Official Visitor Website

Unexplored paths – we’ve got over 2000 miles of them

The East of England is the perfect location for walking if you want to go easy on your calves.

We have a gently undulating landscape with many interesting places to explore, from coastal cliffs and tidal estuaries to forests and heaths via rivers and waterways.

For long distance and circular walks in Norfolk go here.

To discover trails and paths in Suffolk go here.

The websites above will give you all the major walks in Norfolk and Suffolk, like the Coast Path, but let us take you a little off the beaten track with these choices…

Newmarket

Countryside walking, East of England

You know it for its equine activities but there are also great walks to be had in the beautiful countryside surrounding the national headquarters of thoroughbred horseracing, breeding and training.

Discover Newmarket walks

Shotley Peninsula

Alton Water, Shotley Peninsula

Situated between the Rivers Orwell and Stour, the peninsula has stunning views while you’re walking.

Shotley open spaces

Constable country

Walking along the River Stour at Dedham

Walk in the footsteps of John Constable with this National Trust walk that takes you to some of the scenes of the artist’s greatest paintings. See more of them at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich.

Constable country walk

Gainsborough Trail

Or you could walk in the footsteps of Gainsborough in the water meadows around Sudbury on this 12 mile walk.

Bury St Edmunds and beyond

Walking tour Bury SE

These walks in the picturesque countryside surrounding Bury St Edmunds take in country parks, wool towns and Bury itself where you can discover its fascinating history.

Bury St Edmunds and beyond walks

Thetford Forest

Breckland horses

Starting at High Lodge, here are five walks that will take you deep into this magnificent pine forest where you might encounter deer, wild horses, and lots of birdlife. Thetford Forest in the Brecks was only created in the aftermath of the first world war to ensure the country had a constant supply of wood for, sadly, warfare.

High Lodge walking trails

Boudicca Way, South Norfolk

Venta Icenorum ruin

South Norfolk has lovely scenic and peaceful countryside, with the winding River Waveney its centrepiece. The Boudicca Way, stretching between Diss and Norwich and named after the famous Queen of the Iceni who waged war on the Romans, will take you past the Roman town of Venta Icenorum, and the delightful villages of Shotesham and Pulham Market.

Peddars Way

Peddars Way

One of our best-known walks, we mention this because of the historical value. This route is actually an old Roman path, a way for the legions to quickly reach the north Norfolk coast from Colchester (it now starts in the Suffolk countryside at Knettishall Heath).

Peddars Way

Walk on the Suffolk Coast

Covehithe

With 50 miles of coastline, beach walks on the Suffolk coast are the perfect way to experience seascapes and wide open skies.

Walking on the Suffolk Coast

Marriott’s Way

Marrriott's Way, Norfolk

The Marriott’s Way is described locally as a ‘green corridor’ and is used extensively by walkers and horse riders as well as cyclists, the route follows two disused railway lines between medieval Norwich and the historic market town of Aylsham for 26 miles, beginning in the city centre where Barn Road meets Barker Street (only minutes from Norwich Cathedral).

The entire route of the Marriott’s Way has been designated as a Country Wildlife Site with section one and two (The Wensum River Valley) recognised at European Level as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and also a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Rich with wildlife in every season, there’s also public art with signs made from old track to show distances and directions to villages and towns, metal rubbing plaques with aspects of the tracks history, wind-up boxes playing past railway sounds, pieces of art inscribed with poems and verse and sculpture.

Visit Norwich Hidden Gems

Please, before you travel to the East of England, Know Before You Go – ensure places you want to visit are open, see if you have to pre-book. We’ve supplied click-throughs to attractions for you to check.

Guidance on planning a holiday in England