David Falk, Green Access manager at Suffolk County Council and the director of the Suffolk Walking Festival, shares his highlights of this year’s event
The Suffolk Walking Festival kicks off on May 13 and over the following two weeks offers more than 70 walks across the county. 'We’ve got a brilliant programme this year, with a few of our favourites back again and lots of new walks too,' says David Falk, festival director.
David has been involved in the festival since it began in 2008 and has seen it grow and grow over the years. 'It’s a fantastic event that brings together so many people and tells the stories that make Suffolk so very special. The festival is now established as one the largest and longest running walking festivals anywhere in the country. And we know many people mark their diaries early on to make sure they don’t miss the event and their favourite walk.' Here’s a taste of what’s to come this May.
Launch Jaunts-A-Plenty
The festival launches in the beautiful surroundings of Thornham Walks, over 2,000 acres of parkland, farmland and woodland in the very heart of Suffolk. There’s a wide variety of launch jaunts to choose from including Past, Present and Future, where you’ll dive into the history of the estate discovering how it has evolved over the years.
Frescoes, Droves and Commons follows a 900-year-old Drove Road into the wide expanse of Mellis Common in the company of author and Guardian writer Patrick Barkham, with tales of the famous nature writer Roger Deakin.
Plant Power, Medicine and Meals explores the cultural relationship between people and plants, nibbling on forgotten foods, uncovering ancient remedies, and sampling hedge-herb tea.
And launch day ends with a journey into the dark side on Woodland Night Exploration encountering owls, gazing at the stars, and experiencing some really extraordinary night magic.
A Challenge not too far
Each year the Challenge Walk tackles one of Suffolk’s long-distance trails. This year the Challenge attempts the brand-new Wool Towns Walk, a 50-mile circular trail passing through Suffolk’s stunning medieval wool towns. The walk explores the undulating borderlands between Suffolk and Essex, each day following a linear section of the walk with minibus transfer. Over four days walkers will visit Clare, Sudbury, Hadleigh, Kersey, Lavenham, Long Melford and Cavendish ending back in Clare with a celebration high tea and prizes for everyone who’s completed the challenge. Get training now!
Using All Your Senses
There is a practice in Japan called Shinrin Yoku, translated in the west as forest bathing. You can experience this ancient tradition with a Shinrin Yoku practitioner. You’ll see, smell, hear and feel the woods like you never have before.
Hedgerow Forage and Cream Tea is an annual favourite and it’s easy to see why. A gentle amble with a foraging expert sampling seasonal wild foods before you get to construct your very own cream tea on the wild side.
Breathe in the Brecks heads out with the team from Brecks Fen Edge and Rivers Landscape Project, a lottery funded project preserving the unique landscape of the Brecks, to discover what makes the north-west of Suffolk so very special.
It’s a Wild Life
Nature abounds in Suffolk and many of the festival’s walks introduce you to some of the county’s most precious residents. Evening Chorus at Sutton Hoo enjoys the sound of birdsong as the sun sets. Estuary Birds and Otters is a short river walk near Southwold spotting signs of otters and estuary birds with a surprising finish at an architect designed eco-home.
Walk with a Ranger enters the mysterious world of Orford Ness where wildlife thrives where once weapons were tested. And after Riverpath Wonders, Plant History and Stone-Mystery Ipswich will never seem the same again as you discover alien invaders, ice-age Saracens and enjoy a taste of wild herb tisane.
Into The Valley of The Kings
Did you know Suffolk has its very own Valley of the Kings? Not far from world-famous Sutton Hoo ship burial, lie the remains of a king’s palace that once stood proudly on the shores of the River Deben. The Valley of the Kings walk will be accompanied by Suffolk County Council’s archaeologist who will reveal what Rendlesham once looked like.
Water, Water Everywhere…
Suffolk is blessed with wide estuaries and long rivers. Waldringfield Wander will enjoy views over the River Deben, Tales From the Riverbank ventures along the River Stour in the broad valley landscape of Constable Country, River Orwell Nature Ramble does exactly what it says on a walk that will also delve into an ancient woodland, and Walk n’ Water will experience water close up on a boat trip before walking back along the riverbank.
No Horrible Histories here
Suffolk can trace its roots to the Anglo Saxons and far beyond and is a treasure trove of over 2,000 years’ worth of history. Long Melford, A Village with a Long Story uncovers many layers of history in one of Suffolk’s great wool towns, Ufford Heritage Trail takes in over 30 sites of historic significance, and the Broxted Accessible Walk, for wheelchair users, will explore the fascinating and little know history of the Broxted estate near Newmarket.
Step behind the scenes with the National Trust and uncover what happened on Orford Ness, the Island of Secrets. And the Fitzgerald Walk tells the fascinating story of poet Edward Fitzgerald, close friend of Alfred Tennyson and William Makepeace Thackery, who was famous for translating the poems of 12th century Persian poet Omar Khayyam.
