Ramble and Roots
Key details
When:
Dates will be added again for early 2027.
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 book a ticket for each person attending Tickets are free to book
Last day to book: the Saturday before the walk on Monday
A Walk, chats and a cup of tea
Ramble and Roots first started as “Brew Monday” in January 2026, 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.
Ramble and Roots will return in January 2027.
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 take place 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 book a ticket for each person attending.
If after booking a ticket you are no longer able to join us, please drop us an email at [email protected] to cancel your ticket.
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
Yes, please book a ticket to let us know that you are joining us for the Ramble and Roots walk. There is no cost for booking the ticket.
We have introduced a ticketing system to keep the group small and manageable. The number of tickets available each month is limited.
By booking a ticket, we know that you are coming and we won’t start the walk without you.
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, so that we can release your ticket for someone else to use.
Perhaps you can come on the next walk – we’re aiming to hold them on every 3rd Monday on the month.
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.
Please book a ticket to let us know that you are coming – there is no cost to book the ticket.
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.
We intend to go ahead with the walk in all weathers, so bring rain gear if it looks as though it might be wet.
If the weather is so bad that we have to cancel the walk, we will get in touch with you using the contact information you gave us when you booked your ticket.
Related Events
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Next weekend - Rougham Pumpkins opens next weekend! 🎃🎉 Who else can’t wait?
The pumpkins are looking fabulous and everyone is busy making the field ready for you.
We’re open weekends from Saturday 3rd Oct 9am-5pm and then daily from 24th-31st.
Come and wander amongst 1000s and 1000s of pumpkins, squashes and gourds.
You’ll find a whole autumn festival with the big bale pyramids, sandpits, pedal tractors, football goals, space to run and play and face painting by @faceitfaceart
These wonderful food trucks will be here every weekend:
Roots&Co - coffee, cakes, snacks, drinks (soft & alcoholic)
@whatthe_peck - Suffolk-reared fried chicken
@BadBoiBurritos - toasted burritos
@Pigs_In - all your pork favourites
@GeeGeeBakes - cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@KiernansCoffee - coffees, drinks & snacks at the Pitch in the Patch
@FullThrottleCoffeeCo - coffees & snacks
On selected days:
@Tikka_Tonic - New Delhi style street food
@TheCreperieShack - sweet & savoury crepes
@itsotisbreading - sourdough toasties & salads
@greyscoffee_ - coffees and homemade bakes
Or bring your own picnic if you like.
🔦 Pumpkins by Torchlight & Silent Disco
On two spooky Saturday evenings, 17th & 24th October, 6pm–9pm, bring your torches, wear your wellies and enjoy the pumpkin patch after dark with a silent disco.
Disco headsets need to be booked - tickets coming very soon.
🧡 SEN-Friendly Sessions
9am-10am on Tues 27th & Thurs 29th October, entry to the patch will be ticketed to give a quieter time for those who benefit from a calmer, more relaxed visit.
Free tickets must be booked in advance.
Open 9am–5pm on
Sat 3 – Sun 4 October
Sat 10 – Sun 11 October
Sat 17 – Sun 18 October
Daily Sat 24 – Sat 31 October (10am-5pm on 27th & 29th)
Free entry, free parking, no booking required (except headsets and SEN hours).
📍Remember - the pumpkins are in the NEW Sunflower and Pumpkin Field, south of J45, A14, Elderstub Lane, SatNav: IP30 9HX
🐕 Dogs welcome in the picnic area and the small doggy patch, but not in the main patch.
All the details from our website - link in bio.
Get dressed up, come along - we can’t wait to see you!🎃🧡
#burystedmunds
This is the last weekend to visit ArtWorks @artworkseast at Blackthorpe Barn.
From today, Friday 25th September, you have just three days left to see this wonderful exhibition before it closes on Sunday. If you’ve been meaning to go, now really is the time.
Over 300 original works by 28 established East Anglian artists are on show: paintings, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media and more. All of it available to buy, all of it made by people who are brilliant at what they do.
Come and browse, meet the artists, watch them work and find something you love.
Friday 25th – Sunday 27th September
10am – 4pm daily
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate - SatNav IP30 9HZ
Free entry and free parking
Roots Café and Rougham Estate Shop next door
All the details from the @artworkseast website
#ArtworksEast #SuffolkArt #BuryStEdmunds #OriginalArt #RoughamEstate
Have you ever wondered what your dreams are trying to tell you?
This November, Suffolk psychotherapist Gilly Crow brings her warm, fascinating and deeply personal talk on dreams to the Meadow Room on Rougham Estate. It’s an event that could genuinely change the way you see your sleeping hours.
