The Wolf Way is a circular cycling route in Suffolk, created by local cycling enthusiasts Sharon Calton and Chris Bower. Suffolk may not be on your radar for a cycling holiday, but the Wolf Way shines a spotlight on why it should be – if you’re the kind of cyclist who enjoys riding off the tourist trail in search of scenic and peaceful landscapes dotted with picturesque villages and market towns, tracing ancient routes and historic treasures along the way, then you’ll love the experience of riding the Wolf Way.
Riding the Wolf Way the Skedaddle way…
After riding the route ourselves, we thought it would make a brilliant addition to our UK cycling holidays, at the more challenging end of our leisure cycling range. We needed to make a few adjustments to the route so it would be better suited to hybrid leisure bikes, and Chris and Sharon have helped us to create something incredible. We think it’s going to appeal to a wide range of cyclists, not least those who are looking to do a version of the Wolf Way with slightly less technical off-road riding than the original bike-packing route.
Meet the creators of the Wolf Way
We caught up with Chris and Sharon to ask them a little bit more about how they created The Wolf Way and why they think we should all visit Suffolk with our bikes.
Chatting about their passion for cycling, it’s clear that Sharon and Chris are no strangers to big cycling tours, and their enthusiasm for the fun and adventure of it is infectious.
Sharon: “We’ve done lots of East Anglia tours, those that are more leisurely as well as bigger rides like the Transcontinental. We love touring, gravel riding and bike packing and when we’re not out riding, we’re planning our next tour.”
What led you to create Wolf Way?
Chris: “We were inspired by Cycling UK’s launch of the Rebellion Way in Norfolk. After riding the route, we thought it would be great to have something similar in Suffolk. There were actually a few representatives from Suffolk Council at the launch event for the Rebellion Way and we began talking to them about how we could create a new route.”
How did you piece together the route?
Chris: “We know the county very well and there aren’t many bridleways and lanes we haven’t ridden. Like many others, we covered a lot of trails from the door during lockdown! This meant that putting together the initial Wolf Way route was actually quite straightforward but doing the full recce took us about a year.”
“We had support from Green Access and Rights of Way from Suffolk Council around access rights, which was particularly important for the off-road sections. Cycling UK were also a huge help in giving us advice on how to make the route safe.”
Were there any challenges along the way?
Chris laughed: “Sand! Being so close to the coast, there’s obviously sand on the trails. One section, which isn’t in the Skedaddle version, is known as Sandy Goat Hill. People either love it or hate it. It’s a contentious topic in the Wolf Way Facebook group.”
Sharon added: “We also wanted to factor in proximity to railway stations and access to local amenities. Getting that right balance between busy places and quiet places, on road and off-road – it’s a challenge when you’re trying to appeal to lots of different people.”
Chris: “Cycling UK also helped us incorporate good access to train stations. It’s great because it means people can easily arrive by train and we know from the Facebook group that they do.”
Sharon: “We also designed the route to include plenty of points of interest along the way. You can see all of these on our interactive map of the Wolf Way. Lowestoft is another section that people are either keen to explore or just want to miss out because it’s slightly busier. We love it. Plus you’ll reach Ness Point, the most easterly location in the British Isles. It’s worth visiting.”
What’s your personal favourite day or highlight of the Wolf Way?
Chris: “All of Suffolk! If I had to pick, I would say the east coast.”
Sharon nodded in agreement: “Yes, Felixstowe to Southwold is a designated National Landscape (Area of Outstanding National Beauty). It’s so peaceful and quiet.”
Chris: “I love Trimley marshes and Langard Nature Reserve. You have spectacular views over Felixstowe Docks and Langard Point, whilst rolling along a quiet cycle path through the reserve and then onto the Promenade.”
Sharon: “It’s a lovely contrast. The industrial backdrop against the peaceful natural surroundings.”
Why should we all come and ride the Wolf Way?
Sharon: “If you haven’t been to Suffolk before, it’s a great way to see the place. Even if you’ve passed through Suffolk, I’d encourage you to do the Wolf Way because you’ll see so much that you may otherwise have missed. I read somewhere that Suffolk has more country lanes than any other county. There’s a real network of lanes and trails to explore.”
Chris: “The area is shrouded in history and folklore. The Wolf Way is named after the story of St Edmund; after the King of East Anglia was killed, his protector, a wolf, guarded his head and according to legend it miraculously reattached to his body. There are so many historical sites along the route, such as the Anglo-Saxon burial grounds at Sutton Hoo. There’s even a UFO trail!”
Sharon: “There are lots of wartime memorials, as well as historic villages, abbeys and museums.”
How did you support Skedaddle with the adjusted version of the route?
Chris: “We adapted a version of the ‘Winter Wolf’ route. This doesn’t include the seasonal ferry. The Skedaddle team were looking for a leisure cycling version with fewer sections of technical riding, so we swapped some of the sandy bridleways for quiet roads and lanes. We know the area well, so we were able to advise which lanes were suitable. I think the Skedaddle version of the Wolf Way will be popular because we’ve had lots of people in the Facebook group asking about an easier route. This opens it up to people of all abilities.”
Sharon: “Another thing I would say that’s appealing about Wolf Way is that it’s not a route with huge climbs. The landscape is undulating, and I think there are a lot of people out there who are looking for this kind of ride. We hope even more people will come and enjoy the cycling here!”
The ethos of Skedaddle has always been about exploring a route less travelled and supporting local communities. The Wolf Way allows us to do just that. When you book your trip, you’ll have the option to donate to the charity Cycling UK, and we’ll also be donating for every mile that Skedaddlers ride on one of our Wolf Way tours.
Cycle the Wolf Way with Saddle Skedaddle
Join one of our guided group tours of the Wolf Way in 2025: