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Rougham Hall Guided Walk
Key details
When:
No dates currently available.
When any dates become available, they will be shown here.
Where:
The walk starts in the courtyard, by the Roots Café patio
Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Sat Nav: IP30 9HZ
Pricing:
Tickets
Per Person £12
Each person attending needs a ticket
The only way to visit the Hall ruins
If no tickets are available for a Guided Hall Walk on this page, sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear when the next walk is planned.
Rougham Hall now stands as a ruin after it was bombed in 1940 and it is NOT open to the public at all, except as part of these guided walks. Anyone found trespassing at the hall site will have their details taken and be required to leave immediately.
However, every so often George Agnew, great grandson of George William Agnew who bought the Rougham Estate in 1904, expertly guides a group of visitors to walk around this part of the beautiful Estate.
Pausing at key points along the way, George shares stories of the fascinating local history as well as his Agnew family history. The walk takes in Rougham Hall Park and includes a visit to see the hall ruins themselves.
The only way to visit the hall ruins are as part of an organised group guided by George Agnew and the current dates for these walks are shown on this webpage. The walk lasts approximately two and a half hours and starts and finishes at Blackthorpe Barn.
The hall is on private land and is not open to the public at any other time or for any other reason. We kindly request that you respect this.
All profit from the Rougham Hall Walk tickets goes to The Rougham Estate Trust.
➡️ Find out more about the history of the Hall here.
➡️ BBC Suffolk: The Ruins of Rougham
Important information
If the weather has been wet, the walk can be muddy.
The terrain is not suitable for buggies and the walk continues at pace, with stops for talks, so it is not suitable for small children.
Gallery
01/01
How it Works
01
Park in one of the Blackthorpe Barn car parks
There is free parking around the Barn
02
Come to the courtyard at Blackthorpe Barn. George will meet the group here.
The courtyard is beside the Roots Café patio, between the “All Entrances” archway and the Café and Shop entrance.
For more information, see the Ground Plan.
Please arrive in good time for the start of the walk and let George know that you are there.
03
The walk takes in woodland areas which can be muddy.
Wear suitable clothing and footwear for an outdoors walk taking in uneven ground through woodland and parkland, as well as walking on paved roads.
04
George will stop at various locations to tell the history of the Estate.
05
You will be able to view the ruins of Rougham Hall.
The ruins themselves cannot be entered due to structural instability, but they will be viewed from the outside.
06
The walk will then return to Blackthorpe Barn.
Back at the Barn, you can have a bite to eat or a drink at Roots Café, if you would like (not included in the ticket price).
07
The walk goes ahead in all weathers.
If the weather is very bad, so that the walk can’t go ahead, we will try to contact you by email or the phone number you gave us when booking your ticket.
08
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.
09
Not suitable for everyone
- The walk itself is not strenuous as such, but due to the nature of this walk and where it goes, it may not be suitable for everyone.
- The walk continues at pace, with stops where George explains some of the fascinating history of the area.
- There are no places to sit down.
- The ground underfoot is uneven in places and can be muddy.
- It is intended for adults and is not adapted for children.
- The walk itself takes around 2.5 hours.
10
Refunds and Cancellations
If you have bought a ticket for a Rougham Hall Walk and are now unable to attend, your ticket can be refunded in full, up to 3 full days before the date of the walk.
Please notify us of your cancellation by filling in the form on the cancellation page to request a refund.
We will get back to you about your cancellation as soon as possible.
Things to Bring
- Bring sturdy shoes or wellies, especially if it’s been raining recently
- Bring a water bottle
- Bring a raincoat if it looks like rain; the walk will go ahead in all weathers, unless it is really bad
- Anything you bring with you will need to be carried for the duration of the walk
- Keep dogs on a short lead
- There are no facilities on the walk itself
Please Note
Rougham Hall is NOT open to the public except as part of guided walks with George Agnew. Anyone found trespassing at the hall site will have their details taken and be required to leave immediately.
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
If no dates are shown for the next walk to Rougham Hall, then unfortunately there are no walks planned.
However, the walks to Rougham Hall are often organised at fairly short notice. Keep your eye here on our website to know when the next one is.
We let our newsletter subscribers know of new walk dates first; you can sign up for the newsletter here.
The walk takes about 2.5 hours and is about 2.5 miles long. It goes through woodland and parkland as well as walking along paved roads.
Yes, well-behaved dogs on a short lead are very welcome on this walk.
If your dog is not good around groups of people or other dogs, please consider leaving them somewhere where they would be happier.
Wear sturdy shoes or boots, depending on the recent weather. The route takes in woodland and parkland covering uneven ground, as well as walking on paved roads in places. It can be muddy if it’s been raining recently.
The walk goes ahead in all but the worst weather, so bring a raincoat if rain is likely. Anything you bring with you will need to be carried for the duration of the walk.
Yes, at various points along the walk George will stop and will talk about the fascinating history of the area. However, there is nowhere to sit down on the walk.
Yes, we have information about the history of the Hall on this website:
Read about the Hall here
Read about the night when the Hall was bombed
Find out about the history of the Estate
The walk to the Rougham Hall ruins goes over uneven ground, through woodland and over parkland, and so is unfortunately unsuitable for both buggies or wheelchairs.
