The Wolf Way
The Wolf Way is a 248 mile/400km cycling adventure around Suffolk. Winding its way around many of the best bridleways, and gravel tracks.
Home - Wolf Way Suffolk
Wolf Way - Google My Maps showing POIs
Start / Finish
Abbey Gardens marks the start and finish of the route, by the statue of St Edmund and his protector the Wolf.
More about the Wolf sculptures https://statues.vanderkrogt.net/object.php?webpage=ST&record=gbee036
Bury St Edmunds - Greene King Brewery tours - https://shop.greeneking.co.uk/pages/brewery-tours
Bury St Edmunds - Abbey Gardens - https://www.visit-burystedmunds.co.uk/business-directory/abbey-gardens
Bury St Edmunds - Cathedral - https://stedscathedral.org
Wooden Wolf Statue
Carved statue of the wolf and a storybook about the legend of St. Edmund Britain's 1st Saint, and his protector the Wolf.
Bradfield Woods
The Coppiced Ash trees here are thought to be some of the oldest living things in the UK. According to the records from Bury St Edmunds Abbey, coppicing was taking place in Bradfield from 1252. The late, great Oliver Rackham, who helped save this wood from being grubbed up during the 1970s and studied it in depth, was certain some of the ash stools were even older, possibly dating back 1,000 years; their footprint sprawling for metres in the understorey, furred in moss and memory. They are the oldest living things in Suffolk, deeply rooted in human history.
Crash Site of B17G
The crash site of the flying fortress B17G, marked with a plaque, and a little further down the trail, you’ll find a memorial dedication with some remnants of mangled metal and a board detailing what happened on 27 th March 1944. https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-38085/
Wreckage and Memorial
More details of what happened to the B17G on 27th March, 1944
Lavenham
Co-The Medieval wool town of Lavenham, with its half-timbered houses and 15 th Century church. The town has featured in several movies including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and the Crooked House on the High Street inspired the nursery rhyme ‘there was a crooked man’. There are many cafes and shops in Lavenham including a local Co-op.
Cafe Como
Close by is the similarly picturesque Brent Eleigh – where you can stop for a coffee and cake in the lovely gardens of Café Como, a popular cycle destination
Long Melford
Setting for BBC's Lovejoy and Favourite place for artists Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable, there are several cafes and pubs and also a local Co-op.
Sudbury
Old Eastern Railway line running to Long Melford, is now a shared cycleway, the valley trail and runs through some of East Anglia's oldest continuously grazed meadows. Sudbury is the ‘spot’ where the wonderful story ‘101 Dalmatians’ by Dodie Smith, is set. If you visit the water trough opposite Sudbury Town Hall and look closely you will find a plaque, which records the location as the very same place that Pongo pauses to listen out for the twilight bark on his search for the lost puppies.
Orchard Ley - Holloway
One of several Holloways or 'sunken roads' found on the route. The shorter Wolf Cub route has the amazing 'Grundel' Holloway, near Stanton.
St. Stephens Chapel
Take a diversion up Cuckoo Hill and visit St Stephen's Chapel for views across the valley of the Bures Dragon, carved into the hillside. On Christmas Day 855, history tells us, Bishop Humbert of Elmham anointed a 14-year-old boy as King of the East Angles. The boy was Edmund, the chosen heir of King Offa, and his Coronation was documented at `Burva`. The chronicler Galfridus de Fontibus also described the coronation as having taken place at "Bures", which is an ancient royal hill. It is the general belief that this was the lonely hilltop, where St Stephen's Chapel now stands.
Arger Fen & Spouse's Vale
Nature reserve, ancient woodland and wet meadows, amazing bluebells in Spring.
Hadleigh
Old Hadeigh to Reydon Wood Railway line, now a multi-use trail and sustrans cycle route. There's a Gregs that opens early and also the Fork Kitchen & Deli.- https://www.hadleighfork.co.uk
Ipswich
Follow the river Orwell along Albion Wharf and out through Holywell Park, Ipswich has many places to stay and eat. The route goes right by the Suffolk archive which holds 900 years of Suffolk's history, to satisfy even the most curious of minds, there's also a cycle friendly cafe there.
Trimley Marshes
Stunning views over the Marshes, home to Marsh Harriers, and a plethora of wading birds, Wigeon, Teal, Redshank, giving rise to an amazing avian carcophany when the sun is low in the sky.
Felixstowe Promenade
Along the promenade in the Edwardian Seaside town of Felixstowe, past the pier and newly installed Ferris Wheel. Discover the rich military and maritime heritage of Landguard Fort, one of England's best preserved coastal defences, with a history spanning almost 450 years. It is also the site of the last opposed seaborne invasion of England in 1667, and the first land battle of the Royal Marines.
