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2022 Festival Programme
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
Launch Jaunts
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.
Full Festival Listing
Download the Festival Leaflet here (PDF)
Please read the walk information page before booking a walk
For booking queries contact the box office on 07850 883185
Saturday 14th May 2022
11:30am
(1) Launch Walk – Clare and the Upper Stour Valley
Clare
SOLD OUT
11:30am
(2) Launch Walk – Exploring Clare Castle Country Park
Clare
SOLD OUT
09:30am
(3) Bluebell Walk
Wherstead
12 miles
14:00pm
(4) Eye Airfield Runway Walk
Yaxley
SOLD OUT
19:45pm
(5) Barking, Bats and Birch
Barking
SOLD OUT
Sunday 15th May 2022
09:30am
(6) Westleton Wiggle
Westleton
13 miles
10:00am
(7) Walk n'Water, Sudbury and Great Cornard Riverside
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
10:30am
(8) Glorious Christchurch Park
Ipswich
3 miles
14:30pm
(9) Kettles, Brooks and Bricks
Framlingham
SOLD OUT
Monday 16th May 2022
10:00am
(10) An Industrious Town
Sudbury
2 miles
10:30am
(11) The Fields Tell A Story at Cavendish
Cavendish
3.5 miles
10:30am
(12) Circular walk from St Mary’s Church Akenham via St Peter’s Church Claydon
Akenham
3 miles
10:30am
(13) Outstanding Landscapes –Walberswick to Dunwich Forest Circular
Walberswick
SOLD OUT
11:00am
(14) Orwell to Alderman, a journey through time and space
Ipswich
3 miles
Tuesday 17th May 2022
09:30am
(15) Walk with a Ranger
Orford
SOLD OUT
10:00am
(16) Rolling Suffolk Landscapes, north of the Stour Valley
Long Melford
7 miles
10:15am
(17) Coast and Woodland Wonderment
Eastbridge
SOLD OUT
10:30am
(18) A Nordic Walk around Clare and the Upper Stour Valley
Clare
5 miles
11:00am
(19) Iconic Landscapes – From Dragons to Rewilding
Bures
7 miles
Wednesday 18th May 2022
10:00am
(20) Explore Ickworth Park
Horringer
3 miles
10:30am
(21) Inspiring Climate Action
Thornham
3 miles
10:30am
(22) Beaches and Bunkers
Lowestoft
SOLD OUT
11:30am
(23) Two Rivers Walk
Shotley
SOLD OUT
14:30pm
(24) The Red Barn Mystery
Polstead
3 miles
Thursday 19th May 2022
10:00am
(25) Walk n'Water, Sudbury and Great Henny
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
10:00am
(26) Is Kersey the most Picturesque Village in Suffolk
Hadleigh
12 miles
10:30am
(27) Sparrows Nest and Seafront Walk
Lowestoft
2 miles
11:00am
(28) Little Bradley and the beautiful Upper Stour
Little Bradley
SOLD OUT
Friday 20th May 2022
10:00am
(29) Hawkedon Horizons
Hawkedon
11 miles
10:30am
(30) Deben Valley Delights
Easton
SOLD OUT
14:00pm
(31) Woads, Weavers and Wizards
Lavenham
1.5 miles
18:00pm
(32) Eye Airfield Short Walk
Eye
SOLD OUT
Saturday 21st May 2022
10:30am
(33) The Two Counties Short Walk
Clare
2 miles
10:30am
(34) Walking Through The History Of Mendlesham
Mendlesham
SOLD OUT
13:00pm
(35) Hedgerow Forage and Cream Tea
Thornham
SOLD OUT
14:00pm
(36) Turbulence to Tranquility
Dunwich
SOLD OUT
14:00pm
(37) Walk the Centuries with Stowmarket Bells
Stowmarket
1.5 miles
Sunday 22nd May 2022
09:30am
(38) The Scenic Stour
Stutton
15 miles
10:00am
(39) Turbulence to Tranquility
Dunwich
SOLD OUT
10:00am
(40) Walk n'Water Sudbury and Great Cornard Riverside
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
10:30am
(41) Family Wildcrafts Walk
Brandon
2 miles
10:30am
(42) Walking through the History of Ipswich Waterfront
Ipswich
3 miles
Monday 23rd May 2022
09:30am
(43) North of the Abbey Gardens, The Grand Grounds
Bury St Edmunds
16 miles
10:00am
(44) RSPB Minsmere at 75
Westleton
2 miles
10:30am
(45) Circular Walk from St Mary’s Church in Capel via All Saint’s, Little Wenham
Capel St Mary
2.5 miles
14:00pm
(46) Shotley Point Stroll
Shotley Gate
SOLD OUT
Tuesday 24th May 2022
09:30am
(47) Walk with a Shepherd and Sheepdog
Orford
SOLD OUT
09:30am
(48) South of the Abbey Gardens, Hiking to Hawstead
Bury St Edmunds
16 miles
10:00am
(49) Moulton Three Churches Nordic Walk
Moulton
7 miles
10:00am
(50) The Granary, Three Mills and Our River
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
Wednesday 25th May 2022
09:30am
(51) East of the Abbey Gardens, Three Village Wander
Bury St Edmunds
18 miles
10:00am
(52) Guided Walk around Historic and Rural Eye
Eye
SOLD OUT
10:30am
(53) The Denes Dip Farm and Woodland Walk
Lowestoft
3 miles
18:00pm
(54) Badger Walk
Haverhill
SOLD OUT
Thursday 26th May 2022
10:30am
(55) River Lark Circular Walk
Mildenhall
3 miles
10:30am
(56) A Hill and a Valley Ramble, dipping a toe into Essex
Wiston
CANCELLED
10:30am
(57) Marltesham Creek with views of the River Deben
Martlesham
SOLD OUT
10:45am
(58) Lackford Lakes Circuit
Lackford
2.5 miles
Friday 27th May 2022
10:00am
(59) Roman Roads and River Crossings
Dennington
6 miles
10:00am
(60) Walk n'Water Sudbury and Great Henny
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
10:00am
(61) Fish Ponds, Country Lanes and Apple Orchards in Historic Eye
Eye
SOLD OUT
10:00am
(62) The River Deben at Sutton
Sutton
SOLD OUT
10:30am
(63) Knettishall Heath and Woodland Walk, meet the 'Grandmother Tree'
Knettishall
SOLD OUT
Saturday 28th May 2022
10:15am
(64) West Stow and Wordwell Wanderings
West Stow
13 miles
10:30am
(65) Clare and Cavendish Circular Walk
Clare
SOLD OUT
10:30am
(66) Shotley and Erwarton Farms and Rivers Walk
Shotley
SOLD OUT
10:30am
(67) Campfire Make and Bake
Thornham
2 miles
Sunday 29th May 2022
10:00am
(68) Flatford and Constable Country
East Bergholt
SOLD OUT
10:00am
(69) Walk n'Water Sudbury and Great Cornard Riverside
Sudbury
SOLD OUT
10:30am
(70) Circular walk from St Mary’s Church, West Stow via All Saints Church, Wordwell
West Stow
2.5 miles
10:30am
(71) A Punchbowl Stroll
Battisford Tye
SOLD OUT
11:00am
(72) Shotley Maritime Heritage Walk
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.
