Depending on how confident and fit a cyclist you are, there are a range of destinations that can be accessed by bike from the Bloor Homes at Long Melford.
A bike ride into Long Melford itself will take less than 5-minutes, making it a perfect option whether nipping to the shops, the post office or for a bite to eat. Sudbury can also be reached in less than 15 minutes by bike, where you’ll find a wider range of shops, cafes and restaurants. When you consider traffic and the time it takes to park, that is probably quicker than a journey by car!
National Cycle Network Route 13 runs through the centre of Long Melford. It can be accessed at Borley Road to the south west or Little St Mary’s to the north, both in less than a 5 minute cycle ride.
The section between Colchester and Thetford is almost entirely on-road, except for the traffic-free Valley Walk alongside Sudbury and the route through Bury St Edmunds. If you fancy a longer cycle ride or are feeling adventurous, you could follow the route north to Bury St Edmunds or south towards Colchester.
Many local roads around Sudbury are rural in nature and lightly trafficked. Google Maps provides an easy way to identify the most suitable routes. You could check out Melford Hall or Kentwell Hall which are located just north of your new home – both sites are popular tourist attractions in the Sudbury area and will take you less than 15 minutes to explore by bike.
For more information on cycling locally visit our useful cycling guides and resources page.
Planning a Journey by Bike
If you are unfamiliar with the local area and looking to plan a route by bike, an online route planner can be a really useful tool to use. You can enter your journey start point and end point and the route planner will display a number of route options on a handy map. Alongside easy to follow directions it will tell you how far the journey is, how long it will take, and even how hilly it is.
Cycle Streets is a handy website that allows you to plan your journey. Simply enter your start and end points and away you go!
Why cycle?
Cycling is rapidly growing in popularity, and through the CV19 pandemic has for many people become an essential travel option. Cycling has always, however, been a great way to travel around for those able to do so. It offers many personal benefits, such as improved health and cost savings. It also offers significant benefit to the environment and local community, helping to take cars off the road, reducing pollution and reducing congestion.
Cycling can also be a great commuter travel option. If you’re new to cycling or aren’t really sure where to starting with your cycle-commute then check out some of our handy guidance on buying a commuter bike, commuting by bike whatever the weather and the benefits of choosing to travel actively.