2024 Walk List – Week 1

Please read the walk information page before booking a walk.

Download the Festival Leaflet here (PDF).

For booking queries contact the box office on 07858 973774

Saturday 11th May 2024

Walk 1. Launch Walk – Past, Present and Future of Thornham Estate

Thornham Walks

11:00am

2 miles

2 hours

£5.00

Delve into the history of the Thornham Estate on this short walk taking in farmland, woodland and environmental schemes, highlighting a history of diversification and adaptation.


Walk 2. Launch Walk – Drovers, Frescoes and Follies

Thornham Walks

11:00am

3.5 miles

2.5 hours

£5.00

Discover years of history along an ancient highway, hearing tales of Scottish drovers, before marvelling at remarkable frescos inside a 14th century thatched church, and exploring follies, majestic oaks, and a walled garden.


Walk 3. Launch Walk – Plant Power, Material, Medicines and Meals

Thornham Walks

11:00am

3 miles

2.5 hours

£10.00

Celebrate our fascinating cultural relationship with plants and their past uses, folklore and myths on a gentle stroll around the Thornham Estate. We’ll nibble forgotten foods, uncover ancient remedies and sample hedge-herb tea.


Walk 4. Launch Walk – Plant Power, Material, Medicines and Meals

Thornham Walks

2:00pm

3 miles

2.5 hours

£10.00

Celebrate our fascinating cultural relationship with plants and their past uses, folklore and myths on a gentle stroll around the Thornham Estate. We’ll nibble forgotten foods, uncover ancient remedies and sample hedge-herb tea.


Sunday 12th May 2024

Walk 5. Trees, Woods and People

Thornham Walks

10:00am

2 miles

2 hours

£5.00

Exploring the trees and woods of the Thornham Estate from majestic oaks to freshly planted saplings.


Walk 6. Walk ‘n’ Water, Sudbury & Great Cornard Riverside

Sudbury

10:00am

2 miles

2 hours

£8.00

Join the River Stour Trust for a short boat ride to Great Cornard before returning on foot along the Gainsborough Trail for complimentary refreshments at the Granary.


Walk 7. Alton Water Adventure

Stutton

10:00am

8 miles

4 hours

£8.00/Children £5.00

An 8 mile walk to learn about the rich heritage of Alton water.


Walk 8. Walking Through The History Of Ipswich Waterfront

Ipswich

10:30am

2 miles

2 hours

£6.00/Under 12’s & Carers Free

The Story Of Ipswich waterfront from earliest times to the 21st Century.


Walk 9. Ufford Heritage Trail

Ufford

10:30am

3 miles

2 hours

Free

The Ufford Heritage Trail is a leisurely walk around this charming Suffolk village taking in over 30 locations of historic interest and significance.


Monday 13th May 2024

Walk 10. Bredfield, Byng and Beyond

Bredfield

9:30am

7 miles

3 hours

FREE

A walk from Bredfield through gently undulating fields and lanes to explore the Byng valley, it’s ancient history and landscape.


Walk 11. Island of Secrets

Orford

9:30am

6 miles

3 hours

£25.00

Step behind the scenes with the National Trust to uncover what happened on the ‘Island of Secrets’, Orford Ness.


Walk 12. Bulmer, Bricks & Beyond

Bulmer

10:30am

5 miles

5 hours

£10.00

A circular countryside walk from Bulmer village hall, passing site of Roman Villa and stopping at Heritage Brickworks for a guided tour and picnic lunch before returning to start.


Walk 13. Estuary birds, Otter Videos & A Stunning Human Eco-Home.

Hen Reedbeds

2:00pm

2.5 miles

3 hours

£10.00

A short river walk spotting signs of otters and estuary birds with the opportunity to tour a remarkable, architect-designed eco-home with the owners.


Tuesday 14th May 2024

Walk 14. The Granary, Three Mills & Our River

Sudbury

10:00am

5 miles

3 hours

£8.00

Join the River Stour Trust on a scenic walk around Sudbury visiting several historic sites with complimentary tea/coffee at The Granary Tea Room afterwards.


Walk 15. Hawkedon Circular Nordic Walk

Hawkedon

10:30am

5 miles

2.5 hours

£10.00

A stunning 5 mile circular Nordic Walk on well established footpaths with plenty of far reaching views.


Walk 16. Chediston Church Circular

Halesworth

10:30am

6 miles

2.5 hours

£9.50

Explore the scenic watershed ridge west of Halesworth, visiting Chediston and the captivating St Mary’s church.


