The Suffolk Villages

ITINERARY

Monday - Morning departure from Dorset to Sevenoaks, the quintessential English market town with a great variety of shops and cafes for lunch. Continue to Ufford Park this afternoon where dinner awaits.

Tuesday - Visit Framlingham, a charming village with a unique high street leading to a historic castle (Ed Sheeran' s "Castle on the Hill") - stay for lunch. This afternoon to Snape maltings, a centre for arts, crafts, galleries and shops set in a breathtaking expanse of reeds, water and sky. There are way-marked paths that lead you to explore this unique landscape full of diverse wildlife. Finally call into the seaside town of Aldeburgh - pastel coloured 19th century villas line the promenade and on the pebble beach fishermen still sell their catch from their huts.

Wednesday - The morning is spent in historic Ipswich with its stunning new waterfront, historic buildings and peaceful parks. There are galleries, ghosts, boutiques, bistros, museums and merchants houses in the county town. Lunch is taken in Woodbridge, an historic riverside village - streets lined with traditional buildings lead to a waterfront with a working tide mill - the gem in Suffolk's crown. This afternoon we shall join a 2 hour boat cruise on the River Deben - An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with rich wildlife and history.

Thursday - A full days tour through Constables unchanging countryside - visiting East Bergholt, his birthplace. Later to Flatford Mill on the River Stour - the subject of his most famous painting. Continue to Sudbury, birthplace of Thomas Gainsborough and a busy market town. After lunch call into Lavenham with its narrow alleyways, independent shops and gaily coloured skewwhiff half- timbered buildings.

Friday - Homewards bound with a stop in Reigate for lunch. Return to Dorset late afternoon.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner