A 10km circular route around the town. Mostly on quiet roads and smooth off-road cycleways. There is one 200m section on the A1066, where you could walk along the pavement instead, and one rough section along Joe Blunt’s Lane.
From the centre of Thetford, follow Sustrans Route 30 on quiet roads north via Croxton to Santon Downham, then take forest tracks to the High Lodge Forest Centre. Return to Thetford via forest tracks alongside the Little Ouse river.
From Thetford, take Sustrans Route 13 north to East Wrethem, then cut across via Illington to Harling Road Station. Continue via Roudham to Bridgham, and then return to Thetford along Sustrans Route 30. The route is completely on tarmacked roads. There is one slightly busy section of about 1.5km on the B1111 down to Harling Road.
Leave Thetford on the new cycleway alongside the A11, and then take the C633 to Barnham. Continue east to Knettishall Heath, and then return following Sustrans Route 13. It’s awkward to get to the start of the A11 cycleway from the town centre, as there’s no cycle path along most of London Road. The route is all tarmacked apart from a 2km off-road section along Bridgham Lane. This can be avoided if you don’t mind 500m along the A1066 near Shadwell.
Head south from Thetford along the Angles Way, and then take Duke’s Ride west to the Elveden Memorial. Continue around Weather Heath and take Shaker’s Road to the High Lodge Forest Centre. Take forest tracks to return via St Helen’s, Santon Street the Little Ouse Path.
Follow the Angles Way and then the Icknield Way south from Thetford to West Stow. Then cut across to Great Livermere and pick up Sustrans Route 13. Pass through Knettishall Heath, and return to Thetford via Bidgham and Kilverstone. There are significant amounts of off-road cycling in this route, and the condition of the tracks is variable.
A map and summary of these routes is also available on this single-page printable: Thetford Rides PDF file.
For those who like off-road cycling, and can either cycle or drive to the High Lodge area of Thetford Forest, there are four well-maintained routes of differing difficulties. For details see the Forestry Commission’s High Lodge Cycle Trails Map, and also their general information about High Lodge.
The lack of safe and convenient ways to access Thetford Forest from the town.
A lack of shorter loops with good surfaces starting and finishing in Thetford.
If you have any comments on this, or ideas for other locations where improvements could be made, please get in touch.