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Kings Forest – West Stow – West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village loop from Lackford Lakes

Kings Forest – West Stow – West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village loop from Lackford Lakes

Easy

5.0

(4)

riders

Kings Forest – West Stow – West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village loop from Lackford Lakes

00:42

16.7km

80m

Road cycling

Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 27, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1.92 km

Descent to the Lark Valley

Highlight • Climb

Good views from the higher ground with a fast drop down on a generally empty road.

Tip by

12.9 km

West Stow village

Highlight • Settlement

West Stow is a small village that is just down the road from the West Stow Anglo Saxon Village.

Tip by

13.5 km

The manor of West Stow was leased to Sir John Croftes by the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds in 1526. Sir John was a substantial flockmaster, or sheep farmer, who would eventually purchase these lands from the Crown in 1540, after the Dissolution of Bury Abbey. He was most likely responsible for building the gatehouse. Sir John Croftes’ other distinction was that he was Master of the Horse to Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk, whose main country residence was at nearby Westhorpe Hall. This may well account for Mary Tudor’s coat of arms being present, inlaid into the fabric of the gatehouse; although, in truth, nobody quite knows how it got there. One story is that it might have been taken during the violent demolition of Westhorpe Hall, rescued and placed in situ over the entrance to West Stow.

Inside the building, one of its finest features is a set of Elizabethan wall-paintings. These were discovered during nineteenth-century renovations in a small room on the second floor of the gatehouse. These depict, in naive form, a hunting scene and the Four Ages of Man: a young man out hunting, inscribed ‘This do I all the day’; a man embracing a woman – ‘Thus do I while I may’; a middle-aged man looking on – ‘Thus did I when I might’; and a bent old man, leaning on his stick, who says ‘Good Lord, will this world last ever’.

Tip by

13.8 km

Kings Forest – West Stow

Highlight • Forest

Located near Bury St Edmunds, King's Forest was named to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary

Along with being home to fallow deer, the chalky soil supports a prolific flower population including Wild Thyme, Bird's Foot Trefoil and numerous butterflies, such as Dingy Skipper and Brown Argus - a joy for any nature lover at anytime of the year.

Tip by

15.3 km

West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village

Highlight • Settlement

This reconstruction of an Anglo-Saxon village really allows you to step back in time. The historically-accurate buildings are situated on the site of an early Anglo-Saxon village and are surrounded by 125 acres of unspoilt countryside. There are also indoor displays where you can observe artifacts found in the area. Entry costs £6 for adults, £3 for children (5-16), £4 for concessions, and £16 for families. For more information, visit: weststow.org/Anglo-Saxon-Village.

Tip by

15.3 km

Playground at West Stow Country Park

Highlight • Rest Area

Great stop off if you are riding with children, play in the park, visit the Anglo Saxon village or stop for some lunch.

Tip by

16.7 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

15.7 km

873 m

157 m

Surfaces

13.9 km

2.87 km

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Monday 31 August

22°C

11°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

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Kings Forest – West Stow – West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village loop from Lackford Lakes

Descent to the Lark Valley

West Stow village

West Stow Manor

Kings Forest – West Stow

West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village

Playground at West Stow Country Park

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