Description
Book SynopsisFollowing the same format as Bradt's Cycling in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, this new cycling guide to East Anglia offers 21 routes for beginners and 'leisure cyclists', covering Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Each ride includes comprehensive directions, as well as background features on local history, wildlife and culture. All are linked to OS Explorer maps and relevant National Cycle Network routes (NCN), and include National Grid Reference (NGR) coordinates. In addition, each route has been mapped on route planning and navigation app komoot, where readers can find detailed route insights including an elevation profile and waytype and surface information. Using the komoot app for iOS or Android, readers can also use their smartphones to navigate each route. East Anglia, the snail-like bulge protruding off the back of the United Kingdom's east coast, is a vast flatland of broads, fens and marshes, stretched out under a wide sky. Despite its proximity to London and the Midlands, and its continental ferry links, it is one of the quietest regions in the country. The ancient kingdom of the Angles is also its oldest inhabited region, from Paleolithic times to subsequent Viking and Roman invasions; its wetlands tamed with canals and windmills and built over with hundreds of medieval churches. With its level, traffic-free lanes, and network of dedicated cycle routes, this is also an ideal destination for exploring by bike. Most of the rides are around 30 kilometres long, ideal for a half-day outing. 19 out of the 21 routes are loop circuits, making travel hassle-free, and several are adjacent so can be linked, for more energetic cyclists wanting a longer challenge. Places covered include Sandringham, Wells, Holkham, Norwich, the Norfolk Broads, Bungay, Thetford Forest, Ixworth, Diss, Southwold, Walberswick, Orford, Sutton Hoo, Ely, Newmarket and Graffham Water. Its long, sandy beaches and traditional seaside resorts have made East Anglia one of the UK's favourite holiday destinations. From rambles around sleepy villages to adrenalin-rush mountain bike circuits, , this guide will be packed with inspiration for cyclists of all ages and energy levels.
Table of ContentsCONTENTS INTRODUCTION CYCLING: THE ESSENTIALS HOW TO USE THIS BOOK SANDRINGHAM LOOP Start/end: Sandringham Distance: 17.8km Time: 1-1½hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Historic Royal Sandringham Estate and Castle Rising, churches, woodlands and picturesque villages GREAT BIRCHAM LOOP Start/end: Great Bircham Distance: 32.9km Time: 3hrs Dfficulty: 1 Highlights: Rolling country lanes, through pretty villages and arable farmland; past Bircham Windmill, Houghton Hall and Deer Park WELLS AND HOLKHAM LOOP Start/end: Wells-next-the-Sea Distance: 28.9km Time: 2hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Holkham Nature Reserve, AONB coastal dunes and wildfowl nature reserve; off-road trails and historic country estate, Holkham Hall; detour to site of Warham, Iron Age fort; Wellsnext-the-Sea, resort and sandy beach on Holkham Bay CLEY LOOP Start/end: Cley Marshes Nature Reserve Distance: 26.3km Time: 2½hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Cley coastal marshes and heath, Letheringsett Watermill, Holt Country Park and passing near to the North Norfolk Railway at High Kelling NORTHERN BROADS: HICKLING TO HORSEY LOOP Start/end: Hickling Broad Visitor Centre Distance: 32.9km Time: 3½hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Hickling Broads Nature Reserve, Horsey coastal sand dunes and seal colony, Horsey Windpump, a huge Tudor barn and a rare medieval church MARRIOTT'S WAY Start/end: Norwich/Aylsham Distance: 30.8km Time: 3hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Along the peaceful Wensum Valley, following the route of the former railway line from Norwich to Aylsham, dotted with Victorian steam memorabilia REEDHAM BROADS LOOP Start/end: Reedham Ferry Distance: 38.4km Time: 4hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Farmland, marshes and villages of the lower Yare Valley, historic churches and riverside Reedham overlooking the Broads SOUTHERN BROADS LOOP Start/end: Reedham Ferry Distance: 34.7km Time: 4hrs Difficulty: 2 Highlights: Peaceful Broads waterways and farmland, historic churches, windmills and stately gardens BUNGAY SAINTS TRAIL Start/end: Bungay Distance: 32.5km Time: 3½hrs Difficulty: 2 Highlights: Bungay, ancient market town; historical churches in isolated hamlets and a World War II aviation museum THETFORD FOREST Start/end: High Lodge, Thetford Forest Distance: 16.6km Time: 2hrs Difficulty: 2 Highlights: Forestry woodland; off-road cycling trails over level or gently rolling terrain; multi-activity centre, from high-wire adventure to climbing walls and more IXWORTH MILLERS' TRAIL Start/end: Ixworth Distance: 23.9km Time: 2½hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Historic windmills, a watermill, an Elizabethan manor and vineyard, and a wetland nature reserve EYE TO DEBENHAM LOOP Start/end: Eye Distance: 34.4km Time: 3½hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Historic market town Eye, chic Debenham, Wetheringsett vintage railway and mid-Suffolk's rolling golden meadows WALBERSWICK TO SOUTHWOLD LOOP Start/end: Walberswick Distance: 31.3km Time: 3½hrs Difficulty: 2 Highlights: Walberswick and Southwold, traditional seaside resorts; heath and countryside, picturesque villages and a historic windmill ORFORD LOOP Start/end: Orford Distance: 33.9km Time: 3½hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Historic Orford, arty Snape Maltings, a medieval church and a watermill, plus an optional red-graded MTB forest trail SUTTON HOO AND RENDLESHAM FOREST LOOP Start/end: Sutton Hoo Distance: 35.2km Time: 4hrs Difficulty: 2 Highlights: Anglo-Saxon treasures at Sutton Hoo, Shingle Street beach, mountain biking in Rendlesham Forest LAVENHAM LOOP Start/end: Market Square, Lavenham Distance: 20.7km Time: 2½hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Lavenham, one of the best preserved medieval towns in East Anglia; sleepy villages and rolling agricultural countryside MOULTON LOOP Start/end: Moulton Distance: 13.1km Time: 1½ hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Rolling meadows and woods, Fen villages, a stud farm, a medieval bridge and three great country pubs NEWMARKET JOCKEYS' TRAIL Start/end: Moulton Distance: 45.7km Time: 4½hrs Difficulty: 2 Highlights: Sleepy villages, rolling meadows, pristine stud farms, and Newmarket - world capital of horse racing CAMBRIDGE TO ELY Start/end: Cambridge-Ely Distance: 39.1km Time: 4hrs Difficulty: 2 Highlights: Historic Cambridge University colleges, Anglesey Abbey, Ely Cathedral, Cam riverside path and Wicken Fen HOUGHTON MILL LOOP Start/end: Houghton MIll Distance: 28.3km Time: 3hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Historic Houghton watermill, riverside villages, and the Busway-Cycleway eco-route through Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB Nature Reserve GRAFHAM WATER LOOP Start/end: Marlow Park, Grafham Water Distance: 14.5km Time: 1½hrs Difficulty: 1 Highlights: Lakeside trail fringed by wooded countryside; nature reserves and watersports ACCOMMODATION BIKE HIRE FURTHER INFORMATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INDEX
