Walks you can reach from Needham Market by train

Field and meadow paths from Stowmarket's Greens Meadow, passing a marshy wildlife reserve on the approach to the isolated settlement of Dagworth, then on by pleasant field paths to the attractive green at Haughley, once the site of a market and fair.

Time: 4h

Walk details: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

A varied walk through gentle Suffolk countryside with contrasting natural habitats. The longer route leads through Norton Wood, an ancient woodland, across marsh and rough grazing in the shallow Black Bourn valley and the Grove Farm nature reserve, then on via Pakenham's parish church and parkland.

Norton Wood: one of Suffolk's many ancient woodlands.

Grove Farm: a Suffolk Wildlife Trust nature reserve of marsh and rough grazing.

Pakenham Church: an interesting medieval parish church set in verdant parkland.

Time: 4h30

Lunch: A welcoming pub in the centre of Norton village (on both routes).

Warnings: The marsh and rough grazing in the Black Bourn valley may be very wet underfoot in winter and spring. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

A walk of outstanding historical and architectural interest on field paths and quiet lanes, passing Rougham and Rushbrooke churches and following a road of Roman origin at Eastlow Hill, with a memorable approach to the historic town of Bury St Edmunds across No Man's Meadows.

Rougham Church: a lofty medieval church with East Anglian flint flushwork and a magnificent timber roof.

Rushbrooke Estate: the little church and parkland surviving from a Tudor mansion demolished in 1961.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral: its Millennium gothic tower, completed in 2005, dominates the approach across No Man's Meadows.

Bury St Edmunds

Time: 4h

Walk details: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

A walk through open countryside on the fringe of the Breckland, passing the attractive villages of Chippenham and Snailwell with their old chalk-rock ('clunch') buildings and the rare habitats of Chippenham Fen national nature reserve, before approaching Newmarket, the home of British horseracing.

Chippenham Fen: a National Nature Reserve where fen and breckland habitats merge, home to many rare species.

Newmarket

Time: 5h

Lunch: The villages of Chippenham and Snailwell offer good refreshment stops along the way.

Warnings: Keep well clear of racehorses where the path runs alongside exercise tracks or through paddocks near Newmarket.

Walk details: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

A long and rewarding cross-country walk, presented in two stages with a break point at Barrow village for those who prefer shorter rambles. From high ground near Desning there are long views towards the Fens, the route threading fields and pastures past the earthworks of ancient Denham Castle; the second half traverses the National Trust's Ickworth estate, with its rotunda house and Capability Brown parkland.

Denham Castle: the surviving earthworks of a medieval motte-and-bailey castle.

Ickworth Estate: a National Trust estate of 1,800 acres with a striking rotunda house and parkland partly laid out by Capability Brown.

Bury St Edmunds

Time: 9h

Lunch: Shops and pubs at Barrow, roughly the half-way point (buses from Barrow are infrequent, so check times and stops).

Walk details: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

A walk from isolated Dullingham station to Newmarket over chalk downland, the highlight being the mighty Devil's Dyke, an Anglo-Saxon earthwork rich in chalk-grassland plants and butterflies. Passes the village of Stetchworth and a former inn by the architect Voysey.

The Devil's Dyke: a great Anglo-Saxon defensive earthwork rich in chalk-grassland plants and butterflies.

Newmarket

Time: 3h

Warnings: Two miles of walking alongside the busy A1304 (avoidable by bus 12, or by following the adjoining exercise track in the afternoons when horses are absent); keep clear of racehorses.

Walk details: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

A long walk following the ancient Icknield Way Path through countryside dominated by the horse-racing industry, between manicured paddocks and across high ground with views over the Kennett valley towards Dalham Hall. Passes the medieval packhorse bridge at the picturesque village of Moulton.

Moulton Packhorse Bridge: a medieval flint packhorse bridge over the River Kennett in the picturesque village of Moulton.

Time: 7h

Walk details: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

A route across the fens on well-maintained but rutted field paths and climbing onto Devil's Dyke towards Newmarket. Crosses Newmarket racecourse. Take a copy of the route as turnings are easy to confuse.

Time: 5h30–10h30

Lunch: A pub at Swaffham Prior, roughly midway, plus pubs at both ends.

Warnings: The route crosses Newmarket racecourse, where access may be restricted on race days.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A pleasant, mainly rural walk on footpaths and farm tracks through farmland, with some stiles and a couple of kissing gates. The approach into Ipswich is along the busy Wherstead Road and which has a pavement but is tedious. A diversion to Pin Mill is highly recommended. St Michael's church near Ipswich high school is open to the public.

Time: 5h30–11h

Lunch: There is also a shop at Chelmondiston.

Warnings: Some stiles and a kissing gate; sheep in fields near the Ipswich high school.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Spectacular views. A long, direct route mixing waymarked footpaths, pavements and quiet country roads with no pavement. Narrow and uneven in places, especially crossing fields, with around ten stiles, a flight of steps and gates and several footbridges concentrated on the Drinkstone-to-Rougham stretch. Best broken at Woolpit, roughly the mid-point, which has shops and amenities. Not suitable for cyclists (use National Cycle Route 51).

Time: 6h30–12h30

Lunch: Woolpit has a Co-op, two pubs, a fish and chip shop and a bakery; Rougham has a convenience store en route.

Warnings: There is a fair amount of road walking on minor roads which can have more traffic on weekdays; numerous stiles and uneven field paths make it unsuitable for those with reduced mobility.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A lengthened route taking in Wicken Fen and Devil's Dyke.

Time: 5h30–11h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Mid Anglia Rail Passengers Association (PDF).

A long route passing under the Orwell Bridge and out towards Levington, then following good public rights of way down to Felixstowe and before being let down by busy roads through the town. A better finish follows the promenade past the pier.

Time: 7h–14h30

Warnings: The route through Felixstowe follows busy roads; a pleasanter alternative uses the promenade and pedestrianised Hamilton Road.

Walk details: Slow Ways.