Family Activities in The Stour Valley

RSPB Wildlife Garden Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) 5 11 Amy’s Acorn’s Forest School & 14 The Kitchen@Boathouse 17 , Sudbury CO10 9BA Outdoor Activities Mill Lane, Dedham CO7 6DH Flatford Rd, CO7 6UL Kentwell Hall runs family events throughout Cafe/Bistro with traditional rowing boat hire A family-friendly wildlife garden designed to Stour Valley and surrounding Wool Towns the year including Children’s Weekends and Old School Wood, Gt Waldingfield CO10 0TJ on the beautiful River Stour. inspire visitors with ideas for their own gardens. Historical Re-creations. Forest School toddler sessions, family events, kids only dedhamboathouse.com rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/flat- Stour Valley Path kentwell.co.uk days and birthday parties in the woods. 01206 323253 ford-wildlife-garden 01787 310207 facebook.com/Amy-Acorns-Forest-School-Outdoor-Activi- 01206 391153 Wool Towns ties-326345227999203

Visitor Information 4 Melford Country Park 15 Canoeing on the River Stour 18 The Field Studies Council, Borley Road, Long Melford CO10 9HH 12 Dyehouse Field Wood - Anglia Adventures Place to stay - Camping and glamping Walk, cycle, picnic and enjoy exploring 8 hectares of open space, woodland and and The Walk Flatford & Dedham area East Bergholt CO7 6UL riverbank. Bury Road, Lavenham CO10 9QG Family canoeing adventures – book a Mini-Canoe The Centre provides a variety of activities for facebook.com/LongMelfordCountryPark To Bury Self-guided family orienteering at this beautiful Expedition individuals, families and school groups.

