Best walks to or from Stowmarket

Bury St Edmunds Station to Stowmarket Station

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).

Tough: 23km. Moderate ascents.

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.

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

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route

Stowmarket Station to Needham Market Station

An off-road trail following the winding River Gipping, taking in flora, fauna, mills, bridges, boardwalks and disused locks, with the riverside becoming increasingly industrial toward Stowmarket. Some stiles, steps and overgrown sections of nettles, thistles and long grass; muddy in winter and with short boarded lengths. The whole route follows the River Gipping, so it is hard to get lost. Rich in river wildlife including damselflies, banded demoiselles and dragonflies. Check whether the closed bridge near the Muntons maltings (52.17250, 1.02633) has been repaired before setting out.

Easy: 6km, gentle ascents.

A small wooden bridge near where the path goes under the railway is unsafe and the path is officially closed, with a notice to find an alternative; several other little wooden bridges have been broken. Parts can be incredibly overgrown.

Lunch: A farm and farm shop near Needham Market.

Documented by Slow Ways — download GPX route