Walk 17. The Story of the High Street

Hadleigh

11:00am

1.5 miles

1.5 hours

£5.00

Ancient Buildings, shops and trades make up the story of the High Street. While things lie hidden they won’t be over looked by your Guide.


Wednesday 15th May 2024

Walk 18. Sunrise and Dawn Chorus North Cove

North Cove

4:15am

3 miles

2.5 hours

£8.00

Join us for an early morning stroll through the woodlands and marshes of North Cove reserve and to the river Waveney to experience the wonderful wetland dawn chorus.


Walk 19. Where the Fields Tell a Story

Cavendish

10:00am

3.5 miles

3 hours

£5.00/Children £2.50

Exploring the undulating countryside around Cavendish, along quiet roads and across fields.


Walk 20. Ancient Trails of Clare: Castle, Common, Church, and Priory.

Clare

10:30am

3 miles

2.5 hours

£5.00/Under 12’s FREE

Take in Clare’s most significant buildings and historic sites with highlights of Clare’s history from 1066 onwards.


Walk 21. River-Path Wonders – Plant History and Stone-Mystery!

Ipswich

10:30am

3 miles

2.5 hours

£12.00

Discover an amazing insight into Ipswich’s riverside past. Encounter alien invaders, touch ice-age river Saracens and taste a wild herb tisane. Ipswich will never seem the same again.


Thursday 16th May 2024

Walk 22. Reedbed to Harbour Along The River Blyth

Hen Reedbed

10:30am

5.5 miles

4.5 hours

£12.00

A walk along the lower estuary of the Blyth to see signs of otter activity, and birds on mud and reedbed, returning through grazing marsh and along the edge of the flood plain.


Walk 23. The Hidden History of West Stow Country Park

West Stow

11:00am

2 miles

2 hours

FREE

Enjoy a guided walk around the Country Park and hear stories of the hidden history of the site and its uses over the years.


Walk 24. Tales From The River: Fun and Work

Honnington

1:30pm

1.5 miles

2.5 hours

FREE

Enjoy a leisurely walk beside the lovely river Blackbourn, hear stories of recreation and trade, and get a sense of the importance of the river in the lives of the two villages that meet along it, Honington and Sapiston.


Friday 17th May 2024

Walk 25. Walk With A Sheepdog

Orford

09:30am

3.5 miles

3.5 hours

£25.00

Join Andrew, the National Trust Shepherd, and his sheepdog Sweep on a walk around Orford Ness National Nature Reserve. Learn about how the flock of rare breed sheep help maintain this unique environment.


Walk 26. Walk ‘n’ Water, Sudbury & Great Henny Riverside

Sudbury

10:00am

3.5 miles

4 hours

£18.50

Join us for a scenic walk and boat trip along part of St Edmund’s Way and Stour Valley Path. Proceeds go towards the restoration, conservation and education of the Suffolk & Essex River Stour Navigation.


Walk 27. Walking with Constable

East Bergholt

10:30am

5 miles

5 hours

FREE

Immerse yourself in the footsteps of the legendary John Constable, and see his masterpieces come to life in the very landscapes that ignited his artistic passion.


Walk 28. Twilight Safari – Barking, Bats and Birch

Barking

8:00pm

3 miles

2 hours

£13.00

Join wildlife enthusiast Jon Tyler in the Twilight world of ancient Priestly Wood. Experience the secret world of Bats, listen for Muntjac and sip refreshing Birch sap tea.


Saturday 18th May 2024

Walk 29. Turbulence to Tranquillity

Dunwich

10:00am

3 miles

3 hours

£10.00

This is your chance to discover the little-known and fascinating story of Dunwich Heath.


Walk 30. The Hidden History of West Stow Country Park

West Stow

11:00am

2 miles

2 hours

FREE

Enjoy a guided walk around the Country Park and hear stories of the hidden history of the site and its uses over the years.


Sunday 19th May 2024

Walk 31. Turbulence to Tranquillity

Dunwich

10:00am

3 miles

3 hours

£10.00

This is your chance to discover the little-known and fascinating story of Dunwich Heath.


Walk 32. Walk ‘n’ Water, Sudbury & Great Cornard Riverside

Sudbury

10:00am

2 miles

2 hours

£8.00

Join the River Stour Trust for a short boat ride to Great Cornard before returning on foot along the Gainsborough Trail for complimentary refreshments at the Granary.


Walk 33. Haiku Gingko in Halesworth

Halesworth

1:30pm

4 miles

2.5 hours

£12.00

Discover how to write haiku with two local authors as we take a contemplative walk in the Blyth valley from Halesworth to the chapel ruin in Mells.