Wisteria, Walking, and a Suffolk Punch: Our 8.2km Wickham Market Loop!

If there is one thing the British countryside guarantees, it’s that a “slightly overcast” day is basically our version of tropical sunshine. You don’t need sunscreen, you won’t melt, and you get the perfect lighting for photos! Today, we tackled a glorious 8.2 km (that’s just over 5 miles for those who prefer their distances old-school) circular walk from Wickham Market to Campsea Ashe and back. We were joined by a fantastic friend and her dog, who operated on a strict “must sniff every single blade of grass in East Anglia” schedule.

🐾 We set off with high spirits and comfortable shoes, quickly diving into the lush scenery. Almost immediately, we were hit by what I can only describe as “Wisteria Hysteria.” The wisteria was cascading down local houses in absolute purple perfection, making me heavily question my own gardening skills. As we moved past the village boundaries, we were flanked by sprawling fields of young wheat, swaying like a green ocean. The hedgerows were showing off, too, bursting with elderflower—basically nature’s way of reminding us it’s time to start brewing cordial —and magnificent flowering chestnut trees that looked like they had been decorated for a woodland wedding.

🐴 As we meandered along, we were greeted by the local residents: a very chill herd of cows who looked at us with mild, chewing disdain, and a highly suspicious flock of chickens. But the absolute showstopper of our animal encounters was a magnificent Suffolk Punch. For those who aren’t familiar with local agricultural history, the Suffolk Punch is England’s oldest breed of heavy horse. They date back to the 16th century and were bred for farm work. Looking at this majestic chestnut beast, it’s easy to see why: it’s basically a tractor made out of pure muscle, hooves, and good intentions. I’m pretty sure if it challenged me to an arm-wrestling match, I’d lose in under a second.

🚂 Our route eventually took us alongside a lovely, calm river—the River Deben, quietly winding its way towards the North Sea. It offered a peaceful soundtrack to our hike. As we crossed into Campsea Ashe, we reached half our journey and started our way back. Good to know: here is Suffolk’s greatest historical geographical pranks: the local railway station. If you buy a train ticket to “Wickham Market,” the train actually drops you off in Campsea Ashe, a good two miles away from Wickham Market itself! The Victorians who built the railway in 1859 apparently decided that walking is good for the soul—or they just ran out of track. Either way, it’s a brilliant trap for unsuspecting tourists.

⛪ To round off our 8.2 km adventure, we arrived back in Wickham Market and paid a visit to the local church. The church of All Saints is a bit of a historical celebrity around here because of its highly unusual octagonal tower, built all the way back in the 14th century. Standing inside the quiet, cool stone walls was the perfect, peaceful end to our walk (and gave our aching feet a very welcome moment of rest). It was a brilliant day of friendship, fresh air, fascinating history, and a dog who is possibly sleeping so deeply I’m pretty sure he’s dreaming in 4K. Until the next hike!

Here are some photos from todays stroll, click to see in larger size and scroll through.