Five winter walks

A lovely six-mile gentle walk that follows the meandering course of the River Alde, a beautiful estuary on the east coast. Seamen used to ply their trade along this part of the coast – legend has it that when their boats got stuck in the Snape Maltings mud at low tide, sailors had to abandon their crafts and head back to their Aldeburgh homes on foot.

This 2.8 mile walk takes you around the Lavenham Woodland which is part of the old Lavenham to Long Melford Great Eastern Railway line. It starts at the Guildhall in the centre of the village, where you will have the opportunity to see the magnificent Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, a nod to how wealthy this wool town was in medieval times. You will then head out into the countryside before returning to the village.

Close to Ipswich on the Shotley Peninsula, is Alton Water, a manmade lake. It is a haven for wildlife, walkers, cyclists, and generally all outdoor enthusiasts who love both land and water. The whole family will enjoy time exploring either the short route or the longer eight-mile trail. Dogs on leads are welcome too.

Nowton Park

On the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds is the 200-acre Nowton Park. Nestled into the Suffolk countryside, there are walks of varying lengths around the undulating parkland and arboretum with henges and various sculptures along the way. In spring the lime avenue, which was planted around 1880, is one of the finest examples in the UK and you will see a spectacular sight, as over 100,000 daffodils bloom under the trees.

The Newmarket Rides are as the name suggests close to Newmarket, the home of horse racing. As you walk the eight-mile route you will come across moated farmsteads, medieval churches and mills, the remains of a motte and bailey, a malt kiln, and a packhorse bridge. You may find cyclists and horse riders too as the network is quite extensive, making it easy to create a much longer route if you wish. 23