Felixstowe to Bawdsey Ferry
The Felixstowe to Bawdsey Ferry runs from Easter until October and is an optional part of the Suffolk Coast Path and Regional Cycle Route 41
Bawdsey Radar Museum
On 24th September 1937, RAF Bawdsey became the first fully operational radar station in the world. For more info and details of opening times check the website: History • Bawdsey Radar
Shingle Street Shell Line
The Shingle Street Shell line, a remote and beautiful section of the Suffolk Coast, not far from Bawdsey. When illness brought two friends together here, they created the line of white Shells stretching out to the sea, it's organic and flowing and feels like it was always part of the landscape.
Staverton Park
Staverton Park and the Thicks, which has to be one of the most magical places in the UK, where the countrie's tallest Holly trees tower over ancient pollard Oaks it is place of Tolkienesque wonder and beauty, with its hordes of marching Ents and should not be missed.
It also appears multiple times as a filming location of the 'lunch tree' in The Detectorists.
UFO Landing Site
Rendlesham Forest location of a Britain’s Roswell-equivalent UFO siting, near RAF Woodbridge, and marked by a UFO trail which leads you to the mothership in the heart of the Forest. Somewhere between Rendlesham and Orford is the mysterious 'Pleasant Green' subject of several BBC dramas based on HP Lovecraft mysteries.
The Truth is out there...
Snape
Snape Maltings has offers stunning views over the tidal river Alde, there several places to eat and a couple of nearby pubs.
Orford
Orford Ness, where you can take a ferry over to Europe’s largest Shingle Spit and explore the Nature Reserve that was once a military Radar and atomic testing site. There is a recently restored castle and several places to eat.
Pump Street Chocolate Makers & Bakery & https://pumpstreetchocolate.com/pages/the-bakery
Oysters and Smokehouse - restaurant and shop https://www.pinneysoforford.co.uk
Orford Ness
On Orford Ness, the “untrue island”, a ten-mile-long shingle spit, the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment tested and perfected the physics of death: now the structures in which those experiments took place in the 1950s—70s are decaying back into the land, though the ten-foot body of a WE-177A nuclear weapon still lies in a green metal gurney on-site — oddly, warily worshipped: as to king, so to bomb.” Robert McFarlane.
Thorpness
Thorpeness is Suffolk’s unique holiday village, created in the Edwardian period, it has Tudor and Jacobian style homes, including the ‘House in the Clouds’ and the Magical Mere, a Peter Pan inspired boating lake. There are a number of cafes and pubs.
The Kitchen - https://thekitchenatgroup.co.uk/the-cafe
Sizewell
At the Leiston Gap you’ll see the imposing hulk of the Sizewell B Power station, and can stop for a brew at the ‘Sizewell Tea’ café and spot seals swimming in the warm sea there.
Minsmere
A spectacular bridleway through the heart of the Minsmere RSPB reserve takes you to Dunwich.
Leiston Abbey Chapel
October 2020 saw the fabrication and installation of a large, colourful contemporary glass “window” into the ancient ruined chapel which stands in the grasslands of RSPB Minsmere. The artwork was created by Arabella Marshall in her studio in Suffolk. The installation launches an ongoing project using art of all kinds to inspire us to deepen our affinity with the natural environment, recognising that it is our essence and calling on us to be the best guardians we can possibly be.
Dunwich
Dunwich was once the Capital City of the East Angles, until the harbour became blocked in a huge 13 th century storm, and coastal erosion destroyed it, some of the old Priory remains, and Dunwich beach is the destination of the Overnight Cycle ride the Dunwich Dynamo, every Summer.
Southwold
Southwold is next, home to the famous Pier, Lighthouse and the Adnams Brewery, and a great place for fish and chips on the sea wall or any other of the cornucopia of foody delights, including George Orwell’s family home, now a fish and chip shop at the end of the high street.
Adnams Brewery - tours and tastings - beer & gin, plus the Lighthouse
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a busy harbour town, and you’ll have to join the traffic to cross over the Waveney’s inner harbour, but you’re soon back onto a quite cycle path heading for the UK’s most Easterly point, marked with a giant compass pointing to nearby cities over the seas, giving you the distance were you able to glide there like an albatross. You follow a lovely section of Euro-Velo Route 12, the North sea coastal route, along the sea wall, until you reach Links Road which climbs steeply back up into the city.
When Jozef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowksi disembarked in Lowestoft, in June 1878, he could not speak a word of English. The Polish mariner then signed on as a crew member of the Skimmer of the Sea, a small coaster which sailed out of Lowestoft. Korzeniowksi received his first English lessons from the ship’s master and went on to become famous as Joseph Conrad, one of the leading writers of the 20th century. The route goes right by the Whetherspoons 'Joseph Conrad'.
