Explore the Beauty of the Suffolk Scenery by Bike

Holidays in Suffolk are all about unwinding completely, and a great way to relax is to explore the county's beautiful countryside by bike. Top events have put the spotlight on cycling in Suffolk recently, as the Pearl Izumi Tour Series brought its final stage to the county this month, while Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish took part in the launch of the Tour of Britain in the county last year.

These events underlined the fact that Suffolk's relatively flat scenery is the perfect setting to enjoy a cycle break. Of course, it isn't all flat by any means, and you can challenge yourself by riding up the odd hill! Advantages of cycling holidays are that you can enjoy them at any time of year, and it's up to you how far to travel – you can make your destination as near or as far as you want it to be.

Windmill Lodges are a great base for cycling holidays in Suffolk, as the site is right in the heart of the countryside. You can bring your own bikes on vacation or hire them nearby, for instance from Byways Bicycles in Darsham, Avocet Sports in Snape or Suffolk Cycle Hire in Rendlesham. After a day out in the open air, you can relax in the knowledge that, at the end of all that exercising, you can enjoy all the luxuries the log cabins have to offer – such as getting rid of any aches and pains in your own private hot tub. Or, if you are renting Kingfisher Lodge, you can relax in the infra red sauna. If you are feeling really energetic, you can even go for a swim in the Windmill Lodges heated indoor pool, which is open from Easter to October.

Windmill Lodges' Saxtead base is in a wonderful location near Woodbridge, Framlingham and the Suffolk Heritage Coast, with many cycle routes you can enjoy either nearby or slightly further afield, taking in all kinds of interesting sights along the way.

Leisure Cycling – If you fancy a day's relaxed cycling on a forest trail, then Rendlesham Forest near Woodbridge is a great place to visit, with two cycle routes laid out, plus a bike park to enjoy. The routes vary in difficulty to cater for everyone from children and beginners to keen cyclists, and it is possible to hire a bike for periods of three hours upwards from Avocet Sports' retail outlet at the Tangham picnic site in the forest. Slightly further afield, another popular place to visit for leisure cycling is Alton Water near Ipswich, which has four miles of waterside tracks for all the family to enjoy, and again has cycle hire available on site.

Of course, during your holidays in Suffolk at Windmill Lodges, you can also cycle nearer to home. Why not take a leisurely ride into the village of Saxtead? You could take a tour of historic Saxtead Mill, run by English Heritage and open on Fridays and Saturdays between March and September, and then enjoy a pub lunch at the Old Mill House on Saxtead Green, which has a full carvery and fresh fish dishes.

Cycle Routes

There are many popular routes for cyclists in the Suffolk Coastal area, and you can either go on a circular ride returning to Saxtead or take your bikes with you by car if you want to go further afield. It's usually also possible to take bikes on the train in Suffolk.

Whether you are looking for an easy ride or something more demanding, a good bet could be to get the information pack about the Suffolk Coastal Cycle Route from a tourist information centre. This is a circular signed route which sticks to quiet roads, covering a wide coastal area between Felixstowe and Dunwich with a loop via Framlingham and Woodbridge. The whole route is 88 miles, ideal to take a couple of days over, but you can pick a section or short cut for a gentle day's cycling.

An intermediate route is from Snape to Framlingham, a 32-mile route which mainly sticks to B roads with little traffic and could include a visit to Snape Maltings and Framlingham Castle. There are also many long-distance cycle routes to choose from in Suffolk, such as the full Suffolk Coastal route or the Heart of Suffolk Cycle Route, a 75-mile route which will take you through Halesworth and the Waveney Valley as well as Framlingham and Debenham.

A cycling holiday brings many benefits, meaning that you relax and get fit at the same time, and don't need to feel guilty about the delicious meals you enjoy en route, as you have earned them!

About Windmill Lodges

In their beautiful rural location, Windmill Lodges are the perfect base for self catering holidays in Suffolk. Our log cabins all offer four star accommodation and the chance to have a luxury break in the heart of the countryside.

Click here to view our luxurious self catering holiday accommodation at Windmill Lodges

Related articles:

Open Air Attractions in Suffolk – Perfect Places to Visit in the Summer Months

Log Cabin Holidays – Taking an Active Break at Windmill Lodge