A good mate of mine is (subject to a last minute miracle) about to be made redundant, and I have some leave to use up, so I was wondering about organising a few days away cycling to give him a chance to get his head around things - he's been there 34 years and struggling a bit at what it will mean for him and the family - I suspect it will mean good things eventually but he can't quite see it yest.
He's good for 30-40 flattish miles a day, but doesn't do off road or big hills. I was wondering about Norfolk/Suffolk way, 3/4 days riding and exploring, bit of sea air and some good food. Looking for some pointers for reasonably priced bike friendly accommodation with some quiet road riding nearby.
What do we know/recommend?
I grew up around Woodbridge. The small lanes riding going up the coast and also stretching inland from there there is lovely. We ride there regularly when visiting my parents.
The Suffolk countryside is littered with nice bike friendly rural pubs and cafes which my dad basically navigates by.
Fish and chips at Dunwich or Aldeburgh is good, I prefer the former but probably more habit and childhood memories than any particular quality differentiator.
Framingham has a nice castle and excellent bakery.
Southwold is also nice.
It's a lovely bit of the world if you don't want big climbs and descents. A word of warning though, it undulates the whole time. It's not as "flat" as legend would say. You will pedal a lot but not necessarily massively hard.
I probably have a couple of gpx files / route cards I can share if useful.
Cycling UK route: https://www.cyclinguk.org/routes/wolf-way
As mentioned above, you can ride Lowestoft to Woodbridge following quiet roads and bridleways with some nice places to stop along the way.
I am currently in Bury St Edmunds, 2 days in to a 3 day Wolf Way trip, finishing in Felixstowe tomorrow. There is gravel on the wolf way route but was chatting tonight about how you could probably design it out for a really nice road ride. Day 1 for us was Felixstowe to Lowestoft and apart from ending up in Lowestoft was great. It was 130km but spilt it up over a few days and it would be lovely
The area around Sizewell (Leiston/Yoxford) can be a bit busy during the week due to the construction works. Accommodation in that part of the world can be a bit expensive as a result. I recommend that you base yourselves in or close to Orford/Snape (both have pubs with rooms but Orford has Pump Street Cafe). Message directly and I'll see if I can find some routes for you by us of the ferries you can get to Ipswich and back in a day and Fram/ Aldeburgh are in the other direction. South of the county towards the Essex border is quite lumpy. and rolling, not recommended unless you both want to work on your fitness.
We considered doing the Rebellion way this year. Perhaps foolishly given the way fitness buildup is going we're planning Traws Eyri instead but the route looks good.
Info says good for touring bikes so depends how pure roady you need.
https://www.cyclinguk.org/routes/long-distance/rebellion-way
Doing Wolf Way I'm skeptical on their claims regarding touring bikes. Cycling UK reckon you can do WW on anything with 30mm tyres albeit a gravel bike being ideal. There is a lot of road which would be fine but on a lot of the gravel sections you wouldn't make it on 30s.
I'd now take their advice with a pinch of salt
Some nice ideas thanks, was really thinking of rides out from a base location rather than one of the tour routes.
You could do worse than to find a place that's semi near the cost about half-way up and then finding loops that take in some nice places.
As peole have said, Orford might work for that because you can go north towards Walberswick/Southwold, or south towards Woodbridge/Felixstowe (if you want coast/river) or go further inland towards Fram or Stowmarket. The B1078 will take you pretty much in to mid-Suffolk with ways to dip off to Ipswich and other places along the way.
A word of warning though, it undulates the whole time. It's not as "flat" as legend would say.
Just want to reiterate this - there's no massive climbs, but that also means no massive descents to recover on either.
IME you have to watch out for the "invisible hill" of wind in some of the flatter areas.
Base yourselves inland (cheaper) but plan everything around where you'll eat at lunch time and in the evenings
Norfolk and Lincs are also worth considering (mostly Suffolk ^^)
The North Norfolk coast is really beautiful and relatively quiet before the schools break up. I’ve not looked but you can get great self catering cottages for about £50 each per night or a plush static caravan for similar money.
The cycling isn’t flat but there’s no big hills to deal with, lots of interesting places to see and a great choice of eateries. If the weather is kind, you could do a lot worse.
We were brought up in Lincolnshire so we're aware that flat is relative and winds are our enemy.
Though just as my plans were coming together apparently his employer thinks they may have another role to move him to!
North Norfolk Coast is very nice you'll not see much of it due to the A149 being an awful road to cycle on. The minor roads are exciting too during peak season and just before the school holidays.
If you want to explore Norfolk and Suffolk I reckon somewhere like Harleston would make a good base. Soooo many lanes in every direction and barely need to ride on a B road let alone an A road. The Waveney valley is particularly lovely. You are within reach of Reedham ferry too for even more options further in to Norfolk. I live in Peasenhall, Suffolk and all my favourite routes are north of here whether it's over to the coast near Covehithe, up to the southern broads or NW around Lopham fen.
I am in Stowmarket, no end of lanes to bimble along, plenty of good pubs on the way too.
