Clare - The Walkers Are Welcome Town

Clare is beautifully situated in the Upper Stour Valley and there are literally dozens of footpaths and bridleways waiting to be explored.

The town also has a unique range of heritage sites, including the ruins of a Norman castle, Victorian railway buildings, a Wool Church, a country park and the River Stour.

The Clare Short Walks Series is a collection of four overlapping walks aimed at walkers who wish to explore Clare and its surrounds. The walks are all under 2.5 miles and are designed to take between 60 and 80 minutes at a leisurely pace. All the walks start and end in Clare Castle Country Park.

There's the Hermitage Farm and the Common walk (2 miles), which takes you around the edge of Clare, along the stretch of river known as the New Cut, through the Park alongside the Chilton Stream and towards Hermitage Farm.

The Common, Nuttery and Priory Walk (2 miles)takes you on a tour of the hinterlands of the town and takes you through places of historical note and beauty.

The Short Long Lane Walk (2 miles) is an opportunity to cross the river and walk along an ancient drovers’ way, returning to the Park along part of the Stour Valley Path and through the historic Clare Priory.

The Two Counties Short Walk (2 miles) is a grand name for a walk that takes in part of the Park, the Town, the Nuttery, the Priory and the River Stour. Discover different parts of Clare and enjoy the scenery offered by our small town.

Plus there are a series of longer circular walks including:

Clare Loop walk (2-4.5 miles) has the Town of Clare at its centre. It is the perfect introduction to the rolling hills of West Suffolk, from which there are fine views of the Town.

Houghton Hall walk (5 miles) takes in views over the Stour Valley, turns north into a rolling landscape where deer and hare are frequently encountered, has wide views over the Suffolk Heights and descends back to Clare along the Bury to Clare Path.

Clare – Cavendish walk (7 miles) comprises a long leg east along the valley floor to the pretty village of Cavendish, essentially following the course of the River Stour, followed by a return leg west on the Stour Valley Path. The views of the Stour Valley on the return leg are sublime.

The Clare Walks website also features tours and walks led by trained local volunteers.

A new guided walk has recently been created called the Magna Carta Way. This runs from Clare Castle to Castle Hedingham, two sites linked by the involvement of their barons in the creation of the Magna Carta, endorsed by King John in June 1215.

Known as Suffolk's smallest town, medieval wool town, Clare boasts a rich history to explore.

There's something for everyone, including a monthly artisan market, independent shops, galleries, antique shops, cafes, festivals and the only railway station in a castle. The market town was also once home to one of the richest women in history, Elizabeth de Clare.

You can find out more about Clare on the Visit Clare website at https://www.visit-clare.co.uk/