Plan your trip

WALK HERE

Turn to Walk 12 for 9½ miles of the Stour Valley Path from Long Melford upriver to Clare. For a 9-mile circular route from Lavenham, head to walk1000miles.co.uk/bonusroutes

GETTING BACK

Our suggested route is a linear walk, necessitating a bus journey from the end to the start (unless you’ve got two cars in your party or stump up for a taxi). From Monday to Saturday, the number 236 bus from Clare to Sudbury serves both ends and the villages in between. On Saturdays, it’s best to park in Long Melford (by The Old School on the lower green), as there’s only one bus running each way, with the sole service back from Clare departing at 5:15pm. Monday to Friday, we recommend parking in Clare Castle Country Park (£2) and catching an early bus from Market Hill (£3.50/adult, see chambersbus.co.uk for timetables), leaving you time to savour the walk.

GETTING THERE

The 236 bus serves Sudbury Bus Station, a five-minute walk from the railway station. Branch line trains connect with mainline services from London Liverpool Street at Marks Tey (see greateranglia.co.uk for details). Other bus routes serve Long Melford and Clare from Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill (see suffolkonboard.com). If you’re going by car to Clare, aim for the A1092 on the road atlas; it’s a twisty-turny drive there wherever you happen to be travelling from.

WHERE TO EAT

You’re spoilt for choice with pubs and cafés in the towns and villages along the way. You could also pick up supplies for a picnic from the Platform One café in Clare Castle Country Park (see numberonedeli.co.uk for opening times). Or for a slap-up dinner on your return, reserve a table in the pub garden of The Swan Inn on the High Street, where mouthwatering mains like creamy chicken and chorizo linguine (£13.95) start from £10.95 (01787 278280).

WHERE TO STAY

Home to a host of great B&Bs and selfcatered gems, Clare is a Walkers are Welcome town. For a truly unique stay, you could rent the timber-framed and pargetted beauty that is The Ancient House, which sleeps two and is let out by the Landmark Trust. It’s not cheap mind you, with 3-night stays costing from £489 (01628 825925; landmarktrust.org.uk). For a B&B break in another of the town’s historic buildings, reserve a place at the Ship Stores, where a night’s stay for two sharing the superior double room is £83 (01787 277834; ship-stores.co.uk)

MORE INFORMATION

For more places to stay in Clare, head to visit-clare.co.uk. For accommodation and eating out options around the Stour Valley, go to visit suffolk.com or call Sudbury TIC on 01787 37233