic Market Hill, visit the cathedral with its brand-new tower which looks like it has
Overnight Lavenham
Max: 33
been there for simply years.
Day 4 Bury beautiful indeed
Finally, on the return stretch to Needham Market, enjoy pretty Badwell Ash and perhaps
Rec: 20
Lavenham  (Long Melford) 
even the gardens and vineyard at Wyken Hall.
Min: 17
(Cavendish)  Ickworth
Overnight Bury St Edmunds
Max: 29
Fancy some real floral treats? Why not pedal just a little further from the
floral town of Bury St Edmunds, past vineyards up to Bressingham Gardens
Day 5 Heading homeward
Rec: 30
(Rec. 35 miles/ Grade 2-3) on our 5 night tour, Historic Towns & Villages Bury St Edmunds  Badwell Ash 
Min: 19
Needham Market
of Suffolk (Tour 6C) Your additional overnight will be near Diss. Please visit
Max: 33
cyclebreaks.com for full tour details, or give us a call.
To find out more and book Tour 5A or Tour 6C  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 15
TOP TIPS
History, Hoofbeats &
Cambridge too
TOUR 7E 7 days (6 nights)
Dip into Cambridgeshire from Suffolk on this places-to-visit-packed tour which leads you
through picture-perfect weavers villages, and across the higher heaths of England s
horse-racing capital, Newmarket, to the bustling, bike-filled university city of Cambridge.
Fine art treasures abound in the stately homes and museums along the way and there s a great
crop of rural pubs and picnic stops. You ll need to give way to horses or the occasional duck
in places, and be prepared for a few gentle climbs along the quiet country lanes.
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
2  3
Day 1 Arrive & explore
Setting out from rural Needham Market, half-timbered wool towns unfold to charm
Overnight In or near Needham Market TOUR
you. Historic Hadleigh, the hillside huddles of medieval cottages at Kersey, sleepy
Day 2 Weaving through the wool towns
Rec: 29
flower-filled Chelsworth are simply a prelude leading up to the finest medieval prize of
Needham Market  Hadleigh 
Min: 16
Kersey  Chelsworth all at Lavenham.
Max: 33
Overnight Lavenham
Long Melford s antique shops will tempt you, but don t miss Melford Hall with its
Day 3 Stately homes & castle keeps
Rec: 27
Beatrix Potter connections or Kentwell Hall, renowned for re-enactments of Tudor life.
Lavenham  Long Melford 
Min: 15
Castle Hedingham
Gentle rolling countryside guides you to the imposing Norman keep and compact
Overnight Clare Max: 28
medieval village of Castle Hedingham, before different castle capers at the adorable
Day 4 Heading over the border
wool town of Clare.
Rec: 28
Clare  Stradishall  Woodditton 
Min: 28
As you pedal forth to the Suffolk/Cambridgeshire borders, the landscape opens up with
Swaffham Bulbeck
Overnight Outskirts of Cambridge Max: 30
some stunning panoramas. Stud farms appear between the villages with glimpses of
Day 5 Colleges & Kings smart racehorses in the fenced fields.
Day at leisure in Cambridge
You ll enjoy a day at leisure when you reach your hotel on the outskirts of Cambridge.
Overnight Outskirts of Cambridge
Nearby Anglesey Abbey has inspiring vistas and amazing artefacts, but head into the city
Day 6 Horses everywhere
Rec: 31
Cambridge  Newmarket 
Min: 30
Moulton  (West Stow)
Using the Park & Ride facility is ideal for getting into Newmarket is a fascinating world of its own,
Max: 40
Overnight Bury St Edmunds
Cambridge without using your cycle bell! Once in with traffic lights and public swimming
Day 7 Heading homeward
Rec: 31 the centre, a guided tour is a great way to see a pools for horses and more vets than
Bury St Edmunds  Badwell Ash 
selection of the 31 colleges, including King s with its doctors. Why not take an equine tour to
Min: 20
Needham Market
unbelievable fan-vaulting. find out more?
Max: 35
16 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 7E  call us on 01449 721555
TOP TIPS
for some serious sightseeing. Here, historic colleges line the streets, sharing life with chic
TOUR
shopping opportunities. Don t miss King s or Trinity, Darwin s collections in the
University Museum of Zoology, the amazing fine art in the Fitzwilliam Museum and be
sure to jump in a punt to see the colleges from  The Backs .
There s no need to race back into Suffolk towards elegant Bury St Edmunds, but you ll
see packhorse bridges and plenty of sleek racehorses in and around Newmarket. Take time
here to visit the National Horseracing Museum or National Stud perhaps. Heading over the
heaths, you might detour to West Stow and its Anglo Saxon village; then from bustling
historic Bury, your route weaves past mills and pretty villages to Needham Market.
Bardwell
Pakenham
Moulton
Bury St Edmunds
Newmarket
Stowmarket
Cambridge
Needham
Market
Lavenham
Chelsworth
Ipswich
Clare
Long
Melford
Kersey Hadleigh
MILES
0 2 4 6 8 10 Sudbury
Castle
Hedingham
To find out more and book Tour 7E  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 17
Cam
Stour
Castles & Vineyards
MILES
0 2 4 6 8 10
Saxtead Green
Debenham
Framlingham
TOUR 3B
Stowmarket
3 days (2 nights)
Easton
Helmingham This neat little tour is just great for getting a real taste of Suffolk. A local vineyard, a picturesque
Needham
working windmill, half-timbered villages and pink thatched cottages plus gardens stately or
Market
Woodbridge
small are all highlights of the gentle routes across smooth rural landscapes. The crowning glory
however, has to be the truly fabulous flint castle with redbrick, twisted Tudor chimneys in the
Ipswich
delightful market town of Framlingham.
