Ramble and Roots
Key details
When:
Date:
Time:
20th Apr
10:00 - 12:30
18th May
10:00 - 12:30
15th Jun
10:00 - 12:30
Where:
The walk starts outside the atrium by the sunken garden at Blackthorpe Barn:
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Sat Nav: IP30 9HZ
Pricing:
The walk is free to join, just pay for whatever you may want at Roots Café afterwards.
Please register your interest by emailing us [email protected]
A Walk, chats and a cup of tea
Ramble and Roots first started as “Brew Monday” in January, a day encouraging people to connect over a walk and a cuppa and take a moment to check in with themselves and others. It worked so well that we have added further dates, on the third Monday of each month.
Anyone is welcome who would like come for the walk and stay for the chat. This is an opportunity to meet new people, enjoy some company, get outside in nature and be a part of the Rougham community.
The walk starts from Blackthorpe Barn at 10am with a relaxed, guided route around the Estate, led by a friendly face from the team here. It will take in some of the paths from our Walks around the Estate and will last approximately 45 minutes, depending on the route.
It’s a great chance to enjoy the outdoors, get some gentle exercise and meet new people.
Well-behaved dogs on short leads are very welcome.
When we get back to Blackthorpe Barn, you are welcome to continue chatting and have a bite or drink at Roots Café (at your own cost).
These walks will be happening on the third Monday of each month, so if you can’t make one, then come another time.
There is no cost to join, but we ask that you register your interest by emailing [email protected]
Important information
If the weather has been wet, the walk can be muddy.
How it Works
01
Park in one of the Blackthorpe Barn car parks
There is plenty of free parking around the Barn
02
Meet your guide and group at the atrium entrance to the Café and Shop
The atrium entrance is next to the sunken garden.
For more information, see the Ground Plan.
Please arrive in good time for the start of the walk.
03
The walk takes in woodland/unpaved areas which can be muddy
Please wear suitable shoes for unpaved pathways in the current weather.
Enjoy walking through the lovely Suffolk countryside and chatting with others in a relaxed setting.
We expect the walks to be approximately 45 minutes or so, as a gentle stroll around the Barn.
04
Return to Blackthorpe Barn for a coffee and chat at Roots Café
Back at the Barn, you can continue chatting and have a bite to eat or a drink at Roots Café, if you would like.
Any costs at Roots Café to be paid for at the time.
05
The walk goes ahead in all weathers
If the weather is so bad that the walk can’t go ahead, we will try to contact you by email or on the phone number you gave us.
06
Facilities are at Blackthorpe Barn
Please use the facilities at Blackthorpe Barn, at the start and end of the walk.
There are no facilities or places to sit down on the walk itself.
07
Longer Walks
If you prefer a longer walk, take a look at our Walks Page and sort by medium or hard routes.
Things to Bring
- Bring sturdy shoes or wellies, especially if it’s been raining recently
- Bring a raincoat if it looks like rain
- Please keep dogs on a short lead
- Anything you may want at Roots Café after the walk is to be paid for at the time
- Bring an enjoyment of time outside and meeting new people
Blackthorpe Barn
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
SatNav: IP30 9HZ
Plenty of parking on site
Free to park
Disabled access available
This is a rural location and paths can be muddy
Blackthorpe Barn is situated just south of Junction 45 of the A14, three miles east of Bury St Edmunds, in the village of Rougham.
Look out for the entrance gates to a long tree-lined avenue at the White House junction, with the Barn on the right of the avenue.
Blackthorpe Barn’s black and white signs direct visitors from local roads.
Frequently Asked Questions
There isn’t a booking system for Ramble and Roots as such, but we ask that you register your interest in coming with us at [email protected] so that we know how big the group will be and we don’t start without you.
There is no cost to join in the walk, but if you would like to have a drink or food at Roots Café afterwards please pay for what you order at the café.
The walk will be a gentle walk of around 45 minutes, using the paths around Blackthorpe Barn. It will not be anything particularly strenuous but rather a stroll outside with time to chat with others in the group followed by the opportunity of continuing chats over tea and coffee at Roots Café.
Please be aware that the walks will include unpaved paths, for example on bridleways or through woodlands, so wear suitable footwear especially if it’s been raining when paths may be muddy.
We’re sorry to hear you won’t be able to join us this time.
Please email us on [email protected] to let us know that you can’t come.
Perhaps you can come on the next walk – we’re aiming to hold them on every 3rd Monday on the month.
The walk is a gentle stroll through the countryside around Blackthorpe Barn, focussed on time to enjoy being outside and chatting with others. It will not be a brisk or long hike.
If you would prefer something a little more strenuous, have a look at the Medium or Hard Routes on our Walks page.
Related Events
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Celebrating the tastes of the Estate, we will be using edible flowers and honey from the Estate on our special dishes throughout the month.
The first dish is Sticky Date Sponge with caramel sauce, apple compote, honeycomb and vanilla ice cream, dressed with viola flowers.
When it’s gone, it’s gone, so don’t miss out on this delicious sweet treat!
#RoughamEstate #RoughamEstateInBloom #LocalProduce #Biodiversity #WildlifeUK
One of the quiet highlights of Rougham Estate in Bloom has to be the Sunken Garden, now flourishing more beautifully than ever since it was established.
Many of you may have seen how the space has gradually changed and evolved over the years, growing season by season into the beautiful garden it is today.
Now filled with colour, texture and movement, it has become a wonderful place to pause and enjoy the season, while also supporting insects, pollinators and biodiversity.
At this time of year especially, the garden feels full of life and a perfect reflection of what Rougham Estate in Bloom is all about.
#RoughamEstate #roughamestateinbloom #chelseaflowershow #biodiversity #wildlifeuk
To mark the spirit of the Chelsea Flower Show, Rougham Estate is celebrating its own seasonal showcase: Rougham Estate in Bloom.
Across the Estate, nature is quietly doing what it does best, every year.
From the gentle hum of the hives and the sweep of wildflower fields to the rhythm of farming, pondlife and the smallest insects at work, it all comes together in one living, interconnected landscape. Every corner has its part to play, and at this time of year it is all beautifully visible.
Rougham Estate in Bloom is a chance to pause and take it in properly, to celebrate biodiversity in motion and how all these natural systems underpin the Estate.
Alongside this, there will also be a couple of events capturing the detail and wonder of it all. Keep your eyes peeled!
Week one celebrates Flowers, coinciding with the Chelsea Flower Show, with beautiful displays across the Estate - and in our foyer!
Week two turns its attention to Minibeasts, celebrating the bees, insects and tiny creatures working quietly across the Estate’s wildflowers, hedgerows and ponds.
Week three focuses on Farm & Conservation, exploring the relationship between farming, wildlife, hedgerows and wildflower meadows, and how conservation sits at the heart of the Estate.
Week four looks at Wildlife & Trees, from deer moving through the woodland and birdsong across the Estate to the traditional tree coppicing that helps create vital habitats for wildlife.
A reminder that everything here is beautifully connected, and at this moment in the season, everything is quietly in bloom.
#roughamestate #roughamestateinbloom #chelseaflowershow #biodiversity #wildlifeuk
Don’t forget from Thursday til Monday next week, we have our Art Show on in the Meadow Room at Rougham Estate.
Showcasing three excellent Suffolk artists, Cyndi Speer, Carol Pask and J. McCaughan, it really isn’t one you want to miss!
Cyndi Speer presents dreamlike oil paintings, mixed media collages and giclée prints, alongside greetings cards, all shaped by a close connection to the natural world.
Carol Pask shows sculptural ceramics and her Land to Cloth textile range, including hand-dyed, knitted and woven wool pieces made from native British sheep breeds.
Mac McCaughan exhibits contemporary metalwork, blending traditional blacksmithing with modern design, often inspired by natural forms.
Together, the exhibition brings three distinct practices into one space, rooted in craftsmanship, material and place. It’s a chance to see the work up close and discover pieces you’ll want to spend time with.
All works available to purchase directly from the artists.
#art #suffolkart #roughamestate
Do you feel moments when life feels a little full, a little fast and what you really need is space to pause?
The Reset Retreat at Rougham Estate has been created exactly for that.
A gentle, restorative experience set within the calm of the Estate, where the pace naturally slows, the noise fades a little and you’re given time to simply breathe, reflect and reset. It’s not about doing more, it’s about stepping back from everything and giving yourself permission to stop for a while.
Held at Blackthorpe Barn, it’s a peaceful setting that allows you to fully switch off and come back to yourself, even if just for a few hours.
With an easy woodland walk, gentle yoga, wood-fired sauna and cold plunge baths, a relaxing sound bath and a light lunch, if you’ve been waiting for a sign to take some time out, this might be it.
Places are limited so book via the link in our bio to avoid disappointment.
#RoughamEstate #ResetRetreat #Wellbeing #TimeForYou #SuffolkEvent
Just a friendly reminder ahead of the weekend…
Ramble & Roots for this month is on Monday 18th May, starting at 10am from Blackthorpe Barn here on Rougham Estate.
If you’re thinking of easing into the week a bit more gently, this is a lovely one. A relaxed countryside walk at a leisurely pace, followed by something well deserved from Roots Café when you get back.
It’s also a really nice thing to do if you come along on your own. There’s a friendly, easy-going feel to it and people often end up chatting along the way, so you might even leave with a few new friends.
Nothing complicated, just fresh air, open Suffolk views and a bit of time out that feels like a proper reset before the week really gets going again.
If a Monday needs softening a little, this is a rather nice way to do it.
Email [email protected] to register your interest in joining
#RoughamEstate #RambleAndRoots #SuffolkWalks #RootsCafe #VisitSuffolk
Because sometimes the best ideas come when you step out of the office…
That’s where the Meadow Room at Rougham Estate is that perfect space. Light, flexible and quietly tucked away at Blackthorpe Barn, it’s a refreshing change of scene for meetings, workshops, training days or team catch-ups. Away from the hustle and bustle, it gives you time to think.
It’s got everything you need to keep the day running smoothly, with the added bonus of being surrounded by countryside calm. And when it’s time for a break, Roots Café is just a short wander away for coffee and something to eat.
A simple change of setting, but one that often makes the workday feel that bit more productive.
Get in touch with us about hiring this space.
#roomhire #businessspace #teambuildingdays
Just a little reminder we always look forward to…
Watson Plants are back at Rougham Estate this Saturday 16th May – Sunday 17th May, and then every other weekend going forward.
It’s a lovely excuse to have a wander and see what’s in, with a really nice mix of seasonal plants, herbs and those easy wins that instantly lift a garden or a few pots at home.
It’s relaxed, a bit of a browse-and-chat kind of setup, and you’ll very likely leave with something you hadn’t planned on (in the best way), or take home some good advice from the very knowledgable Chris who is always willing to help with plant information.
If you’re here at the Estate, do make time to pop over and have a look.
#RoughamEstate #WatsonPlants #PlantStall #SuffolkGardens #GardenSeason
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