Favourite pub cycle rides in East Anglia

There are some fantastic pubs isolated in the countryside of East Anglia. What better way of visiting them than by bicycle?

On this set of pages you'll find some detailed rides suitable for beginners so there's no excuse for not getting the trusty steed out, pumping up the tyres and taking a wobble through the lanes.

Since this page was written the quality of most of these pubs has declined and one was turned into a house. I can still unreservedly recommend the Cock at Brent Eleigh which is an ideal ride from Sudbury for a family. I hope to be able to add a couple more in that rough area in the summer of 2007.

I've suggested routes which are OK first time but once you know the basics lay hold of the appropriate OS map and plan your own to suit your tastes and stamina. Some tips on route planning

'One' railways let you take your bike on the trains for no charge but claim the main line trains must have a reservation. Despite some restrictions you can normally take your bike on the train. This is how I get to the starting place and how I cheat the wind.

Rides and suggestions

I'm working my down the list
  • Cock at Brent Eleigh - 8 miles from Sudbury
  • Moon and Mushroom at Swilland - 7 miles from Ipswich
  • Victoria at Earl Soham - Many possibilities between
  • South west of Ipswich. Gateway to Hadleigh and further west.
    • Queen's head at Great Wenham - 10.5 miles from Ipswich, 6.5 Miles from Manningtree
    • Queen's head at Lower Layham - 13 miles from Ipswich, 9 Miles from Manningtree
    • Royal Oak at east End, East Bergholt - 14 miles from Ipswich, 3 miles from Manningtree
    • White Horse at Edwardstone - 21 miles from Ipswich, 8 miles from Sudbury
    • Cock at Brent Eleigh - See above
  • Walnut Tree at Broads Green - 5 miles from Chelmsford,10 miles from Witham ,22 miles from Shenfield , various routes to Braintree
  • Dolphin at Stisted - 3 miles from White Notley, 5 miles from Kelvedon.
  • Kings Head at Pebmarsh - 5 miles from Bures
  • Round Bush at Purleigh - 10 miles from Witham,2.5 miles from Fambridge
  • Lock Inn at Geldeston - 3 miles from Beccles

Please contribute

Comments and complete rides wanted. Support good pubs, encourage others to leave their cars at home. All contributions will be acknowledged and hacked into shape if needed. We all look for different things when out for the day, personally tearooms and tourist attractions don't interest me but why let a miserable soul like me call the tune?

Local knowledge is very handy for smart cycling. It is often impossible to tell from a map if a route really is negotiable or ends in an impassible quag or if the 'dead-end' signpost is bypassable by bikes.

Stisted tea rooms

SPECIALITIES is a cyclist's oasis in the countryside not far from Braintree. Sean puts in more miles in a month than I do a year. Smack bang in Stisted which is roughly three miles east of Braintree and four miles north of White Notley. Quite a good stoping point for longer tours through the Essex countryside.

Winter opening times
Thu and Fri 10 to 4.
Sat and Sun 11 to 4.
Tel: 01376 339228

Sociable rides?

I'm firmly a fair-weather, following-wind cyclist. But in the summer good weather can be spotted a couple of days in advance. If you fancy meeting at a railway station then heading out to say Stowmarket Beer Festival or Banham cidery drop me an email to email address image

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