Slip gently into the slower pace of Suffolk life as you relax on arrival in rural Needham
TOUR
Market. In the morning, push the pedals steadily along quiet lanes through gentle
rolling landscapes to Debenham, a small village with huge church and huddles of half-
timbered houses. Stop for refreshment of the drinking or browsing kind: there are
several antique shops and a charming pottery making wonderfully eccentric and
internationally renowned teapots.
th
The striking white 18 century post mill at Saxtead Green on the outskirts of historic
Framlingham is well worth a stop, or you may prefer to detour for a glass of crisp white
wine from the local vineyard. Once in  Fram , there are lovely Mere-side walks for the
th
very best views of the 12 century castle. Up on the castle s walls, the panoramas are
similarly stunning, out over the fields, the fine church, centuries of rooftops and towards
GRADE
TOUR FACTS the redbrick Victorian college.
1  2
Day 1 Arrive & explore
More red bricks at Easton too, this time in the miles of crinkle-crankle wall, once the
Overnight In or near Needham Market
longest in the world. Meet the famous Suffolk Punch horses at Easton Farm Park, move
Day 2 From tea & wine to windmills
Rec: 22 on to the extensive herbaceous borders at Helmingham Hall or detour to Woodbridge
Needham Market  Debenham 
on the River Deben, before returning to Needham Market.
Min: 21
Saxtead Green
Max: 26
Overnight Framlingham
Why not treat yourself to a little luxury Gentle Debenham escaped both
Day 3 A colourful route homeward
Rec: 22
and an extra experience in historic industry and the railways, but it did
Framlingham  Easton 
Min: 22 surroundings and sleep in a four poster have a brickworks and St Mary
(Woodbridge)  Helmingham 
bed at the ages old market hill Magdalene has one of the most
Max: 33
Needham Market
coaching inn in Framlingham? beautiful brick floors in Suffolk.
18 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 3B  call us on 01449 721555
TOP TIPS
MILES
0 2 4 6 8 10
Woodbridge Tudor Treat
Saxtead Framlingham
Green
Single centre break
TOUR 3G 3 days (2 nights)
Snape
Maltings
Offering plenty of flexibility as well as wonderful atmosphere in a period hotel, our single
centre tour is ideal if you wish to try a cycling holiday for the first time, or spend a few nights
Woodbridge
Seckford Hall
in a luxury setting with bikes to hand and interesting sights, rivers and coastline all within easy
Sutton Orford
Ipswich
Hoo
reach. The choice of excellent circular rides explore timeless villages, castles, countryside and
Waldringfield
the sleepy sheltered river inlets that the Saxons and Vikings were so reluctant to leave.
Shingle Street
As we deliver your bikes to you on the morning after your arrival, you ve plenty of time
TOUR
Foot ferry
to enjoy the hotel facilities or get in the saddle and head off inland or towards the coast
Felixstowe
in time for an enticing pub lunch.
We ve put together four circular routes for you to choose from during your stay. We ll
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
2  3
leave you with all of them so you can make your choice as your energy and whim takes
Day 1 Arrive & relax
you. Each is designed to give you a cycling experience to remember  a river trip perhaps
Day 2 Take delivery of bikes
Min: 9
through the reedbeds at Snape Maltings, around the creeks at mysterious Orford or Choice of circular rides
Max: 28
th
along the Deben from Waldringfield; a visit to the Sutton Hoo ship burial site, 12 century
Day 3 Choice of circular rides & depart
Min: 9
Framlingham Castle, windmills and tide mills or traditional seaside pleasures of piers and
Max: 28
Overnights Near Woodbridge
proms at Felixstowe with a return trip by foot/cycle ferry across the river mouth.
Whether you re new to the saddle, getting gently re-acquainted or want a relaxing
break with a bit of fresh air thrown in, enjoy a very rewarding break in a special part
of Suffolk.
Your hotel
The enchanting redbrick Tudor mansion, Seckford Hall, is situated on the outskirts of
Woodbridge amidst beautiful parklands and rolling farmland. As well as its classic
atmosphere, there are all the modern well-being facilities to ensure a relaxing and
invigorating stay, including a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and gymnasium. A choice of
health and beauty treatments may be booked and there is an 18 hole golf course nearby.
To find out more and book Tour 3G  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 19
MILES
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Castles, Rivers & Woodbridge
Saxtead
Debenham
Green
Framlingham TOUR 4B
4 days (3 nights)
Helmingham
Snape
Maltings
Needham
If you like rivers and boats with a great helping of history and local flavour, then this Suffolk
Market
escape has to be the right short break route for you. Enjoy castles and culture washed down
Sutton Hoo
with a glass of crisp local wine or refreshing real ale, then snake down from reedy creeks to the
Woodbridge
coast perhaps, as you head to listen to tinkling masts on the Deben at Woodbridge or muse
Ipswich
Orford
over the wonderous ship burial site at Sutton Hoo.
Shingle
Street Follow the first stages of the Castles & Vineyards Tour (Tour 3B) from Needham
TOUR
Market via half-timbered Debenham to Saxtead Green s post mill or the local
vineyard, and on to historic Framlingham where Mary Tudor once lived within the
curtain walls of the impressive castle.
From the picturesque market town move on to the home of the Aldeburgh Festival,
Snape Maltings. The famous concert hall sits amongst the little arts community on the
banks of the River Alde. Take in some local provisions before detouring perhaps to
coastal Orford with its massive castle keep, quaint quayside and smokehouses wafting
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
aromas of finely cured fish. Shingle Street where the River Ore meets the sea might also
2  3
Day 1 Arrive & explore
tempt you, but then again you might prefer just to head to Woodbridge to sit by the
Overnight In or near Needham Market
Deben, visit the intriguing tide mill or cross the river to treasure-rich Sutton Hoo.