Oulton broad
Now you follow more cycle paths and quieter roads back to re-cross the Waveney at Oulton Broad, a popular park with cafes overlooking the water, on the edge of the Broads National Park.
The Saints
The Saints are a group of villages in the north of the English county of Suffolk , between the rivers Blyth and Waveney near to the border with Norfolk . The villages are all named after a saint (that of their parish church ), and either South Elmham or Ilketshall named after the 'hall of Alfkethill'. Known by locals as 'up the Parishes' the area is found between the market towns of Halesworth , Harleston , Bungay and Beccles .
St Peter's Brewary
The terrain opens up to vast skies as youcontinue through the The Saints , with St Peter’s Brewery a lonely oasis in this fenland landscape. Note, the restaurant only caters for wedding events so you'll only be able to buy beer in the shop.
USAAF WW2 Memorial
On the approach to Harleston there is a memorial for 446th bomb group, the nearby aviation museum in Flixton houses many of the old photos and memorabilia.
St Edmund Memorial
St Edmund's Memorial, Hoxne is a memorial which claims to mark the spot where St Edmund was killed by the Vikings in the Suffolk village of Hoxne . The monument is a Grade II listed building located in a field 95m east of Abbey Hill. [1] The monument refers to an oak tree which fell under its own weight in the mid nineteenth century.
Hoxne
Hoxne, where St Edmund was Martyred, his hiding place under the Goldbrook Bridge being given away by a glint of his gold spurs to a newly married couple. St Edmund put a curse on all couples crossing the bridge on their way to get married, which is still strong to this day. Hoxne is also the site where the Hoxne Hoard was found, Britain’s largest collection of silver and gold coins, now residing in the British museum and said to be worth over £2.6M.
Mellis
Next you will reach Mellis, with its beautiful common, and ride down Cow Pasture Lane, which was famously saved by local environmentalist and author Roger Deakin, whose novel Waterlog, revitalised wild swimming in Britain, and spent years restoring and tending Walnut Tree Farm to be a haven for wildlife.
Knettishall Heath
Eventually you’ll arrive at Knettishall Heath another SSSI, and start point of the Peddars Way, an ancient Roman road linking the Icknield Way with the Norfolk Coast at Holme-next-the-sea, the Angles Way and Iceni Way also meet here. If you’re lucky you might catch a glimpse of the Exmoor ponies.
Berner's Heath
You Join the Icknield Way here and follow wide sandy tracks through the Euston Estate to Berner's Heath, past an old concrete tank target, used for training in WWII, then down the rutted rollercoaster tracks of Deadman’s Grave.
Cavenham Heath
Cavenham Heath, SSSI and stopover place for Stone Curlews at the end of Summer. The heath offers 3 trails; a Woodland Trail which is a very peaceful easy access route, a Heathland Trail which is more adventurous but offers wonderful views across the Lark Valley and a Wetland Trail, a more demanding route alongside the River Lark.
Thingoe Hill
With views over the city and a gentle roll down to the train station.
Useful links to activities and places of interest around Suffolk
Discover Suffolk
Discover Suffolk, Suffolk County Council’s guide to getting outdoors in Suffolk. Promoting walking, cycling and riding in Suffolk. Explore walking, cycling and riding guides, promoted trails & easy access routes in Suffolk. There's also a great free app that includes OS-mapping.
Suffolk Steps
Suffolk Steps is collection of local historic walks and trails developed by museums and partners throughout Suffolk during the Covid pandemic. The walks were designed to help all ages stay active and explore Suffolk’s local history.
The Suffolk Coast
The Suffolk Coast Ltd Destination Management Organisation (DMO) was formed in 2012, with the purpose of promoting the Suffolk Coast as a visitor destination. We are the official tourism organisation for East Suffolk, representing the Suffolk Coast as a destination, helping with long-term travel and tourism strategy.
Visit East of England
Visit East Anglia operates Visit East of England. It is a not-for-profit business-led private company limited by guarantee without share capital.
Visit Suffolk
Visitsuffolk.com is run under contract by Visit East Anglia Ltd and works alongside Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) throughout the county to support tourism development and engagement with local businesses. The overall objective is to increase visitor numbers and spend within the county by promoting the county’s offer at a regional and national level.
Coast and Heaths AONB
Coast & Heaths was designated in 1970 with the purpose of conserving and enhancing the habitats and biodiversity of the special heathlands, woodlands, estuaries and coast. The Partnership and team provide a lead on key issues that affect its future, supporting and facilitating the work of others.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust
Suffolk Wildlife Trust is part of a UK-wide network of Wildlife Trusts. It is the only charity dedicated wholly to safeguarding Suffolk's wildlife and countryside.