East Anglia tour

Stage 1, Sunday: Aldbury to Cambridge

distance 96 km; climb 600 m

Arrive at our base – the Greyhound Inn – nestled in the heart of the Chilterns, between 8am and 9am on the Sunday. We'll take your luggage, give you some breakfast and a briefing and set you off when you are ready. You will be following our GPS-mapped recommended route heading north-east out of the Chiltern Hills and across the flatlands of Bedfordshire and South Cambridgeshire with suggested coffee and lunch stops near Biggleswade and Waresley. You will finish for the night at your hotel in Cambridge where we will meet you with your luggage.

Night 1: Lensfield Hotel

 

Stage 2, Monday: Cambridge to King's Lynn

distance 91 km; climb 400 m

At an overall climb rate of just 0.4%, this is the flattest day of the tour, taking you across the Fens of North Cambridgeshire and into Norfolk. You will spot Ely Cathedral on the horizon at least half an hour before you get there – an early opportunity for coffee and cake. At around 50 km you'll pass by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust site at Welney where the cycling manager will welcome you warmly into the cafe with great views over the lakes, marshes and thriving birdlife. Downham Market is a good place to stop for lunch, shortly after which you'll ride the final 10 km along the bank of the Great River Ouse.

Night 2: Duke's Head Hotel

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Stage 3, Tuesday: King's Lynn to Cromer

distance 97 km; climb 700 m

A day of grand estates, spent almost entirely on the excellent Sustrans NCN cycle route across the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You'll traverse the Sandringham Estate before turning east to Burnham Market, popular with tourists and full of cafes. Shortly after that you'll pass through the Holkham Hall Estate and Nature Reserve before arriving at Wells-next-the-Sea where we suggest you stop for lunch, perhaps at the whelk stall on the sea front. Onwards you'll pedal towards Cromer via the stunning Felbrigg Hall Estate, and (amazingly, this is Norfolk remember!) an optional bonus climb to tick off from the 100 climbs app up Beacon Hill (average 5%, max 11%).

Night 3: Sandcliff Guest House

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Stage 4, Wednesday: Cromer to Southwold

distance 103 km; climb 650 m

Today we strike inland for the most relaxing pedalling imaginable on mile after mile of quiet lanes across the sprawling Norfolk Broads National Park, known for its intricate waterways, exotic wildlife & picturesque landscapes. Originally excavated in medieval times to provide peat for fuel, the diggings flooded to create the beautiful waterways that we see today, providing sanctuary to a huge variety of rare wildlife, including several unique to the area such as Britain’s largest butterfly, the Swallowtail, and the Norfolk Hawker dragonfly. We pause at Horning (43 km) and Reedham (67 km) to take short ferry crossings, both making ideal coffee or lunch stops. Our fabulous overnight stop is back on the coast at Southwold where you will be ready for a pint of ale at the bar of our hotel, owned and operated by the Adnams brewery just up the road.
Night 4: The Crown Hotel

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Stage 5, Thursday: Southwold to Thaxted

distance 132 km; climb 1,000 m

Our longest day at around 80 miles, we'll be recommending an early start! You'll leave the coast behind you for a final time to head south-west across Suffolk and North Essex, stopping we suggest at Framlingham for coffee, Claydon for lunch and Sudbury for tea. At around 80 km into the route there's another bonus climb opportunity up Watson's Hill (4% average, 11% max) for riders looking to add about 6 km and 40 m to their route and tick off another climb from the app.

Night 5: The Swan Hotel

 

Stage 6, Friday: Thaxted to Aldbury

distance 90 km; climb 950 m

Sleepy timeless thatched villages dot our route back home, taking great care to avoid the delights of Stevenage, Welwyn and Luton. There's an early option to top up caffeine levels at Puckeridge, and a real treat in store for you if you choose to stop at the Spoke Cycles Cafe near Knebworth. Run by an ex-pro rider, they serve coffee out of a 1964 Citroen H van which, with its corrugated sides, will be familiar to cycling fans as the broom wagon from Le Tour de France. A well-earned finishers meal will be ready for you back at the Greyhound Inn from 5pm – congratulations, you've completed Glaudax!