Ickworth Woods and River Linnet Circular Walk

5.6 miles (9 km)

A circular walk through the woodlands and parklands of this expansive National Trust estate near Bury St Edmunds.
This walk explores the parkland and woodland of the Ickworth Estate, beginning on broad paths that pass through open pasture and scattered veteran trees. The landscape is shaped by gentle slopes and long views across the estate, with the historic Rotunda often visible between the trees.... These early sections give a good sense of the estate’s designed parkland, laid out to create wide vistas and peaceful open spaces.
Further on, the route enters mixed woodland where beech, oak and chestnut provide shade and a more enclosed feel. The trail threads through quiet glades and follows narrower paths where you may hear woodpeckers or see squirrels moving through the canopy. Deer are frequently spotted in the surrounding parkland, especially at quieter times of day.
The walk also includes stretches alongside the River Linnet, a small, meandering watercourse that flows through the estate. This part of the route is notably tranquil, with alder and willow lining the banks and occasional views of moorhens or ducks on the water. The combination of riverside scenery, historic parkland and mature woodland makes the circuit a varied and peaceful way to experience the Ickworth landscape.
You can continue your walking on the Bury St Edmunds Abbey and River Walk or the Nowton Park Walk.