You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
We are looking at selling up and relocating to Suffolk from the Home Counties - my family are in Woodbridge and Framlingham, and work will likely be in Martlesham. We're looking to live in one of the villages just north of Ipswich.
Any locals with some (up to date) insider knowledge they can share? I'm aware that the enduro bike will be somewhat wasted, what with lack of hills...
Hints, tips, ideas, suggestions, offers of riding buddies and cheeky trails all gratefully received, both riding and non-riding...
Watches with interest.
I'm looking to do simiiar. We like Fram and are looking for a place there or in a village close by. Don't know of much in the way of trails thereabouts though. We like the estuaries too and Iken/Snape are on the list especially with the mtb trail nearby. Will follow this thread with interest!
Sister in law and family live in Rendlesham.
They like the weather and the fact they have good work (nurse and nuclear engineer).
I think Rendlesham is toy town, lacking even basic village shop etc. They were in Tunstall before, ace local pub and nice character that Rendlesham lacks. All gets very busy in summer.
The riding is 'different', but funnily enjoyable.
Nice part of the world, but not for me without hills...
Ipswich born and (although not in)bred. Not lived there for a few years but still have family and friends there.
As you say, not the place for a big bike, but theres less technical stuff on Martlesham heath, Theford forest etc. Historically a fair bit of bmx / dirt jump too - Foxhall woods, Braziers woods (ages ago), BMX track is decent, concrete skatepark is okay is that's your kind of thing.
Lots of quiet b-roads, byways etc - good place to have a CX / Gravel bike and go explore.
Coast is nice too - Aldeburgh, walberswick etc.
Some good tips already - keep them coming. Already have an underused gravel bike and looking forward to hitting some back lanes and byways. Some good reports about Tunstall Forest - is this the best local option still?
@plop-pants - we love Fram too (sausage festival is ace) but a shade far north for a short commute to the rentals and work. Brother in law farms in Kettleburgh. Will likely end up in Tuddenham, Grundisburgh or Great Bealings. Look me up for a pint and a pedal if you ever make the leap!
Some good reports about Tunstall Forest – is this the best local option still?
As an occasional visitor, I enjoy it. Rendlesham forest has few trails and jump park. Get the OS map out and there are lots of nice farm and Forest tracks to connect.
Probably best to leave expectations of any gnar at the county border...
That said, there is a reasonable amount of riding, but just expect any downhill of tech fun to come in (very) short bursts.
Tunstall as above has a fun, waymarked loop and a friendly riding group (Trog) who ride Sunday mornings usually.
There is a bike park with an xc loop currently under construction just East of Ipswich (look up Twisted Oaks on facebook).
Thetford not too far and has some good offpiste and a couple of trails. Few bits in Essex too.
A small group of us usually ride Thursday nights, alternating between Dunwich forest, Tunstall and Ipswich. Drop me an email if you're heading up this way and fancy a ride.
Ps Ipswich itself is grim but I'm from Norwich so a bit biased!
Expect to do a lot of slow extra mileage, my sister has just sold up in Fressingfield and moved to Norwich it's nice but expensive and very rural and a pain to get anywhere it's 15 miles to the sea but takes 45 minutes to get there !
Tunstall has the Viking trail with is a decent enough 10 miles XC trail with off piste stuff to explore can link it with Rendlesham, can also go south into Essex to Hadliegh Park and riding the Olympic course there