Dip Your Toe in the Water of Outdoor Adventure Breaks in Suffolk

>April Events / >June Events / >May Events / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / Tourist Attractions Norfolk and Suffolk / Wildlife April 7, 2013

Thousands are dipping their toe in the water of outdoor or adventure breaks thanks to the recent trends in ‘green holidays’ and Suffolk is proving a popular choice thanks to its ancient woodlands, heritage coastline, wild swim locations, heathlands and over 5,000km of waymarked paths.

The Suffolk Walking Festival returns between 11 May and 2 June 2013 and will easily delight walkers as it takes in the entire county from Lowestoft, England’s most easterly point, to Lakenheath in the west, Bungay in the north and the Dedham Vale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in the south. There are rambles through pretty countryside, strolls through medieval villages and a five day challenge walk for the bravest of legs that stretches along the fabulous Suffolk coast from Landguard Fort near Felixstowe, all the way up to Lowestoft.

For a more leisurely stroll, The Gainsborough Trail is a series of three loops around Sudbury’s countryside, famously the backdrop in the paintings of Thomas Gainsborough. The Meadow Walk, the first to launch to the public, takes visitors on a 3.5 mile meander around Sudbury meadows, Britain’s oldest continuously grazed meadows.

The Great East Swim will be held in Suffolk on 22June 2013 at the Alton Water Reservoir near Ipswich. This open water swimming event promises no walls, no lanes and no chlorine! Pre-register to participate and make a weekend of it by continuing the water theme with a stay at the Ipswich Waterfront or get the train to Saxmundham, at the heart of Suffolk’s heritage coast.

Swimmers can also enjoy wild swimming in Suffolk in places such as South Beach Lowestoft, the Blyth Estuary and Covehithe Beach, seven miles south of Lowestoft.

The sandy, shingle-backed, gently sloping beach at Walberswick is the perfect launch pad for a bracing dip in the North Sea. More adventurous swimmers could head southwards towards neighbouring Dunwich, swimming over the long-lost remains of the medieval town.

Beccles Lido is an award-winning outdoor open-air swimming pool that is located on the Suffolk broads and the banks of the River Waveney. It’s glorious on warmer days and includes a diving board, paddling pool and sunbathing area.

Alternatively if canoeing sounds appealing, Outney Common is a 3km stretch of the Waveney meandering around open land which is up to 2 metres deep in parts and is a popular haunt for canoeing, while its bays can be swum in.

If you want to look out over stunning views while you swim, the Dedham Vale is glorious and Fen Bridge is a quiet spot with 2 metre deep river pools and shelving access. Alternatively rest your legs and indulge in some rowing instead.

If you need encouragement to get on your bike, Britain’s leading cycle race series, The Tour Series, will reach the climax of its fifth season of racing in Suffolk this June. The eleventh, and final, round of the Tour Series will take place in Ipswich on Friday 14 June, making for a spectacular and action packed hit of top-class cycle racing for fans to enjoy. Plus, there will be a day of cycling themed events before the one-hour professional race.

Tag the excitement of the tour onto a cycle break of your own. For the past 22 years, Cycle Breaks has been offering self-guided cycling trips of between two and seven nights throughout Suffolk. Of the 35 Suffolk breaks it offers, from Suffolk’s Heritage Coast to Constable Country, 17 are new for 2013. Each trip is ‘gently paced’ (between 6 – 10 m.p.h.) using the companies’ fleet of Claud Butler touring bikes and accommodation is of a high standard, between 3 – 5 star, in hotels and upmarket B&B’s that reflect the diverse character of Suffolk, from half-timbered coaching inns and historic pubs to the smartest sea-front hotels in Aldeburgh or Southwold.

Angels & Pinnacles church heritage trails give a whole new dimension to walking and cycling in the Suffolk countryside. From soaring church towers that date back almost a thousand years to finding out what our medieval ancestors were capable of with their spectacular angel roofs and exquisite wood carvings, Suffolk churches are among Britain’s most iconic buildings and are fabulous to explore all year round.

Outdoor experiences go hand in hand with getting back to nature and Suffolk’s abundance of countryside means its rich in wildlife. Explore the nature reserve at RSPB Minsmere with its splendid woodland, wetland and coastal scenery, rare birds, wildlife and colourful wild flowers in summer. For families, there’s the new Discovery Centre, Wild Zone and Wild Wood Adventure where you can build a den. For adults, there’s birdwatching, exploring and guided walks throughout the year.