Crown copyright. 01787 378084 St Edmunds woodland, and a walk along a disused railway line. angliaadventures.co.uk field-studies-council.org/flatfordmill 01787 247728 07594 304400 01206 391153 3 Meadows Boxted Foxearth, Sudbury CO10 7HZ 16 Dedham Vale River Trips 19 Flatford, National Trust All rights reserved. © County Council. Licence LA100023395 A haven for wildlife where families can get closer to nature and follow a quiz trail. To Newmarket - River Stour Trust Flatford, East Bergholt CO7 6UL arocha.org.uk/our-activities/practical-conserva- Opposite , Flatford CO7 6UL Easy access for all the family to beautiful tion/foxearth-meadows countryside and riverside walks. Scheduled and chartered boat trips on the Reserve Manager 07548 209652 LAVENHAM Dedham Vale section of the River Stour. nationaltrust.org.uk/flatford Great 01206 298260 Wratting A1141 riverstourtrust.org/river-trips 01787 313199 Cavendish 1 3 2 Clare Castle Country Park Kedington CLARE 20 Constable Park Malting Lane, Clare CO10 8NW LONG 2 Riversend, 35 acres for relaxation: River Stour, ponds, HAVERHILL MELFORD 5 castle ruins, railway heritage, nature, cafe, Foxearth 8 To Bergholt Road, CO11 1QR B111 play areas. Stoke by Clare Great Facilities include: riverside café, kayak clarecastlecountrypark.co.uk and paddleboard hire and other action 01787 277902 Sturmer Waldingfield adventure activities, glamping and SUDBURY cabins to stay. facebook.com/constablepark.co.uk HADLEIGH 07594 304400 1 East Town Park 4 OPENING SUMMER 2021 Steeple A1071 Boxford Coupals Road, Haverhill CB9 7UR Bumpstead Great 9 50 acres of wildlife haven for all the family Cornard to explore, picnic and play. Bulmer To Ipswich westsuffolk.gov.uk/leisure/Parks/easttownpark.cfm 01440 710745 Great Eastern Tw instead Main Line to Ipswich The Ultimate Family Camping Experience 5 Stoke-by- The Stour Valley o ers a great range of family-friendly places to stay, from ‘o -grid’ wild camping and glamping Higham adventures to traditional campsites with more home comforts. Use your campsite as a base to explore the 6 Sudbury Water surrounding area and let your adventure begin! Lamarsh Meadows To Halstead Stratford East Bergholt 1. Suffolk Retreats On the banks of the River Stour – camping, Melford Road, Sudbury CO10 1JT Bures Nayland St Mary 13 Arger Fen glamping, campfires, canoe hire. Beautiful scenery and riverside trails. Cattawade Hundon CO10 8DR The tranquil landscape includes the River 6 & Spouse’s Vale Luxury yurts, handcrafted in traditional rushbankscampsite.co.uk Boxted Stour, wildlife, mill cottages and a weir. Near , Sudbury CO8 5BN Mongolian style, with authentic lanterns 7. Lower Dairy Farm Shop sudburycommonlandscharity.org 7 Dedham and candles. Flatford Spectacular springtime Nayland CO6 4JS 07971 665870 bluebells. Families can explore suffolkretreats.co.uk Wormingford Great Nearly Wild Camping – get off grid and back to Horkesley Langham the woods and spot the nature 2. Rum Bridge Fishery and nature at this secluded campsite beside the that lives there. River Stour. suffolkwildlifetrust.org/arger-fen Glamping Complex lowerdairyfarm.co.uk Stour Valley 01473 890089 Clare CO10 8HG 7 Tipis, bell tents, pods and lodges – camping and 8. White Adventure Centre Gainsborough line glamping retreat, fishing lakes and tackle shop. Horse Riverside Restaurant, 43 Cross to rumbridge.co.uk Edwardstone CO10 5PX Street, Sudbury CO10 2DL To 3. Clockhouse Farm A pub and microbrewery, with self-catering Guided or self-guided canoe, kayak, to Colchester and cottages, camping and caravan site. paddleboard, bicycle, foot Caravan Park edwardstonewhitehorse.co.uk and camping adventures. Glemsford CO10 7PZ stourvalleyadventurecentre.com Caravan and camping site with separate area for 9. Polstead Camping & 01206 700707 tents so children can play safely. Caravanning Club Site Stour Valley Education Network clockhousefarmcaravanpark.co.uk Polstead CO6 5BZ 4. Willowmere Camping Caravan/camping pitches with children’s 10 White Dragon Archery play area. 8 Sudbury River Trips Colne Rd, Bures CO8 5DJ & Caravan Park polsteadtouring.com An archery experience – offering have-a-go GO… Stour Valley Discovery Factsheets CO10 0NN campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/suf- - River Stour Trust activity sessions, coaching and Pond dipping Caravan and camping site close to the River Stour, folk/polstead/polstead-camping-and-caravanning-club-site The Granary, Quay Lane, Sudbury hands-on history. surrounded by lakes and meres. whitedragonarchery.com CO10 2AN Bug hunting The Stour Valley Education Network (SVEN) is willowmerecaravanpark.com 07724 912334 Scheduled and chartered boat trips and Nature walking a group of outdoor learning organisations 5. Little Ropers family events on this section of the from across the Stour Valley who are involved River Stour. Bat detecting in environmental education. As well as Woodland Camping riverstourtrust.org/river-trips working with schools and groups, SVEN run a Bures CO8 5JX 01787 313199 9 Daws Hall Nature Reserve Scavenger hunting range of activities for children and their A ‘wild’ camping experience, a small parcel families where they connect and learn about Henny Road, Lamarsh CO8 5EX Arts & craȭing their local environment. Visit of woodland in a tranquil rural setting. A wildlife haven dedicated to environmental littleroperswoodlandcamping.co.uk dedhamvalestourvalley.org/managing/projects/sven education. Families are invited to enjoy set Canoe or Boating for SVEN partner contact details and to 6. Rushbanks Farm open days. download a copy of the Stour Valley dawshallnature.co.uk Wild camping Discovery Factsheets on the Valley's heritage, 01787 269766 For a FREE copy email dedhamvale.project@suffolk.gov.uk or download from dedhamvalestourvalley.org Caravan & Camping Site culture, landscape, wildlife and River Stour. Wissington CO6 4NA Stargazing rushing over a sluice gate or play pooh Beauty, which all support numerous Top Family Activities in the Stour Valley sticks on a bridge. Take a canoe or boat wildlife conservation initiatives. trip through one of the operators and Exploring at a slower pace… • Discover Suffolk enjoy the tranquillity of being on the Go on an adventure outside before Take a family nature walk and let the discoversuffolk.org.uk/walking water - spot a streaking blue kingfisher sunrise and listen to the dawn chorus children run wild and free. You can • Suffolk Walking Festival and damselflies dancing over the water. (springtime is the loudest!) Follow explore the Valley and Wool Towns by suffolkwalkingfestival.co.uk nature trails to see the wildlife that is foot using quiet country lanes and • Walks living in the Stour Valley. In spring the public paths. There are a range of essexwalks.com woodlands are covered in a carpet of guided and self-guided walks, see below Bringing heritage alive bluebells and in summertime meadows for more information: Whether it be climbing to the top of the and verges are full of orchids and castle motte at Clare Castle Country wildflowers. Park or going to the splendid Kentwell See activity providers overleaf and Hall, the history and archaeology of the Family Canoeing, River Stour Trust Nature and Wildlife in the Stour Valley Stour Valley tells some fascinating guide for more... stories. Families can try archery or look Getting closer to nature for the legendary Bures dragon etched • Watch a ‘Constable cloud’ Stour Valley Food on the hillside. The dragon is best • Hug a tree Treat yourselves to edible delights from viewed from St Stephen’s Chapel CO8 • See ducks dabble award-winning farmers markets and 5LD where visitors can also see stained • Hear woodpigeons ‘coo’ top-quality pubs and restaurants, cafes, glass and medieval graffiti. Check • Find a ‘whomping’ willow artisan food and ‘field to fork’ website before visiting – the chapel is • Look for rainbows producers (for the grown-ups only - pop on private ground with access by • Jump in muddy puddles into one of four vineyards producing a permissive footpath. • Throw fallen leaves in the air Stour Valley tipple!). • Hadleigh Town Guides bures-online.co.uk/chapel/chapel_barn.htm • Find colours in nature Pack a picnic and choose your perfect visithadleighsuffolk.co.uk • Look for animal tracks spot – whether it be a spectacular view • Sudbury Town Guides The Wool Towns of the Stour Valley - • Spot 5 di erent leaves of the Stour Valley Landscape, nestled sudburytowncouncil.co.uk Clare, Long Melford, Sudbury, Lavenham • Spot 10 di erent birds in a woodland, by a river bank or • Lavenham Town Guides and Hadleigh are some of the historic building. lavenham.onesuffolk.net/hub/visitor- best-preserved historic towns and See Stour Valley Food Trail for more… information prettiest villages in the region. • Dyehouse Field Wood and The Exploring them can feel like stepping Big night skies – spend a night under the stars Lavenham Walk (see Map for details) back in time to the 15th century, when Get wrapped up and go outside at dusk • Clare Walkers (programme of the wool trade was at its peak. when skies are clear. Watch for barn self-guided, weekly health walks and See Wool Towns of the Stour Valley owls gliding over tussocky grass and volunteer-led walks) visit-clare.co.uk guide for more… bats flitting around your heads as they • Suffolk Threads Trails begin a night’s hunting, except in visitsuffolk.com/blog/suffolk-threads-tr Paddling the River Stour Pond dipping, David Taylor winter when bats hibernate. Families ails.aspx The textile industry was focused along can enjoy the drama of a beautiful • Stour Valley Path, a 60 mile long- the River Stour and its tributaries. Experiencing nature is good for people’s sunset and experience a campfire with distance route that can be broken down Riverside mills (some still stand today) health and wellbeing. Come rain or one of the permitted campsites or into short sections for the whole family processed the wool and working barges, shine, the Stour Valley provides a home adventure providers. Listen for wildlife to enjoy. A series of 'Walks off the Stour known locally as Stour Lighters, for over 1,500 plants, 175 birds and of the night – you may hear tawny owl Valley Path' and short circular walks navigated the Stour. With the river almost 1,000 moths, including iconic or little owl hooting, fox or muntjac around several picturesque Stour Valley gently meandering through this species such as black poplar and cricket calling, or if lucky, the loud snuffles of towns and villages can be downloaded outstandingly beautiful landscape, it’s a bat willow. The area has many nature a hunting hedgehog. Go stargazing and here: special place to simply ‘be’ in the reserves, designated wildlife sites and spot a shooting star - away from the dedhamvalestourvalley.org/visiting moment. Watch and listen to the water protected areas, including the Dedham streetlights the Stour Valley has some of Vale Area of Outstanding Natural the most beautiful night-time skies.

Visiting the Stour Valley The Stour Valley is a nationally significant area for landscape and heritage, positioned on the border between Essex and Suffolk – and under an hour by train from London. It’s the perfect getaway for families to relax and reconnect with Family Activities in beautiful surroundings, get closer to nature, see the local sights and get active in the great outdoors. The Stour Valley offers a wide range of activities for the whole family to enjoy including exploring picture-perfect villages and countryside by foot the Stour Valley or bicycle, paddling on the River Stour and stepping back in time with the area’s special heritage attractions and historic towns. Visit the Stour Valley for a Family Adventure The Stour Valley offers memory-making experiences and adventures for the whole family to enjoy from getting closer to nature, with wildlife themed activities, to wild camping and glamping under the stars. Get active on the water by taking a canoe or boat trip, try your hand at archery, find a castle, and glimpse a dragon on the hillside. You can step back in time with a visit to the picturesque Wool Towns or majestic manor houses. Consider staying a while longer to relax and enjoy the area, exploring at a slower pace by foot or bicycle.

Visiting the Stour Valley

Please consider travelling sustainably where possible. There are good links to the Stour Valley on the Gainsborough rail line between Marks Tey and Sudbury, and there are bus routes throughout the area. For up to date local public transport timetables, contact Traveline on: traveline.info or 0871 200 22 33.

For detailed maps of the area, use Ordnance Survey Explorer Map No’s. 196 (Sudbury, Hadleigh and the Dedham Vale), 210 (Newmarket and Haverhill), 211 ( and ) and 195 (Braintree and Saffron Walden)

Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project Email: [email protected] Tel: 01394 445225 Web: www.dedhamvalestourvalley.org

Leaflet produced November 2020. Improving the Stour Valley for Visitors is a business development project to support high quality visitor products and services, funded by:

The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas Printed on Recycled, FSC, ECF, Carbon Balanced Paper Explore the Stour Valley with a series of guides Front cover image: Photo credit J, Tilley