Discover: Hickbush

Hickbush is up in the Hills that create the Stour River Valley, it is accessed by a kilometer of private unmadeup lane and is made up of a couple of farmhouses and a tiny row of farm workers cottages. The tiny enclave is surrounded by countryside with fields sweeping down to the River Stour on one side and a valley on the other leading up to Nature Reserves, there are a number of footpaths directly from Hickbush including the Pilgrims Way (St Edunds Way) and The Stour Valley Path, the excellent riverside gastro pub The Henny Swan is just over a mile away.

The place is excellent for walking and cycling as there are so many tiny lanes and footpaths winding around the hidden valleys that run down into the Stour.

Places of Interest/Things To Do

Jimmy’s Farm
Pannington Hall Lane
Ipswich
IP9 2AR
01473 60420
jimmysfarm.com

Long Melford
Historic buildings, antique shops, galleries, tea rooms and eateries.

Kentwell Hall
High Street
Long Melford
CO10 9BA
01787 310207
Kentwell.co.uk

Melford Hall
Long Melford
CO10 0AA
01787 379228
nationaltrust.org.uk/melford-hall
Nurtured back to life in 1942 after a terrible fire, it is much loved and remains a family home to this day to the Hyde Parkers. It tells stories of visits by their cousin Beatrix Potter to collections of naval paintings and Chinese porcelain.

Lavenham
Britains best preserved medieval village and one of Suffolks most important wool towns. Medieval charm can be found around every corner. Rich in history and a thriving village with strong community spirit. Boutique shops, galleries, restaurants, wonderful afternoon teas, The Guildhall and other buildings used in the filming of Harry Potter.
discoverlavenham.com

Ickworth House
National Trust
Bury St Edmunds
IP29 5QE
01284 735270
Over 1800 acres of parkland, gardens and new all weather path to enjoy. Ickworth is the perfect place to get back to nature.

Colchester Zoo
Maldon Road
Heckfordbridge
Colchester
CO3 0SL
01206 331292
colchester-zoo.com

Gainsborough House
46 Gainsborough Street
Sudbury
CO10 2EU
01787 372958
gainsborough.org
Thomas Gainsborough was born in Sudbury in 1727. In 1958 Gainsborough House Society was formed to purchase the house and establish it as a centre for Thomas Gainsborough. The museum opened to the public in 1961. The beautiful historic garden at the heart of the house is maintained by a devoted body of volunteers who garden exclusively with plants that were available in Gainsborough’s life time.

Paddle Boarding
From the Henny Swan with the Paddle Company (April – October)
07508 420104
www.thepaddlecompany.co.uk
If you have your own paddle board or boat you can go from the Henny Swan to The Granary, Quay Lane, Sudbury CO10 2AN or vice versa. It takes about 1.5-2 hrs – distance 4.4 miles. Check out paddling trails at gopaddling.info River Stour Sudbury to Henny Swan.

Sudbury Farmers Market
Market Hill
Sudbury
CO10 2EH
Held on the last Friday of every month.
Sudbury general market is held on Thursday and Saturday every week.

Sudburytowncouncil.co.uk for events, guided walking tours or local maps. Sudbury Heritage Centre is based at the Town Hall and is a must see for anyone interested in Sudbury’s fascinating history dating back to Saxon times.

The Town Hall is also the start point of the Talbot Trail which is a series of 14 statues around Sudbury that depict various episodes in the towns history over the centuries. Download the map at sudburytowncouncil.co.uk or email info@sudburytowncouncil.co.uk.
01787 372331

Local Walks

There are two footpaths at the beginning of the drive, one towards Bures and the other leads you to a lovely circular walk. There are maps in the cottage for you to use and explore. We still finding new routes – there’s something new to explore all the time in this beautiful countryside.

Suffolk’s best walks – greatbritishlife.co.uk; a romantic stretch of the Stour valley between Bures and Sudbury.

There’s so much wildlife to see too from amazing birds of prey, badgers and deer – bring your binoculars!

Pubs & Restaurants

The Henny Swan (20 minute walk from Putts Cottage)
Henny Street
Great Henny
Sudbury
CO10 7LS
01787 267953
thehennyswan.co.uk

The Henny Swan – 1 mile away

The Lamarsh Lion
Bures Road
Lamarsh
CO8 5EP
01787 227007
lamarshlion.co.uk
Owned by the local community and famous for its connections with two iconic painters – John Constable and Thomas Gainsborough – giving it the nickname ‘The Painter’s Pub’.

Eight Bells
Colchester Road
Bures
CO8 5AE
01787 227354

Three Horseshoes
Church Square
Bures
CO8 5BS
01787 229123

Thatchers Arms
Hall Road
Bures
CO8 5AT
01787 227460
thatchersarms.co.uk

Nethergate Brewery (local beer, tours and food)
Rodbridge Corner
Long Melford
CO10 9HJ
01787 377087
nethergatebrewery.co.uk

English Spirit Distillery
Great Yeldham Hall
Church Road
Great Yeldham
CO9 4PT
01787 237896
englishspirit.uk

The Secret Garden Café & Restaurant
Buzzards Hall
17 Friars Street
Sudbury
CO10 2AA
01787 321301
tsguk.net

Ballingdon Valley Indian Cuisine
57 Ballingdon Street
Sudbury
CO10 2DA
01787 376777
ballingdonvalley.co.uk

Lydia Turkish Kitchen
54-55 Gainsborough Street
Sudbury
CO10 2ET
lydiakitchen.co.uk

Cradle (vegan)
40 North Street
Sudbury
CO10 1RD
01787 464656
cradlefoods.co.uk

One Caribbean (takeaway only)
King Street
Sudbury
CO10 2EB
07925 931349

The Mill Hotel
Walnut Tree Lane
Sudbury
CO10 1BD
01787 375544
suryahotels.co.uk/themillhotel

The Great House
Market Place
Lavenham
CO10 9QZ
01787 247431
greathouse.co.uk