About Clare Walkers and the development of the walks
Clare Walkers had its origins in 2015 when a small group from Clare Ancient House Museum worked with the Hedingham Heritage Society to produce a waymarked 8.5-mile Magna Carta Walk between the two towns to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta.
In the same year, Clare Castle Country Park was transferred into local ownership and a group of park volunteers obtained funding from Community Action Suffolk to produce leaflets for Six Circular Walks. The following year, Clare Walkers was born as a separate organisation.
We have published 3 more linear walks to complement the Magna Carta Walk. Together they form our Compass Walk Series (North, South, East and West). We have also published Four Short Circular Walks, which have developed from the weekly guided Tuesday-morning wellbeing walks that have taken place since 2018.
Clare Walkers also runs guided monthly walks and has gained accreditation for Clare to the national Walkers are Welcome scheme. As a Walkers are Welcome town, the business community are involved – pubs, cafes and shops in particular. They recognise that welcoming walkers is good for business, so you are assured of a warm welcome throughout the town.
Our latest venture is to partner with Sudbury Ramblers in the development of the Wool Towns Walk, a circular 50-mile walk encompassing the five West Suffolk wool towns of Clare, Hadleigh, Lavenham, Long Melford and Sudbury. The idea for this walk was first produced by Clare Walkers and was taken up by Sudbury Ramblers. The route, which comprises eight sections that can be walked separately or in combination, can be found at www.sudburyramblers.org.uk.
We believe that the combination of the existing waymarked paths, our fourteen walks and the new Wool Towns Walk provides walking opportunities that are the equal of anywhere in the country, and makes West Suffolk, and in particular Clare itself, an irresistible destination for all those who love walking.
Our mission is to make local self-led and guided walks freely available to as many people as possible. Printed leaflets are freely available from the Visitor Centre in the park and the Library; they can also be downloaded from www.clarewalks.co.uk.