5-DAY CYCLE TOUR IN SUFFOLK AND NORFOLK IN JUNE 2020 …. WITH OPTIONS TO CYCLE THERE AND BACK

Starting in Bury St Edmunds in the Brecks region of western Suffolk heading south and taking a couple of days passing through the Wool Towns and into Constable Country, then turning east to Ipswich and north out to the Suffolk Coast. After finishing in Lowestoft the tour moves into South Norfolk and Norwich followed by a day cycling through the Broads and up to the North Norfolk coast. The final section takes us down to Kings Lynn and West Norfolk ending up in March in Cambridgeshire. The tour will be scheduled to start on a Friday and end on a Tuesday so that the Main Tour could be done as an extended long weekend with participants taking advantage of railways stations in both Bury St Edmunds and March for transport to the Start and from the Finish.

For those with time on their hands there is also the option to take two days cycling Out to the start at Bury St Edmunds, and then a further two days Back from the finish in March.

This is scheduled for early June 2020

SUFFOLK COUNTY – DAY 1 & 2 NORFOLK COUNTY – DAY 3, 4 & 5

Page Page 1 of 11 CTC Coventry Alan Jelley

This Tour is intended to have some different features from other tours I have done

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION – I will NOT be booking Hotel Accommodation for you. (The cheapest prices are on a ‘Book Now’ basis and I am not prepared to risk paying up front and then not have the numbers commit to the tour or have people drop out). You and your ‘buddy’ have the opportunity to book all accommodation for yourselves on the basis that suits you.

This will give you flexibility over whether or not you actually wish to participate in the tour (which should be particularly flexible for many of you who have a busy and committed lives), what accommodation you want to chose , and control over how and when you book and pay for your accommodation You get to chose the hotel, the style of the room and the facilities you want, and the price – and what contingency you wish to plan for in the event that you can’t make the tour.

I have offered up some suggestions in this planning document which reflect where I shall be booking – and in most cases where we are staying in the larger towns have selected chain hotels such as Travelodge and Premier Inn which should be able to accommodate all of us. In the small stops such as Fakenham and March I have given you what are the most obvious options and left it for you to choose. I would suggest that when you go to book accommodation unless you are just reserving accommodation and not paying upfront, that you might like to arrange your accommodation in Fakenham first as it is the overnight stay where there is most likely to be an issue of availability – then following that arrange your accommodation in March for the following night.

(Please watch out for the hotels individual sleeping arrangements – for example Premier Inn’s ‘Twin – Bed’ is in fact just a Camp bed put into the room alongside the in-situ Double bed !)

HEALTH WARNING ! - you need to be aware of the daily distances, which at up to 65 miles with panniers are not insignificant, and the fact that I will be using this as a ‘sightseeing tour’ and will be stopping to look at stuff….makes a combination which means we are likely to be needing to take advantage of the length of daylight in June to have long days with early starts and potential late finishes, and to be cycling ‘quite briskly’ when we are moving.

CHOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO – The tour has a 5-days CORE TOUR running from Friday 5th June 2020 starting in Bury St Edmunds through to Tuesday 9th June ending up in March. There are train options available for getting to the start in Bury St Edmunds and from the end in March. So, allied with the option to book your own accommodation, this could be a useful option for those of you who are still in gainful employment!

There are also two optional legs. The first to cycle 2-days OUT to Bury St Edmunds starting on the 3rd June and arriving on the 4th June for the start of the Core Tour. The second is at the end of the Core Tour to stay in March then leaving on the 10th March to take 2-days BACK finishing at Brandon on the 11th June. Once again, allied with the option to book your own accommodation and use the train you can do one or both of those.

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CYCLE OUT TO BURY ST EDMUNDS ITINERARY & ROUTE SHEETS

For those beginning the tour from Coventry area

Depart / Route Refreshments / POI Accommodation & Evening meal

OUT DAY ROUTE 16 miles – Long Buckby (Morning Stop) DESTINATION ACCOMMODATION O1 Born & Bred Cafe. Open Wednesday to Saturday 08.00 – 16.00 O1 Bourton - Bedford Premier Inn Priory Marina Hotel in Wednesday Bedford https://cycle.travel/map/jo rd 30 miles – Sywell (Midday Stop) Priory Marina, Priory Country Park, 3 June urney/108069 Pilots Mess Cafe on Sywell Airfield. Open 09.00-16.00 Barkers Lane, Bedford, MK41 9DJ, Phone: ?? Miles to get to Bourton + 01604 741 177 +44 3337773687 57 miles + 600m Ascent £67 per room Bourton on (We have used this before and it is a Dunsmore Meet at Blooms Garden 45 miles – Harrold (Afternoon Stop) reasonable choice. As it is so far out of to Bedford Centre, Bourton on Dragonfly Cafe on Harrold-Odell Country Park the town centre then I suggest it is the Dunsmore Carlton Rd, Harrold. Open 09.00-16.00 default) 01234 720016 Leave Blooms at 10.00 EVENING FOOD 57 miles – travel through Bedford centre to the hotel at the Marina Hotel is on the outskirts of Bedford so after what is probably a long and tiring day it is probably best to eat at the nearby Beefeater Restaurant

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Depart / Route Refreshments / POI Accommodation & Evening meal

OUT DAY ROUTE 21 miles – Bourn (Morning Stop) DESTINATION ACCOMMODATION O2 Stove Cafe, Manor Farm, 14 Alms Hill, Bourn 01954 713976 O2 Bedford - Bury Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday – 9:00-4:00 Premier Inn Bury St Edmunds Town Thursday Centre https://cycle.travel/map/jo 4th June urney/108071 New Shire Hall, The Churchyard, Raingate 31 miles- Visit Cambridge City Centre (Sightseeing + Midday Stop) St, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1RX 0871 527 65 miles + 600m Ascent College is close to where we cross the river for sightseeing 9512 £68 Bedford to Depart at 08.30 to give a Join the track back at the river bridge and head along the river to … Travelodge Bury St useful amount of time in Etna Rd, Bury St Edmunds IP33 1JZ 0871 Edmunds Cambridge THEN 984 6547 If people are staying in Fort St George Riverside Pub £49

different hotels then will Midsummer Common, Cambridge CB4 1HA

need to arrange a Which has outside seating and lots of space for our bikes. rendezvous place and time These hotels could also be used by those taking the train to Bury St Edmunds the 49 miles –Newmarket (Afternoon Stop) day before so they are ready to start the main tour the following day. Travelodge The Pantry Café In The Guineas-Shopping Centre, Fred Archer Way, Newmarket is 400m from Station whereas Premier CB8 8EQ Inn is about 1 mile from the station. Open until 11PM daily EVENING FOOD Many restaurants in the Town Centre a short walk away from the Premier Inn 65 miles – Arrive Bury St Edmunds city centre (If anyone is still in transit on the train we need to inform them as to where we intend to eat … and maybe delay somewhat to give them a chance to checkin and join us)

