The East Suffolk Line, the railway linking Ipswich and Lowestoft, traverses some of the most delightful of Suffolk’s unspoilt countryside. The entire line was proposed for closure in the 1960s but the present route was saved following a local campaign and today continues as a lifeline for rural communities and the string of towns that it serves. In addition, visitors to the area can enjoy the passing scenery in a relaxed way without the bother of finding suitable parking places or having to worry about road safety.

The stations along the line provide convenient starting and finishing points from which walkers can explore the surrounding countryside, ranging from a short stroll (The Tide Mill Walk, no 4) to over ten miles of remote fields and woods (Alde Valley Walk, no 6). For the more ambitious walker all eleven walks can be joined up to make a long distance trail of over 70 miles. The paths, bridleways and tracks included in the recommended routes were selected to provide reasonable directness, variety of landscape, local interest and to allow walkers to enjoy a largely traffic-free environment. Even the outskirts of Ipswich (The Fonnereau Way, no 1) and the approaches to Lowestoft (The Easterling Walk, no 13) can be traversed by pleasant ways through parks, undeveloped green spaces and small roads. Services on the line operate daily all year round, and inexpensive off-peak tickets are available.

For details of train times

Call 08457 48 49 50 or visit National Express East Anglia

For details of bus times

Call traveline 0871 200 22 33 or visit www.traveline.org.uk