Day 2 From tea & wine to windmills
Rec: 22
Take time to visit vast St Mary s or some of the exquisite shops on Market Hill before
Needham Market  Debenham 
Min: 21
leaving Woodbridge en route for Needham Market. You ll be forgiven for stopping for
Saxtead Green
Max: 38
tea and floral treats at Helmingham Hall, being tempted to detour for a riverside pint
Overnight Framlingham
and possible boat trip at Waldringfield or savour a peaceful wander through idyllic
Day 3 Wild coast & warrior kings
Rec: 39
woodland gardens at Blakenham.
Framlingham  Snape  (Orford) 
Min: 13
(Shingle Street)  (Sutton Hoo)
Max: 42
Orford offers some pleasant boat Sutton Hoo, ship burial site of Suffolk s
Overnight Woodbridge
trips out from the quayside to warrior king, has wonderful walks with views
Day 4 A colourful route homeward
Rec: 17 explore the fishing traditions, across the River Deben as well as plenty of
Woodbridge  Helmingham 
oysterbeds and wildlife of this mystery and unburied treasure.
Min: 16
Needham Market
unique part of the Suffolk coast.
Max: 28
20 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 4B  call us on 01449 721555
TOP TIPS
Heritage Coast Encounter
Southwold
MILES
0 2 4 6 8 10 Halesworth
Dunwich
TOUR 4H
Westleton
Peasenhall
4 days (3 nights)
Debenham
Framlingham
A great little snapshot of Suffolk, this tour is especially designed to give you a taste of the coast as
well as some fantastic rural cycling. Picture mellow market towns or the panorama from
Needham Easton
Market
Framlingham s curtain wall castle; lines of vines or rows of Southwold beach huts. The route is full of
Helmingham
local colour and leads to a stay near the coast itself, just a pedal push away from hauntingly beautiful
heathlands, forests, creeks and shingle stretches.
Leaving Needham Market and heading out via the leaning legacies of Debenham and
TOUR
countless historic hamlets, friendly Framlingham is the second market town on the clock
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
3
with its bustling square and 12th century castle. From here it s a short pedal past
Day 1 Arrive & explore
Overnight In or near Needham Market
outstretched vineyards, through rolling rural landscapes to timeless Peasenhall, Sibton
and Walpole - little villages with lots of character  before reaching market town number
Day 2 Market towns & more
Rec: 35
three, an up-and-coming Suffolk  arty favourite: Halesworth. Needham Market  Debenham 
Min: 35
Framlingham  Peasenhall
Answer the call of the coast next by cycling east, past the post mill at Holton and on to
Max: 37
Overnight Halesworth
the refined greens, white lighthouse, tasteful pier and brewery delights of Southwold.
Day 3 Windmills & waders
Rec: 24
Lean up your bike against a canon on Gun Hill perhaps, look out to sea and share more
Halesworth  Holton - Southwold 
Min: 23
sobering thoughts about the Battle of Sole Bay. Across the creek and on through the
Walberswick  Dunwich 
Max: 29
fishing village of Walberswick, there s a shady forest ride and glorious heathland close
(Minsmere)
to the clifftops at Dunwich. If you re up for it, why not go off-road to RSPB s bird heaven Overnight Westleton
at Minsmere before nestling down for the night in the
Day 4 Rural return
Rec: 34
delightful village of Westleton?
Westleton  Easton  Helmingham 
Min: 34
Needham Market
The return route meanders almost as much as the famous
Max: 38
redbrick crinkle-crankle wall at the thatched estate village
of Easton. Two Bells, a Crown and three White Horses
Framlingham is renowned for its mighty
mark the way back. Stop for a pint perhaps or delight in
castle, but don t miss St Michael s Church
a banquet of local herbaceous border colour at
too with its famous Thamar Organ and
Helmingham Hall, before returning to Needham
colourful Tudor tombs, including one
Market.
belonging to a son of Henry VIII.
To find out more and book Tour 4H  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 21
TOP TIPS
MILES
0 2 4 6 8 10
Covehithe
Castles & Coastline
= 5B
= 6D extension
Southwold
Peasenhall
TOUR 5B
Dunwich
5 days (4 nights)
Debenham
Framlingham
Enjoy the wild variety of the unspoilt Suffolk coast and the county s best in bold and impressive
Aldeburgh
Snape
castles. Dramatic stuff this. But gently does it. Drink in colourful heathlands, bird-filled marshes
Maltings
and the fruits of the local vineyard. Work up an appetite on riverside routes or watching
Needham
Woodbridge
Market
fishermen land their catch on Aldeburgh beach. Experience landscapes and seascapes which
Ipswich
Orford inspired writers like P.D. James. Perhaps you will hear the bells of Dunwich s lost churches
Shingle tolling beneath the waves?
Street
Settle into Suffolk in the small town of Needham Market before heading off towards
TOUR
historic Debenham. Follow streets lined with medieval houses to the renowned teapot
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
2  3 pottery, or an antique shop perhaps? The white post mill at Saxtead Green sits just
Day 1 Arrive & explore
outside the market town of Framlingham. Drink in the castle, or save it for the morning
Overnight In or near Needham Market
accompanied by a glass or two at nearby Shawsgate Vineyard.