Page Page 4 of 11 CTC Coventry Alan Jelley MAIN TOUR ITINERARY AND ROUTE SHEETS

Depart / Route Refreshments / POI Accommodation & Evening meal & Bike Shops

MAIN ROUTE 15 miles – Lavenham (Morning Stop + Sightseeing) DESTINATION ACCOMMODATION TOUR DAY Choice of Refreshment stops on the High Street / Market Square T1 T1 Bury – Ipswich A Woollen weaving village - “Lovely timbered buildings, an ancient guildhall and Premier Inn Ipswich Town Centre graceful churches help to make Lavenham one of the most attractive and charming villages in Suffolk, .”. With a Harry Potter House and a Quayside Friday https://cycle.travel/map/jo urney/108292 cottage with a window where ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ was penned! 33 Key St, Ipswich IP4 1BZ 5th June £42 24 miles – Sudbury (Sightseeing) Silk and Woollen weaving town, for us, acting as the gateway into Constable and OR 57 miles + 600m Ascent Gainsborough country.” Bury St Depart at 08.30 as a longish 26 miles – Little Cornard (Route point) Travelodge Ipswich Edmunds 15 Duke St, Ipswich IP3 0AE•0871 984 day and much to stop and ½ mile of track to Ipswich 6329 look at on the way 35 miles – Stoke by Nayland (Midday Stop) Cycle £41 through Train travel is probably not The Angel Inn Restaurant Suffolk practicable on the day as Polstead Street, Stoke by Nayland +44 1206 263245 These two hotel options are about 400m Wool the journey from Coventry apart 43 – Dedham (Sightseeing) Towns and goes via London and takes Dedham is frequently rated as containing some of England's most beautiful EVENING FOOD then into over 3 hours …but we will Lowland landscapes, particularly the Water Meadows of the River Stour, which Constable be looking to make an passes along the northern boundary of the village forming the boundary between Lots of dining options in centre of Ipswich Country early start for a long day. the counties of Essex and Suffolk. along the River Stour Recommend that you 44 miles – Stratford St Mary (Afternoon stop) travel the evening before Hall Farm Café BIKE SHOP and stay in the Hotel in Church Rd, Stratford Saint Mary, Colchester CO7 6LS Torque Bikes Sudbury Bury St Edmunds used by Open until 5pm Mon - Sat Address: 70 Cross St, Sudbury CO10 2DJ the group cycling Out to 01787 379406 57 miles – Arrive Key St, Ipswich the Tour Start. See the Itinerary for OUT DAY O2

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Depart / Route Refreshments / POI Accommodation & Evening meal & Bike Shops

MAIN ROUTE 17 miles –Framlingham (Morning Stop + Sightseeing) DESTINATION ACCOMMODATION TOUR DAY Dancing Goat Café 33 Market Hill, Framlingham, T2 T2 Ipswich - Lowestoft Open 08.45 to 16.30 Travelodge Lowestoft https://cycle.travel/map/jo Leisure Way, Lowestoft NR32 4TZ Saturday Maybe cycle the Framlingham Town Trail £62 urney/108296 https://www.thesuffolkcoast.co.uk/shares/Framlingham-Town-Trail.pdf 6th June OR Ipswich to 65 miles + 500m Ascent 35 miles – Dunwich (Sightseeing + Midday Stop) Lowestoft ” Dunwich is one of The Suffolk Coast’s smallest villages, yet it Premier Inn Lowestoft Depart at 08.30 as another opens out onto an expanse of kaleidoscopic heathland rich with 249 Yarmouth Rd, Lowestoft NR32 4AA £87 very long days ride wildlife.” Cycle into the Heart of Flora Tearooms Beachside Café (mainly Fish & Chips) These two hotels are very close together Suffolk then Dunwich Beach, Dunwich +44 1728 648433 out to the OR Suffolk The Ship Inn EVENING FOOD Coast St James's St, Dunwich, Saxmundham IP17 3DT Many restaurant options in the Town Centre 45 miles – Southwold (Sightseeing)

“Southwold, perennially adored for its beach huts, fantastic pier, and charming coastal pubs” BIKE SHOP DUNX Cycles 49 miles –Near Wangford on A12 (Afternoon Stop) 100 High Street, Lowestoft. NR32 1XS. On the opposite side of the A12 – Take care 01502-218118, Plough Inn, London Road, Wangford, NR34 8AZ Open Sunday 10-4 Open All day every day

52 miles –Route point Short section crossing busy A12 – Take care

64 miles – Arrive Leisure Drive, Lowestoft

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Depart / Route Refreshments / POI Accommodation & Evening meal & Bike Shops

MAIN ROUTE 14 Miles – Beccles (Morning Stop) (might push on straight to DESTINATION ACCOMMODATION TOUR DAY Midday stop) T3 T3 Lowestoft – Norwich Twyfords Cafe Premier Inn, Duke Street, Norwich Exchange Square, Beccles NR34 9HL Duke St, Norwich NR3 3AP 0333 321 Sunday https://cycle.travel/map/jo urney/108169 Open 8 – 5 1369 7th June £53 Flexible £32 Pay Now/Non Flexible 38 Miles + 300m Ascent Lowestoft OR to Norwich Start 08.30 as although a 25 Miles – Chedgrave (Midday Stop) shorter distance day the White Horse Chedgrave Travelodge Norwich Central Riverside Cycle along sooner we get to Norwich 5 Norwich Road | Chedgrave, Loddon +44 1508 520250 8-12 St Vedast St,NR1 1BT 0871 984 6438 the valleys the more the opportunity Open 12.00 – 22.00 £31 of the River to look around the City Waveney and River Lots of other options Yare to 37 miles – Arrive Duke St, Norwich Norwich. Then explore the EVENING MEAL sights of the Choice of restaurants within easy walking city distance of the hotel although we could choose to eat somewhere in our perambulations around the city.

