Get your walking shoes on, grab your coat, beanie and scarf. It’s time to walk off some of the turkey and pud with these easy-going strolls.
Southwold
Blow away the cobwebs with this circular walk between town and harbour (3miles/5km). Start at the Sailors Reading Room, at the corner of East Street and the Promenade. Walk south along the Promenade to where it joins Primrose Alley and the cannons are lined up on Gun Hill. Continue along the beach or the path behind the dunes for about 800m, to the mouth of the River Blyth, and the Alfred Corry Lifeboat Museum.Turn inland, following the river, past the huts and jetties of Southwold Harbour. Past the Harbour Inn, turn right onto the road, then fork right onto a footpath across the marsh. Head back to town, guided by the lighthouse.
Alton Water
Four miles south of Ipswich, the entrance to Suffolk’s largest lake (actually a reservoir) is off the B1080 in Stutton village. There's an easy going trail of 8miles/13km, the full circuit, or you can walk shorter sections, using the car parks near Lemons Bay and Tattingstone Wonder as start/return points. Much of the route around the lake is surfaced. The north side of the lake is often quieter It's also more hilly and can be muddy in places, especially in bad weather. There is a bird hide and tern rafts near Lemons Bay. An easy destination is Larch Wood and The Wonder, west of the visitor centre and main car park. anglianwaterparks.co.uk/alton-water
Landguard Point, Felixstowe
With views across the Rivers Stour and Orwell towards Harwich Harbour and the Port of Felixstowe, Landguard Point comprises a 33 acre nature reserve of vegetated shingle – a Site of Special Scientific Interest – 400-year-old Landguard Fort, and Felixstowe Museum. The easy access trail is about 2.5miles/4km. Start at Manor Terrace car park and head south along a concrete track through Landguard Common. Reaching the reserve you can walk along the shingle beach or through the nature reserve to a boardwalk beyond the fort, near the coastguard cottage. A viewing area behind he fort is great spot to watch the comings and goings in the estuary before retracing your steps. discoverlandguard.org.uk
Lackford Lakes
Suffolk Wildlife Trust's reserve five miles north of Bury St Edmunds (IP28 6HX) is a wonderful pace all year round to enjoy peaceful surroundings and watch wildlife from several hides. There are two short easy access trails, making this a good place for the whole family. The Kingfisher Trail, on firm gravel paths, is a circular walk of 1mile/1.5km; the easy going trail is 0.7mile/1km each way and has more undulating paths that can get quite muddy in wet weather. The reserve and car park are open daily 8am to 5pm weekdays, 9am to 5pm weekends. suffolkwildlifetrust.org/lackfordlakes
Thornham Walks
In the very heart of Suffolk off the A140, between Stowmarket and Diss Thornham Walks is a landscaped parkland, criss-crossed by 12 miles of paths. Highlights include the restored Walled Garden, with its fabulous fruit trees and colourful herbaceous borders, a bird hide for watching woodland birds, a folly and pet cemetery. All the walks are clearly signed; there are short walks leading from the car park and longer leg-stretchers across the estate. There's a visitor hub, cafe, composting toilets and picnic area. Open 9am - 4pm from November to March but check before you go. thornhamestate.com
West Stow Country Park
Next to the River Lark, the park is off the A1101 between Bury St Edmunds and Mildenhall. It's perfect for the whole family, with short waymarked trails along the river, over the heath and through the woods. The Red Nature Trail (1mile/1.5km) starts by the café and picnic site and takes a meandering route to West Stow Heath. There are benches and information points along the way; don’t miss the unusual Shepherd’s Hut. The Yellow Pumphouse Route and the Blue Lake Walk are slightly longer (1.5 – 2 miles/2.5 – 3km). Do one, do them all for an enjoyable exploration of the whole park. weststow.org
Clare Country Park
Trails, parking, onsite toilets, a café in Victorian railway buildings, the remains of a castle keep on a 60ft motte with views of the town, children’s play areas, rivers and ponds... what more could you ask for? Information boards tell the story of the railway and castle, and the park is the starting point for several walks from one mile to 8.5 miles, plus cycle routes, and the fascinating Clare town trail. Dogs are welcome and the café is dog friendly (check winter opening hours – the cafe and visitor centre maybe taking a Christmas break). Maps and information clarecastlecountrypark.co.uk
Rendlesham Forest
Let's go down to the woods... let your imagination run riot on the UFO trail (3miles/5km), the famous site of a 1980s 'unexplained forest object', or follow two other circular walks. The Phoenix trail (3miles/5km) is named after the recovery from the great storm of 1987 and takes you on a fascinating forest ramble through plantations, heathland and wetlands. The easy access trail is just 0.75 miles/1.2km, but like the longer trail still enables you to see the unique flora and fauna of the Sandlings. forestryengland.uk
Dunwich Heath
The heather covered cliffs above Dunwich beach are a wonderful place to blow away the cobwebs any time of year. The heath is crossed by many paths – with benches along the way – to enjoy stunning views of the coast; look for Southwold to the north and RSPB Minsmere to the south. There is also an accessible sea-watching centre equipped with telescopes. There's an easy trail (1.5 miles/2.5 km) plus plenty of other trails to explore. The National Trust has an excellent café (check winter opening), picnic tables and children’s play area. nationaltrust.org.uk
Ickworth
The 1800 acres of parkland and gardens surrounding Ickworth House, at Horringer, southwest of Bury St Edmunds, have been cared for and subtly landscaped over centuries by generations of the former owners, the Hervey Family. Today it thrives as a working estate and pleasure ground. You can enjoy gentle strolls – there's an all-weather path – longer walks, runs, cycle rides and picnics across the parkland, explore ancient woodlands and watch wildlife. Check opening times nationaltrust.org.uk
Valley Trail (Sudbury)
This walk, on the edge of Sudbury, follows part of the former Great Eastern Railway, a line that once linked Colchester with Bury St Edmunds. The Valley Trail (3.5 miles/5.5km) is a wide, compacted path, suitable all year round, which starts behind the Kingfisher Leisure Centre. An easy destination is Brundon Mill; walk as far as the junction with the Stour Valley Path, then leave the railway walk and follow the path on to Brundon Lane for views of the mill pond, River Stour and Sudbury Meadows. You can return via Sudbury riverside meadows, the oldest grazed land in England, still grazed today. sudbury-tc.gov.uk/walking