Day 2 Winding lanes & windmills
Rec: 22
Rural lanes lead on to haunting Dunwich. Now largely taken by the sea, it s good to find
Needham Market  Debenham 
Min: 21
Saxtead Green
the village pub intact. Thorpeness has a strange horizon - could that be a house in the
Max: 38
Overnight Framlingham
clouds? Row around Peter Pan s islands on the elegant Meare, but mind the crocodile
or you won t get to Aldeburgh for the night!
Day 3 Through landscapes to seascapes
Rec: 32
Framlingham  Dunwich 
Composer, Benjamin Britten, leaves his legacy in Aldeburgh. At nearby Snape, The
Min: 19
Thorpeness
Maltings are home to more than just the famous festival. Stock up with local provisions
Max: 37
Overnight Aldeburgh
before heading to Orford. The climb up the castle, the beauty of the Ness and Shingle
Day 4 Waves & warrior kings
Street and the amazing treasures at Sutton Hoo will all take your breath away. Relax in
Rec: 37
Aldeburgh  Snape  Orford 
riverside Woodbridge, and prepare perhaps for some English country garden treats on
Min: 16
Shingle Street  Sutton Hoo
your way back to Needham Market.
Max: 43
Overnight Woodbridge
Day 5 Rural return
Rec: 17 Look out for the fascinating tide mill The Edwardian holiday village of
Woodbridge  Helmingham 
sandwiched between the modern marina and Thorpeness has its very own
Min: 17
Needham Market
historic quayside at Woodbridge. There are House in the Clouds, as well
Max: 28
lovely walks from here along the banks of the as charming weather-boarded
River Deben. cottages and a white post mill.
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TOP TIPS
Heritage Coast Tour
Unspoilt beauty of the Suffolk coast
TOUR 6D 6 days (5 nights)
No tour of the Suffolk coast is really complete without a trip to timeless Southwold. Its gentle
atmosphere somehow complements the wild dunes and crumbling cliffs of the enchanting
Suffolk coast quite perfectly. Extending the Castles and Coastline Tour (5B) with a significant
detour up to Covehithe, then dropping down from Southwold to Dunwich to rejoin the coast-
hugging route, this is a breath-taking tour  not in terms of miles or terrain perhaps, but
because of the stunning views of amazingly unspoilt coastline.
Follow the first stages of the Castles & Coastline Tour (Tour 5B) from Needham
TOUR
GRADE
Market via higgledy-piggledy Debenham to Saxtead Green s post mill and on to TOUR FACTS
2  3
Day 1 Arrive & explore
historic Framlingham with its curtain-walled castle overlooking a vast mere.
Overnight In or near Needham Market
From here, pedal on up through rolling rural countryside and villages like Peasenhall
Day 2 Winding lanes & windmills
Rec: 22
where historic houses form tight queues along single streets. At Covehithe the road ends
Needham Market  Debenham 
Min: 21
abruptly at crumbling cliffs near the thatched church of St Andrews which sits amidst
Saxtead
Overnight Framlingham Max: 38
melancholic ruins of it enormous former medieval self. Led in by the lighthouse, things
soon brighten up in Southwold with the colourful beach huts on the prom. Sit and sip
Day 3 Huge churches & haunting
Rec: 26
coastline
a very local pint, amidst pantiled Georgian cottages and watch seaside life go by.
Min: 25
Framlingham  Peasenhall 
Heading down the coast, Dunwich is haunting stuff. Little remains of East Anglia s former
Covehithe Max: 35
Overnight Southwold
capital now apart from a cluster of cottages and priory ruins. The nearby heath boasts
bright heathers and plenty of wildlife, then it s through the Minsmere RSPB reserve and Day 4 Stylish resorts, cliffs & curlews
Rec: 21
Southwold  Dunwich  Minsmere 
Thorpeness and past Maggi Hamblin s famous scallop sculpture to Aldeburgh.
Min: 21
Thorpeness
Max: 28
Finally rejoin the Castles & Coastline Tour (Tour 5B) from the shingle straights of Overnight Aldeburgh
Aldeburgh to the wide Deben at Woodbridge and cross rural Suffolk to Needham Market.
Day 5 Waves & warrior kings
Rec: 37
Aldeburgh  Snape  Orford 
Min: 16
Shingle Street  Sutton Hoo
Want to know more about Dunwich s For a really different view of Southwold
Overnight Woodbridge Max: 43
sad fate? Don t miss the excellent little and the Suffolk Coast, park up and
Rec: 17
Day 6 Rural return
museum near the pub which tells of jump aboard a powerboat at Southwold
Woodbridge  Helmingham 
Min: 17
wealth gone by and devastating effects harbour for an exhilarating whizz up
Needham Market
Max: 28
of the savage sea. and down the coastline.
To find out more and book Tour 6D  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 23
TOP TIPS
Castles, Coast & Constable
TOUR 8A
8 days (7 nights)
If you don t want to miss a Suffolk trick, this tour brings you an unbeatable touring
GRADE
TOUR FACTS 8A
2  3 combination: castles, cliffs, coastline both wild and cultured, Constable Country and the
Castles, Coast & Constable
Day 1 Arrive & explore
mellow moods of medieval treasure villages. The landscapes may be enormously varied, yet the
Overnight In or near Needham Market
cycling remains reassuringly leisurely. If you feel you might like to add Southwold to the
Day 2 Winding lanes & windmills Rec: 22
equation, our slightly longer tour, Castles, Cliffs & Constable (Tour 9A), on page 25 is for you.
