The best family-friendly hikes and walks around Sudbourne

The conservation work was completed in 2024 and now the castle looks superb. Really recommend as very intact 12c building. Lovely town too and good walks in the area.

Fun, flowy singletrack through the forest. The Viking Trail is a fantastic 10-mile (16km) red graded route.

Captain's Wood is a gorgeous ancient woodland featuring a diversity of rare plants, picturesque meadows, and peaceful ponds. It's a delightful space for a stroll and is entirely flat making it perfect for the whole family.

Limited parking so try the harbour one down the road

From Wikipedia: 'The Church of St Bartholomew is the parish church of the town of Orford, England. A medieval church, dating from the fourteenth century, with reconstructions in the nineteenth and twentieth century, it is a Grade I listed building. In addition to its listing, the church is notable as the location for the first performances of four of the works of the composer Benjamin Britten: Noye's Fludde, Curlew River, The Burning Fiery Furnace and The Prodigal Son. The church comprises a ruined 12th century chancel, begun in about 1166 and abandoned in the 18th century, the Decorated nave and aisles, restored in the late 19th century, and the tower, restored in the late 20th century after the collapse of its upper storey in 1830. The chancel to the original church was built at about the same time as Orford Castle, and demonstrates a similar "grandeur". By the eighteenth century, the chancel was completely ruined and reconstruction concentrated on the nave and the tower. In the early 1880s George Edmund Street prepared a plan for a comprehensive restoration of the whole complex but this was not undertaken. Instead, rebuilding work spanned almost a hundred years, with J T Micklethwaite undertaking the reconstruction of the nave and aisles between 1894 and 1900, H M Cautley repairing the chancel in 1930, and Bruce George restoring the tower in 1971–72.

With commanding views over Orford Ness, the castle stands 27m (90ft) tall and looks remarkably similar to when it was built over 700 years ago. The materials used to build the castle were brought from far and wide with some timbers coming from Scarborough and limestone from Caen in France. Legend has it the 'Wild Man of Orford' was held in the castle in the 12th century. Described as a merman he was captured by fisherman but eventually escaped.

Due to conservation works Orford Castle is currently (August 2022) enshrouded in scaffolding. The unique polygonal tower keep of Orford Castle stands beside the pretty town and former port, developed by Henry II. The castle is remarkably intact allowing visitors to explore from the basement, through the lower and upper halls to the roof where there are magnificent views seaward to Orford Ness.

From sudbourne.onesuffolk.net: 'The present church at Sudbourne was built in stone in the 12th century and there is a Norman arch above a blocked doorway in the south wall. The tower appears to have been added in the first half of the 14th century. In 1621 the church is recorded as having a thatched roof. In 1676 the church was rebuilt after a fire. A sketch of the church in 1818 shows that the tower then had a short pyramid cap. The church was completely restored in 1878-9, paid for by Sir Richard Wallace of Sudbourne Hall. The architect was Frederick Barnes, the contractor R S Smith and the stonemason Mr Frewer all of Ipswich. At this time the tower received a new roof and a lead-covered spirelet (known as a Hertfordshire spike).The south porch is now blocked, and you enter through the north one. Both have a pair of shields in the spandrels, one of passion symbols, the other of the Holy Trinity. The Trinity symbol is to the east in both cases. At the time of the 1878 restoration, the interior was completely refurbished, with new benches and Minton tiles throughout. Two grand hatchments hang at the west end, a worthy frame for the tall tower arch and Norman font in front. One is to the Devereaux family, the Viscounts of Hereford and one to the Marquesses of Hertford. The heir of the fourth Marquess was Sir Richard Wallace and he in turn bequeathed to the state a considerable art collection, which today is known as 'The Wallace Collection'. Wallace also donated the organ here, in memory of his ancestors. Up in the sanctuary is a large monument to Sir Michael Stanhope, who died in 1621. According to the inscription he sat at the feet of Elizabeth I for twenty years. In fact, he was a Privy Councillor, both to her and to James I. Now he kneels through all eternity in Sudbourne church. Below him is his wife all in black, and their daughters to front and back. They have been reduced to stumps, and she has lost her hands. In the churchyard are many old gravestones. The best inscription is to Matthew Groom, who departed this life in 1769, at the age of 49. It reads in part: The Boreas Blasts Neptunes Waves have tost me to and fro. Yet spite of both by God decreed I Harbour here below, Where I do now my Anchor lay with many of our Fleet. Yet once again I must set Sail our Admiral Christ to meet.'