Page Page 7 of 11 CTC Coventry Alan Jelley

Depart / Route Refreshments / POI Accommodation & Evening meal & Bike Shops

MAIN ROUTE 15 Miles – North Walsham (Morning Stop) DESTINATION ACCOMMODATION TOUR DAY Swallows Coffee Shop T4 T4 Norwich – Fakenham 24A Market Place, North Walsham Wensum Lodge Hotel https://cycle.travel/map/jo OR Monday Cafe Kitale Bridge Street. Fakenham. NR21 9AY urney/108170 01328 862100 8th June 4 St. Nicholas Court, North Walsham +44 7375 504368 57 Miles + 600m Ascent Open 09.00 – 16.00 Mon - Sat [email protected] Norwich to http://www.wensumlodge.co.uk/ Fakenham 08.30 Start as a long ride Double / Twin £89 with quite a bit of Ascent. 26 Miles – Cromer (Midday Stop) Heading OR Rocket House Cafe north The Gangway, Cromer, England through the +44 1263 519126 Open 9 – 5pm Rampant Horse Pub Broads and 3 Queen's Rd, Fakenham NR21 8BS on to the 01328 862421 North Ensuite £60 inc Cereals & Juice breakfast Norfolk 39 Miles – Holt (Early Afternoon Stop) Coast. Then The Folly Tearoom turning 4 Hoppers Yard Bull Street +44 1263 713569 EVENING MEAL south and Fakenham Tandoori continuing 50 Miles – Little Walsingham (Late Afternoon Stop) Ornance Arms – Thai our Nortons Running Horse – British Pub Food ‘pilgrimage 26 Knight St, Walsingham ’ through Open 9am – 11pm Walsingha The history of Walsingham and its pilgrimages began in the 11th century with the BIKE SHOP m visions of the Virgin Mary by the lady Walsingham, Richeldis de Faverches. She Halfords - Holt Rd, Cromer NR27 9ST requested that a replica of the Holy House at Nazareth be built at Walsingham. This became 'England's Nazareth', a place of prayer and reconciliation and one of Europe's four great pilgrim places in the Middle Ages.

57 Miles - Fakenham

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Depart / Route Refreshments / POI Accommodation & Evening meal & Bike Shops

MAIN ROUTE 21 miles – Castle Rising DESTINATION ACCOMMODATION TOUR DAY Unique Tea Rooms, 37 Lynn Rd, King's Lynn PE31 6AF Wetherspoon Hotel T5 T5 – Fakenham – March 07501 721630 Jade Chambers, 15 Dartford Rd, March https://cycle.travel/map/jo PE15 8LA Tuesday OR urney/108171 26 miles – Kings Lynn (Midday stop + Sightseeing) th Ye Olde Griffin Hotel 9 June “The Hanseatic town of King’s Lynn was one of England’s most important ports from as early as the 12th century and this maritime past is still very much in 32 High St, March PE15 9JS Fakenham evidence today. Fine old merchants’ houses stretch down to the river between 01354 652517 to March 56 miles + 300m Ascent cobbled lanes and the elegant Custom House overlooks the harbour. The town’s OR heritage is reflected in an amazing array of historic buildings and at two The Oliver Cromwell Hotel 08.30 start as not a magnificent market places: Saturday Market Place, where St Margaret’s Church , Heading to High St, March PE15 9LH the western challenging day but need designated as a Minster Church in 2011 by the Bishop of Norwich, is surrounded by splendid buildings and Tuesday Market Place, quite possibly one of England’s 01354 602890 borders of time to explore Kings Lynn grandest squares.” Norfolk and en route the ancient Guidebook - https://www.visitwestnorfolk.com/wp- EVENING MEAL seaport of content/uploads/2018/04/1390-53-DKL-2018-WEB.pdf Kings Lynn Restaurant Two-Ten (Gastro style) Trains leave from March to and 46 miles – Wisbech (Afternoon stop) 210 Station Road, March PE15 8SQ Coventry every hour and crossing +44 1354 655520 take about three hours. Costa Coffee into the flat Unit 20 Horsefair Shopping Centre 01945 465107 Fenlands The last practicable train Gurkha Spice (Nepalese) leaves at around 21.30 Open until 6pm 2 Dartford Road, March PE15 8AB 56 miles – arrive at Hotel in March +44 1354 653388