Needham Market  Debenham 
Min: 21
Saxtead
Relaxing into your two-wheeled ways across rolling Mid-Suffolk, your route starts by
TOUR
Max: 38
Overnight Framlingham
following our Castles and Coastline route (Tour 5B). Discover winding lanes and
Day 3 Huge castles & haunting coastline Rec: 31
windmills, huge castles and haunting coastline, scallop sculptures and shingle beaches,
Framlingham  Dunwich 
Min: 19
and finally waves and warrior kings as you pedal via Framlingham to Dunwich, then
Minsmere
Max: 35
Overnight Aldeburgh
down the coast to Aldeburgh and
Snape and on via Orford and
Day 4 Scallop sculptures & shingle beaches
A day at leisure MILES
Shingle Street to Woodbridge.
0 2 4 6 8 10
Overnight Aldeburgh
Heading further inland you pedal
Southwold
= 8A
Day 5 Waves & warrior kings
Rec: 37
through the picturesque villages of
Aldeburgh  Snape  Orford  = 9A extension
Dunwich
Min: 16
Shingle Street  Sutton Hoo Bealings and Tuddenham on your
Overnight Woodbridge Max: 43
way towards the wool towns. You ll
Day 6 Weaving towards the wool towns know you ve really arrived when
Rec: 24
Framlingham
Woodbridge  Bealings  Stowmarket Debenham
you whizz downhill to the water-
Min: 24
Aldeburgh
Tuddenham  Kersey
Snape
splash at Kersey and reached
Max: 34 Needham
Overnight Hadleigh
Maltings
Market
historic Hadleigh with its three
Day 7 From Constable s inspiration Woodbridge
Rec: 30
Lavenham
to medieval masterpieces woolpacks on its town crest and
Min: 12
Ipswich Orford
Hadleigh  East Bergholt  Flatford 
Kersey
impressive signs of medieval
Stoke-by-Nayland Max: 35
Hadleigh wealth.
Overnight Lavenham
Shingle
Rec: 23
Street
Drop down from the River Brett
Day 8 Rural return
Min: 16
Stoke-by-
Lavenham  Needham Market
Nayland
towards the Stour and the idyllic
Max: 40
Flatford
24 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour 8A  call us on 01449 721555
Fancy adding Southwold?
Our 9 day/ 8 night option Castles, Cliffs &
Constable (Tour 9A) includes a pedal up to
Covehithe before two nights in Southwold. Unlike
Tour 8A, it only includes one night in Aldeburgh.
GRADE
TOUR FACTS 9A
2  3
Castles, Cliffs & Constable
English lowlands immortalised by Constable. Visit
TOUR
Day 1 Arrive & explore
East Bergholt where the painter was born and had
Overnight In or near Needham Market
his studio and Flatford Mill where his father was
Day 2 Winding lanes & windmills Rec: 22
miller and John painted the famous  Haywain ,
Needham Market  Debenham 
Min: 21
pedalling on to Stoke-by-Nayland whose church Saxtead
Max: 38
Overnight Framlingham
tower featured in many of Constable s timeless
landscapes. Day 3 Huge castles & haunting coastline
Rec: 26
Framlingham  Covehithe
Min: 25
As if that wasn t picture-perfect enough, your last
Overnight Southwold
Max: 35
lingering stop before returning to Needham
Day 4 Beach huts & benches
Market is Lavenham, brimful of leaning legacies
A day at leisure
Overnight Southwold
and half-timbered all over.
Day 5 Stylish resorts, cliffs & curlews Rec: 21
Southwold  Dunwich  Minsmere
Min: 21
Overnight Aldeburgh
Max: 28
Day 6 Waves & warrior kings
Rec: 37
Aldeburgh  Snape  Orford 
Min: 16
Shingle Street  Sutton Hoo
Overnight Woodbridge
Max: 43
Day 7 Weaving towards the wool towns
Rec: 24
Woodbridge  Bealings 
Min: 24
Tuddenham  Kersey
Max: 34
Overnight Hadleigh
Day 8 From Constable s inspiration
Don t miss St Edmund s Church in
Rec: 30
to medieval masterpieces
Southwold, one of the few survivors of the
Hadleigh  East Bergholt  Flatford  Min: 12
medieval town destroyed by two fires. Stoke-by-Nayland
Max: 35
Overnight Lavenham
Subsequent rebuilds included incorporating
Rec: 23
the distinctive town greens to act as fire
Day 9 Rural return
Min: 16
breaks. Lavenham  Needham Market
Max: 40
To find out more and book Tour 9A  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 25
TOP TIPS
cycling in
Norfolk
Outstretched landscapes and wrap-around skies. Pretty flint cottages
and pine forests by the sea. Creeks and Staithes, and snug fishermen s
harbours. Lobster pots and dressed Cromer crabs. Acres of sea lavender.
Wildfowl flocking over misty salt marshes. Horatio s childhood haunts and
lost, lonely churches. Bright Breckland heaths and Broads teeming with
wildlife. Iceni villages and Neolithic flint mines. Bustling Georgian market
towns and a Victorian Royal residence. Parklands full of rhododendrons
and camellias. A Palladian mansion to remember. Poppy, after poppy,
after poppy - amidst golden crops, by village greens, near seascape and
steam train. Is that why they call Burnham Market  Chelsea-on-Sea ?
Accommodation
We are proud to share our superb selection of Norfolk hotels including converted flint-faced barns,
an old inn on a leafy Georgian square, a hidden stately manor and pantiled pub gone warmly
provençal. Each one has comfortable en-suite rooms to help you relax after your time in the saddle,
good facilities, a warm welcome and each is also well-located for you to get the very best out of your
gentle Norfolk adventure.
All our accommodation is of a very high standard, with many hotels and B&Bs awarded 3 or more
stars according to national classifications. We also feature a couple of 5 star B&Bs which have won
the much-coveted gold award for quality.
 A thoroughly enjoyable break,
lovely countryside, good exercise.
