logo Walking Britain
Home About Holidays FAQ Email MENU ☰

Cavenham Heath and Lark Valley from Mildenhall

Suffolk Walk

County/Area - Suffolk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 7.8 miles / 12.7 km    Ascent - 300 feet / 91 metres

Time - 4 hours 10 minutes    Grade - easy/mod

Maps Ordnance Survey Logo Anquet Maps Logo

Ordnance Survey Explorer 226Sheet Map1:25kBUY
Anquet OS Explorer 226Digital Map1:25kBUY

Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Cavenham Heath and Lark Valley from Mildenhall
Click image to see photo description.

This Suffolk walk is ideal for all times of the year. Cavenham Heath National Nature Reserve is particularly pretty when the heather is in flower during the summer. The walk starts from the Jubilee Fields car park adjacent to the Jubilee Centre in Mildenhall (grid ref. TL712744).

After parking exit the car park take the path to reach the banks of the River Lark. Turn left along the river and cross the bridge. Once across the river continue in the same direction across the Hanbury-Kelk nature reserve. This leads to Mildenhall Road in Barton Mills (grid ref. TL713739). Turn left through the village passing the church on your left to reach Bell Lane on your right (with the Bell Inn pub). Stay on Bell Lane to a T-junction (grid ref. TL719735).

Cross the road and take the track opposite which soon becomes a grassy path. Reaching the busy (and fast) A11, cross with care and continue along the path on the other side. The path improves to become a track that leads to a cross roads (grid ref. TL722721). Turn left along Worlington Road and continue towards Tuddenham village. There is a grass verge along most of this section of road walking. Bear right at the first road junction and straight ahead at the second junction to reach the centre of Tuddenham.

Reaching the village green, turn left down The Green (just before the telephone box). This tarmac lane, part of the Icknield Way Trail, becomes a track and continues across Cavenham Heath to the banks of the River Lark. Cross the river by the bridge and turn left to follow the riverside path. After a delightful section along the Lark Valley, the path leaves the river bank and exits onto the A11. Turn left along the verge, and then use the marked crossing over the central reservation to the other side of the dual carriageway. Once across the A11, go straight down the path and turn right into Old Mill Lane. Turn left down to the river bank and continue back to the start.

Note This circular walk does contain some unavoidable road walking, which for the most part, has grassy verges for your safety. The route also crosses the busy A11 at two points where extra care is needed.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1938 The Devil's Dyke from Reacheasy5.8 miles
Walk 3569 Swaffham Prior & Devil's Dyke from Reach easy/mod6.6 miles
Walk 2352 Lode Mill, Quy Water & Quy Feneasy4.2 miles
Walk 3263 Clare and Cavendish Circulareasy/mod7.7 miles
Walk 3245 Woolpit and Rattelesden circular easy/mod6.0 miles
Walk 3721 Oakington and Longstanton round via Rampton Drifteasy6.0 miles
Walk 2127 The Brecks from near Thompson easy6.8 miles
Walk 1448 Lavenham circular from Long Melfordeasy/mod9.8 miles
Walk 3618 Brent Eleigh from Lavenhameasy5.0 miles
Walk 3411 Buxhall to Drinkstone Greeneasy/mod7.5 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Suffolk Coast and Heath Walks

Suffolk Coast and Heath WalksGuidebook to three long-distance routes exploring the varied landscapes of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB. The Suffolk Coast Path covers 55 to 60 miles from Lowestoft to Felixstowe. The Stour and Orwell Walk is 40 miles from Felixstowe to Cattawade near Manningtree, while the Sandlings Walk is 59 miles from Ipswich to Southwold.
More information

Messaging & Social Media

Message Walking Britain and follow the latest news.

Facebook  Twitter

Mountain Weather

Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.