Gilly has spent over 35 years working with clients as a psychotherapist, with dreams at the heart of much of her work. Her first book, Wake Up to Your Dreams, explores what our unconscious might be saying to us while we sleep, and in this interactive talk she shares what she has learned in a way that is accessible, thought-provoking and open to everyone.
Whether you’re haunted by recurring dreams, curious about what’s going on beneath the surface, or simply open to something a little different, this talk is worth your Saturday morning.
Gilly’s book will also be on sale on the day for just £10 (cash only, RRP £12.99). Tea, coffee and mince pies included.
Saturday 7th November
9:15am – 12pm
Meadow Room, Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate
£15 per person
Book on our website, link in profile
#RoughamEstate #WakeUpToYourDreams #GillyCrow #SuffolkEvents #BuryStEdmunds
Our final Plant Pop-Up of the year!
Chris from Watsons Plants will be back at Blackthorpe Barn this Friday and Saturday, 25–26 September, for the last Plant Pop-Up of the season.
If you’re looking to add some colour, texture or interest to your garden as we head into autumn, this is your final chance to come along, browse the plants and speak to Chris for some expert advice.
The Plant Pop-Up is free to visit and there’s no need to book. You’ll find Chris just outside Roots Café and the Rougham Estate Shop, from 10am–4pm.
So if you’ve been meaning to pop along, don’t miss the last one of the year!
#RoughamEstate #WatsonsPlants #PlantPopUp #Gardening #AutumnGarden
Those beautiful autumn colours won’t last forever…
But you can capture them on canvas.
The Canvas Club returns to Rougham Estate on the 10th October for a relaxed afternoon of painting inspired by the rich colours of autumn leaves – think golds, oranges, deep reds and greens.
Artist Sarah Rawlinson will guide you through the painting step by step, with demonstrations and plenty of support along the way.
Everything you need is provided, as well as tea, coffee and sweet treats. And, at the end of the afternoon, you’ll have your own autumnal artwork to take home.
It’s a lovely way to spend an autumn afternoon, with good company, a little time away from the everyday and the satisfaction of creating something yourself.
Friday 10 October
1pm–4pm
Meadow Room, behind Blackthorpe Barn
£45 per person
Booking essential
Book your place via the link in our bio.
#RoughamEstate #TheCanvasClub #AutumnArt #PaintingWorkshop #SuffolkWorkshops BuryStEdmunds CreativeSuffolk
Today marks the Autumn Equinox - the moment autumn officially begins.
It’s one of those quiet turning points in the year, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator and we experience roughly equal hours of day and night.
And while we often think of the equinox as giving us exactly 12 hours of each, it’s not quite that simple - which makes it all the more fascinating.
For centuries, this seasonal shift has been closely linked with harvest time, gratitude, and preparing for the darker months ahead. It’s the point where summer gently gives way, and autumn begins to settle in.
From today onwards, the nights gradually grow longer than the days.
So here’s to crisp mornings, turning leaves, cosy corners, coffee in hand, and all the quiet beauty that autumn brings. 🤎
#AutumnEquinox #HelloAutumn #RoughamEstate #AutumnAtRougham #ChangingSeasons
* Picture taken at Rougham Estate on Tuesday 22 September
For these glorious late summer days you can find some fabulous brunch specials at Roots Café this week.
Choose from the venison burger or the salad:
Rougham Estate venison burger with brie, smoked aioli and salad in a ciabatta bun served with coleslaw and fries.
Maple-roasted pumpkin, flame-grilled sumac, red pepper, radichio leaves, rocket, feta and pumpkin seeds topped with a spiced plum and orange dressing.
Don’t miss them - they’re only available this week.
Good food, good location, good weather… and the full menu is available every day.
We’re looking forward to welcoming you!
#roughamestate #burystedmunds #rootscaferougham #suffolkfoodie
Last chance to book your place on our Wild Weave Workshop…
If you’ve been thinking about trying something new, this could be the perfect opportunity to spend a day working with natural materials and learning a new skill.
Join textile artist Caroline Hyde-Brown at Blackthorpe Barn and create your own unique piece of wild art using woven grasses and freshly grown flowers. You’ll work with a mini hand-held loom and take your finished creation home with you.
It’s suitable for complete beginners as well as those who already enjoy crafting.
When:
Saturday 26 September
10am–4pm
£70 per person
The Meadow Room, Blackthorpe Barn
Places are limited, so if you’ve been meaning to book, now’s the time!
You can find out more on the link in our bio #WildWeave #WildWeaveWorkshop
Tag us @RoughamEstate
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