Mr W. & party, Leeds
How to get there
Rail to: Thetford / Attleborough,
followed by a taxi transfer.
By car: Free parking is available
Get a taste of the place
for the duration of your stay.
Our hotel stays are arranged on a bed and breakfast basis and in our route notes, we point out great places
Go on, spoil yourself
to stop for lunch, tea, a picnic or refreshing pint, encouraging you to try specialities such as Cromer crabs or
salty samphire. We also give tips for evening meals, either at the hotel or nearby restaurants. Fancy a four-poster for the night in your
historic inn, an award-winning boutique hotel
What s included in the price experience with dining to die for, or simply a sea
view to wake up to in the morning? Upgrades
" En-suite hotel accommodation as described with full English breakfast
are available at a number of our hotels and, at
" Route notes and descriptions (we post these out to you approx. two weeks before departure)
some destinations we can arrange for you
" OS mapping with marked routes provided on arrival
to stay, if you prefer, in especially sought-after
" Luggage transfer
establishments. We are also pleased to book
" Hire of bicycle and ancillary equipment - cycles generally delivered after breakfast on day two of
additional nights at either at end of your tour, or
your tour
along the way too, if applicable.
" Local assistance on call, although puncture repair is excluded
" The tour price does not include the costs of getting to and from the tour area For more details, please refer to our price insert,
visit cyclebreaks.com or give us a call.
To find out more and book a tour  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 27
Royal Norfolk  Nelson s County
TOUR NR5
5 days (4 nights)
England s first Prime Minister, Lord Nelson of Trafalgar, rebellious Boudica, even Her Majesty
Queen Elizabeth - all have left their mark on noble Norfolk. Your saddle is your country seat for
a few days, to share and enjoy Norfolk s richest pickings.
From your country house hotel near Watton, it s only a short cycle to the delightful Tudor
TOUR
Oxburgh Hall with its grand fortified gatehouse and impressive moat. Detour perhaps to
go back in time to Grimes Graves, descending deep into a Neolithic flint mine, then push
forward to Boudica s day and a reconstructed Iceni village at Cockley Cley. A Saxon
GRADE
th
TOUR FACTS
church, medieval house and Swaffham graceful 18 century buildings will take you
2  3
Day 1 Arrive & relax
further up the timeline.
Overnight Near Watton
Choose West Acre s walled gardens or Sir Robert Walpoles s Houghton Hall, before
Day 2 From Neolithic miners to
entering the Royal Sandringham Estate. Take time out to visit this oh-so-homely royal
Rec: 22
Tudor Queens
residence, to wander the rose garden and admire the views of the house from across the
Watton  Oxburgh Hall 
Min: 9
lake. The museum in the stables is fascinating, fun and friendly too, with estate
(Grimes Graves) - Cockley Cley
Max: 39
memorabilia and royal tour mementoes as well as Prince Charles smart pedal car and
Overnight Swaffham
captivating curio cabinets.
Day 3 Country pleasures
Rec: 30
A short pedal further and Bircham Mill is a must, but a coast-bound detour and Snettisham
Swaffham  West Acre 
Min: 18
Sandringham  Bircham
deer park might be right up your country lane too.
Max: 41
Overnight Great Bircham
From Great Bircham, enjoy another day at Sandringham including the famous parish
Day 4 Circular route options Min: 25
church with its silver altar and pulpit and magnificent royal memorials. Alternatively, take a
Gt Bircham  The Burnhams 
Max: 37
circular route towards Nelson s native  Burnhams and Burnham Overy Staithe s sleepy
Burnham Overy Staithe 
creek. Don t miss the endless sands at Holkham Bay, but Holkham Hall is a must-see
Holkham Estate
Min: 18
Or Gt Bircham  Sandringham Estate
Max: 30
Pedal down Lady Anne s Drive
Overnight Great Bircham Moated Oxburgh Hall sits in delightful
opposite the gates of the grand
gardens and woodlands. Its redbrick walls
Day 5 Stop off for history
Rec: 28
Holkham Estate to discover
however harbour hidden secrets including
Gt Bircham  Houghton Hall 
Min: 25
Holkham Bay, one of East Anglia s
a priest s hole and some exquisite
Castle Acre  Watton
Max: 28
best-loved beach experiences.
needlework by Mary, Queen of Scots.
28 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour NR5  call us on 01449 721555
TOP TIPS
Holkham Bay
Palladian masterpiece. Slightly austere from the
TOUR
Burnham outside, the interiors and especially the entrance hall of
Market
the Earl of Leicester s historic home are breath-taking,
Holkham
Hunstanton
Hall
likewise the vistas from the lake and rolling parklands.
Snettisham
On route back to Watton, why not take a peek at
Great Bircham
Houghton Hall or Castle Acre which fittingly displays
history in microcosm  a tiny walled town, complete
MILES
0 1 2 3 4 5 with castle, earthworks and the atmospheric ruins of a
Sandringham
once wealthy priory.
West Acre
Castle Acre
Swaffham
Cockley Cley
Watton
Oxburgh
Hall
Grimes Graves
This relaxing route tours tiny
lanes and crosses stately
parklands with a few more
energetic options.
To find out more and book Tour NR5  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 29
Brecks & Beaches
TOUR N5
5 days (4 nights)
Encounter amazing, unexpected gems of civilisation amidst the wildest woods, heaths and
winding creeks of Norfolk s big sky landscapes. Historic Walsingham has attracted generations of
pilgrims; today s Norfolk visitors tend to revere the stylish  Burhams , aka  Chelsea-on-Sea .
Country houses fit for a queen, castles and priories, Palladian edifices and great market towns 
cycle through peaceful country lanes to see them all.
Setting out from your country house hotel near Watton, take the first stage of the Royal
TOUR
Norfolk  Nelson s County tour (Tour NR5) as far as Swaffham. Castle Acre will woo
you next, a tiny  town wrapped up by its walls in its own timeless
existence. Don t miss the abbey site, charming medieval centre and
Wells
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
castle earthworks. The tour then spans the  roof of Norfolk through
Holkham
2  3
Day 1 Arrive & relax
peaceful countryside to Fakenham by the River Wensum.
Overnight Near Watton Burnham
Market
Walsingham Heading up to the coast, take the pilgrimage route of your choice:
Day 2 From Neolithic miners to Rec: 22
the historic approach including Little Walsingham and Wells-next-
Tudor Queens
Min: 9
MILES
Watton  Oxburgh Hall 
0 1 2 3 4 5
Fakenham the-Sea, or a more contemporary combination of stylish flint
Max: 36
Cockley Cley
cottages, little shops and galleries and Palladian masterpieces at
Overnight Swaffham
 The Burhams and Holkham Estate. Steam along to the coast
Rec: 23
Day 3 Market towns & hidden villages
perhaps on the Walsingham-Wells railway, or pedal on down to
Swaffham  Castle Acre Min: 21
Wells ancient quay to try your hand at the art of crabbing, or
Overnight Near Fakenham Castle Acre
Max: 33
simply to enjoy some truly great fish and chips.
Day 4 Circular route options Min: 16
Leaving Fakenham for Watton, sample Norfolk s rural bygone days
Swaffham
Walsingham / Wells-next-the-Sea /
Max: 44
at Gressenhall s living museum with its heavy horses and grisly tales
Cockley Cley
The Burnhams / Holkham
Watton
Overnight Near Fakenham
of workhouse life, or turn detective and discover the Saxon village
Oxburgh of Godwick through its well-preserved earthworks.
Day 5 Old ways & lost settlements
Rec: 27
Hall
Fakenham  Gressenhall 
Min: 27
Godwick  Watton
Max: 35
Grimes Graves
30 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour N5  call us on 01449 721555
Brecks to Broads
TOUR N8TN
8 days (7 nights)
From haunting Iceni heathlands to the county s captivating capital of Norwich and the
GRADE
TOUR FACTS
2  3
Day 1 Arrive & explore
beautiful Broads, our new Norfolk tour is full of bright contrasts under one enormous sky.
Overnight Thetford
Cruise by bike past far-reaching farmlands, redbrick mansions and silvery flint cottages to
Day 2 Time-honoured pathways of Rec: 36
creeks and coastline before finding haven in the Broads National Park. The low-lying landscapes
discovery
Min: 26
make for relaxed cycling on small roads, quiet country lanes or the traffic-free paths of the
Thetford  Oxburgh Hall 
Max: 36
Marriot s Way - one of Dr Beeching s Norfolk legacies.
Cockley Cley
Overnight Swaffham
Pedal out from ancient Thetford through the timeless Norfolk Brecks - dry sandy
TOUR
Rec: 32
Day 3 Market towns & hidden villages
heathlands punctuated by processions of scots pine and swathes of thick woodland.
Swaffham  Castle Acre Min: 26
Boudica hailed from here, paths pay homage to Hereward the Wake and pilgrims once
Overnight Fakenham
Max: 35
trailed northwards to Walsingham.
Day 4 Choice of circular rides
Rec: 32
After Tudor Oxburgh Hall and Georgian Swaffham, and medieval Castle Acre, the market
Fakenham  Burnham Market 
Min: 0
Holkham  Wells
town of Fakenham reveals the River Wensum on its way to Norwich and the Broads. But the
Max: 44
Overnight Fakenham
coast is calling and circular routes lead pedalling pilgrims to Little Walsingham, beyond to
Rec: 37
Day 5 Fishing heritage & Georgian gems
Wells-next-the-Sea, or away to Holkham s Palladian palace
Wells
Blakeney
Sheringham
Fakenham  Blakeney  Holt
Min: 28
Holkham
Cromer and the stylish flint retreats of the Burnhams.
Hunstanton
Overnight Aylsham
Burnham Max: 43
Holt
Market
Squeeze in the tiny fishing village of Blakeney and relax in
Little Walsingham
Day 6 Circular route  Bright &
Rec: 25
refined Holt before reaching Aylsham, near Blickling Hall
Fakenham beautiful Broads
Blickling
Aylsham
Min: 0
and from where it s plain sailing by bike across to The
Aylsham  Wroxham & the Broads
Max: 25
Broads. Head for Wroxham to explore this watery Overnight Aylsham
Gressenhall
Castle Acre
wonderland by boat, or follow shady lanes through
Wroxham and Rec: 25
Dereham Day 7 Heading to the big city
The Broads
picturesque estate villages for more waterside flora and fauna.
Aylsham  Salle  Reepham Min: 25
Swaffham Norwich
Overnight Norwich
Max: 32
With the Marriot s Way you re soon on track for Norwich,
Cockley Cley
Watton
Wymondham
where cafés and culture, cathedrals and an outstanding
Day 8 Depart after breakfast
Oxburgh
Hall
castle vie with the very best retail therapy, inspiring
Don t forget you can book additional nights in Norwich to enjoy
Steam Railways
MILES museums and walks by the Wensum. extra time in the Broads or to experience the rich cultural
0 2 4 6 8 10
Grimes Graves
offerings of this fine historic city.