MAIN TOUR ENDS BIKE SHOP Richardsons Cycles 120 London Rd, King's Lynn PE30 5ES Phone: 01553 767014

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CYCLE BACK TO COVENTRY ITINERARY & ROUTE SHEETS For those returning home by bike

Depart / Route Refreshments / POI Accommodation & Evening meal

BACK DAY ROUTE 18 Miles – Peterborough Cathedral (Sightseeing) DESTINATION ACCOMMODATION B1 “With one of the most dramatic West Fronts in the country, an extraordinary B1 March – creation of medieval architecture, it would be easy for the interior to be an Royal Hotel. Kettering Wednesday anticlimax, but it is not. The dramatic Romanesque interior is little altered since https://cycle.travel/map/jo its completion 800 years ago” Market Place, Kettering, NN16 0AJ 10th June urney/130351 19 Miles - Peterborough (Midday Stop) Or out of centre March to 54 miles with 500m of The Boathouse Chef & Brewer Kettering Ascent Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough PE3 6GA Open 11.00 – 23.00 Premier Inn Kettering Rothwell Rd, Kettering NN16 8FX 0871 30 Miles – Fotheringhay (Sightseeing) 09.00 start as not a 527 8564 challenging day but a “Remains of the castle Birthplace of Richard III, Mary, Queen of Scots was executed here” chance to see Peterborough Cathedral and take a slow 34 Miles – Oundle (Afternooon Stop) ride along the River Nene. Beans Coffee Stop Nothing special to see in 1 New Street, Oundle PE8 4EA, +44 1832 270007 Open until EVENING MEAL Kettering so no rush but 5pm watch for afternoon stop TBC closing time. 39 Miles – NT Lyveden (Sightseeing) Set in the heart of rural , Lyveden is a remarkable survivor of the Elizabethan age. Begun by Sir Thomas Tresham to symbolise his Catholic faith, Lyveden remains incomplete and virtually unaltered since work stopped on his death in 1605.

52 Miles – Arrive at Hotel in Kettering

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Depart / Route Refreshments / POI Accommodation & Evening meal

BACK DAY ROUTE 6 Miles – Rothwell (Sightseeing) B2 “Situated on Market Hill, designed by William Grumbold for the somewhat B2 Kettering – Brandon eccentric Thomas Tresham (1545–1605) who was also known as "Thomas the Thursday Builder" because of his passion for strange and unusual buildings. As a Catholic https://cycle.travel/map/jo at a time of religious persecution, he was to spend long periods in prison for his th beliefs. Unable to openly practise his faith, he encoded symbols of it into his 11 June urney/108073 buildings. The Rushton Triangular Lodge reflects the trinity and Market House is cross shaped.” Kettering 36 Miles with 500m Ascent to Brandon Relaxed start as a short day 12 Miles – Kelmarsh (Morning Stop)

Kelmarsh Hall, Main Rd, Kelmarsh, Northampton NN6 9LY Phone: 01604 686543 Open 11 – 4 daily

30 Miles – Newbold on Avon (Midday Stop) Newbold Crown Pub, 2 Main St, Newbold on Avon, Rugby CV21 1HW Open 12.00 – 23.00 daily

36 Miles – Brandon ( Tour End and Dispersal)

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