Thetford
To find out more and book Tour N8TN  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 31
Norfolk Coast & Countryside
TOUR N8
8 days (7 nights)
Watch rugged heaths, far-reaching farmlands, creeks and coastline unfold under your two
TOUR FACTS
GRADE
wheels and one enormous Norfolk sky. Admire the boats on rivers, sea and Broads, but cruise
Day 1 Arrive & relax
2  3
Overnight Near Watton
by bike through charming hamlets, past redbrick Jacobean mansions, silvery flint cottages,
vibrant village greens or market squares lined with smart Georgian façades. With low-lying
Day 2 From Neolithic miners to Rec: 22
Tudor Queens
landscapes, small roads, quiet country lanes or traffic-free pathways like the Marriot s Way, this
Min: 9
Watton  Oxburgh Hall 
Norfolk tour makes for really relaxed cycling.
Max: 39
Cockley Cley
Overnight Swaffham
Setting out from your country house hotel near Watton in Breckland s natural woods
TOUR
Day 3 Market towns & hidden villages
Rec: 33
and heathlands, take the first three stages of the Brecks and Beaches tour via Tudor
Swaffham  Castle Acre 
Min: 26
Oxburgh Hall and Cockley Cley to Swaffham, then on to Fakenham including Castle
Gressenhall  Godwick
Overnight Near Fakenham Max: 34
Acre, the Norfolk Rural Life Museum at Gressenhall and the deserted village of
Godwick. Finally you choose from circular route options to set off coastward through
Day 4 Circular route options
Min: 19
Walsingham / Wells-next-the-Sea /
the medieval pilgrimage town of Little Walsingham, via Nelson s smart stomping and
Max: 45
Holkham / The Burnhams
sailing grounds, past the elegant Palladian edifice of Holkham Hall or up to the salty
Overnight Near Fakenham
shrimping vessels at Wells-next-the-Sea.
Day 5 Fishing heritage &
Rec: 37
Georgian gems Heading out again from Fakenham, the ancient quays and tiny flint cottages at
Min: 28
Fakenham  Blakeney  Holt
Blakeney are the next charming stop. So typically Norfolk, the huge church whispers
Max: 43
Overnight Aylsham
tales of wealthy times past and is well worth a visit. Back inland, Holt s little cottages
Day 6 Circular route options
Min: 7
rub shoulders with haughty Georgian fronts. The smart little shops, galleries and
Aylsham  Wroxham (Norfolk
Max: 25
delicatessens here cannot fail to please. For a real nostalgic treat though, hop aboard
Broads) or Aylsham  Blickling
Overnight Aylsham
the Poppyline steam train from Holt to seaside Sheringham.
Rec: 21
Day 7 Along the Marriot s Way
Aylsham  Blickling  Reepham Min: 16
Win a few extra hours on and Wymondham s wealthy twin-towered abbey
Overnight Dereham
Max: 23
around the man-made lakes church dominates a modest, yet characterful
Day 8 Winding ways & wonders
Rec: 32 and waterways of The Broads market town. Be sure to step inside to see the
Dereham  Wymondham  Watton th
by taking the narrow gauge 12 century nave arcades, the angel roof and the
Min: 16
th
railway back to Aylsham. gold and glorious 10 century altar-screen.
Max: 34
32 I cyclebreaks.com To find out more and book Tour N8  call us on 01449 721555
TOP TIPS
Aylsham makes a great base to explore the Jacobean mansion at Blickling Hall,
TOUR
Anne Boleyn s (Bullen) ancestral home. It s also plain-sailing by bike across to The
Broads. Once in Wroxham, exploring is best by boat to get even closer to the amazing
flora and fauna.
Moving on to Dereham, there s another chance to wonder how they cut Blickling Hall s
huge yew hedges, before pedalling parts of the peaceful Marriot s Way towards
Georgian Reepham. Windmills, great churches, small villages galore and a wonderful
discovery in Wymondham make for a pretty ride back to Watton.
Wells
Blakeney
Sheringham
Holkham
Cromer
Hunstanton
Burnham
Holt
Market
Little Walsingham
Fakenham
Aylsham
Blickling
Gressenhall
Castle Acre
Wroxham and
Dereham
The Broads
Norwich
Swaffham
Cockley Cley
Watton
Wymondham
Oxburgh
Steam Railways
Hall
MILES
0 2 4 6 8 10
Grimes Graves
To find out more and book Tour N8  call us on 01449 721555 cyclebreaks.com I 33
 Superb cycling holidays, perfectly organised,
another great experience with Cycle Breaks.
Mr S. & party, Udligenswil, Switzerland
Call us on
How to make a booking
 A wonderful tailor-made holiday with
If you have any questions about any of our tours, do get in
01449 721555
excellent friendly service & support.
touch by phone or email. We ll gladly help you plan your
or email us at
Mrs C. & party, Southampton, Hampshire
holiday, making sure it meets your requirements. You can
[e-mail]
contact us by phone, fax or email to make your booking, post
us the form within our price insert, or book online. We will
[e-mail]
 ... the bikes are excellent, the routes
confirm back by phone or email, usually within 24 hours (Mon-
are great, the scenery wonderful and
Fri), followed by written confirmation and joining instructions.
the holiday very reasonably priced.
Additional tours & short breaks
Mrs M. & party, London
For more details about the tours featured in this brochure and
other cycling and walking breaks which we just simply couldn t
squeeze in this time around, do check out our websites:
cyclebreaks.com walkingbreaks.com
Bradfield Hall Barn, Alder Carr Farm, PO Box 82, Needham Market, Suffolk IP6 8BW
 ... an ideal holiday
T: 01449 721555 F: 01449 721707
e: [e-mail] e: [e-mail] for families...
cyclebreaks.com Mr & Mrs O. & family,
Bracknell, Berkshire