The walk to Rougham Hall goes ahead in all weathers.
If the weather is so bad that it really can’t go ahead, we will attempt to contact you using the contact details you gave us when booking your ticket.
If you have to cancel your ticket for the Hall Walk, you are welcome to do this up to 3 full days before the event.
Please use our Cancellation Form to let us know and we will refund your ticket.
No, the Rougham Hall ruins are not open to the public and are situated on private land. They cannot be visited unless you are part of this guided walk with George Agnew.
Anyone found trespassing will have their details taken and be required to leave immediately.
Related Events
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Want to win £100 to spend at Rougham Estate? Tag us in your photo taken on the Estate and mention this competition in your caption.
Do you have some lovely pictures you’ve taken around here on the Estate? We’d love to see them and we’re offering a prize for the best one as voted for by our judging panel, and our visitors and followers.
If your photo is picked as the favourite, you will win a £100 gift voucher to spend at Roots Café or at the Rougham Estate Shop, which includes the Christmas Shop and Christmas trees. The voucher is valid for 1 year and can be spent over multiple visits. What would you spend your £100 on?
To enter, post your picture on Instagram, tag us @roughamestate and mention Rougham Estate Through Your Lens Competition in the caption.
Here are some example pictures we’ve taken around the Barn. Why not visit the Estate this weekend and see what pictures you can take. It’s free to visit with free parking.
All the details about the competition can be found on our website.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram. By entering, entrants confirm they are 18+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.
#burystedmunds #suffolkphotography #photographycompetition #suffolkcountryside
It’s set to be one of the warmest days on record, followed by a rather warm weekend too!
Please note: To help look after the welfare of our team, the Shop and Roots Café will be closing at 2pm today (Friday). Thank you for your understanding.
So why not stay cool and hydrated with one of our iced drinks?
Each week we feature a special made from our homemade seasonal syrups. A very popular refreshing choice is the lemon & mint spritz, which is still on special it’s that popular!
There’s no better excuse to visit Rougham Estate to cool down and enjoy a delicious iced drink in the beautiful Suffolk countryside.
#drinkspecial #iceddrink #roughamestate
We are seeking a new Barista! So if you have an interest in coffee and enjoy making people smile, we would love to hear from you.
Roots is a reputable café set in a beautiful, scenic location, and we pride ourselves on creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for both our customers and our staff. This role is perfect if you are looking for a reliable, lovely place to work where your day-to-day efforts are genuinely valued.
You will get to work with a fantastic team in a gorgeous setting, doing what you do best. If this sounds like the right fit for you, please tap the link in comments to view the full details and apply.
#vacancy #roughamestate #jobadvert
Our courtyard planters have had a refresh thanks to the green fingered Chris Watson from Watson Plants.
They have really brightened up the courtyard and make a real treat for those eating al fresco. 🌷
If you would like any plant or gardening advice, Chris will be back with us on the 3-4th July from 10am-4pm.
#courtyardreferesh #roughamestate #gardeninglove
Learn how to turn your kitchen into a flavour lab by joining the Fermentation Workshop, here at Rougham Estate!
On Saturday 25 July from 11:00–12:30 - at Blackthorpe Barn, Rougham Estate, Bury St Edmunds (IP30 9HZ)
You’ll get hands‑on tuition from fermentation experts with two delicious ferments to take home that you will have made yourself.

All ingredients and equipment provided.
Spaces are limited and selling fast.
Secure your spot now by booking via our website - link in our bio.
Bring your curiosity, leave with tasty jars and new skills. This is perfect for beginners or anyone who loves bold flavours.
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Bold and fresh, packed with goodness and bursting with taste. Only available this week we have:
Brunch - heirloom tomato, burrata, toast, lemon, basil, pepper with balsamic glaze.
Salad - mixed leaf, ricotta peach, golden beetroot, pine nuts with pickled reds.
Only at Roots Cafe! Open 9am-4pm daily.
#roughamestate #rootscafe #specialsmenu
Show us Rougham Estate Through Your Lens!
To celebrate both Suffolk Day today and the end of Rougham Estate in Bloom we’re launching our first amateur landscape photography competition to showcase the beautiful Rougham Estate.
We’re inviting you to share your best photograph of Rougham Estate that captures the beauty, character and spirit of this place.
The competition will run over the next 5 and a half weeks and the winner will receive £100 voucher by email, to be spent at the Estate.
The judges will be a team at Rougham Estate who will narrow the entries down to a final 10 pictures which will then be put to public vote.
To take part:
🏷️ Tag us @roughamestate on an Instagram post of yours, taken at Rougham Estate (you will need to ensure your account settings are set for visibility).
⌨️In the caption say “Rougham Estate Through Your Lens Competition” so we know you are entering the competition.
💌 Entries are accepted from 21st June - 5th July.
👩⚖️👨⚖️🧑⚖️The judging team at the Estate will pick their favourite 10 entries.
📆 From 17th - 24th July the 10 finalist pictures will be open for you to vote on, either by commenting your favourite on the Instagram post we will put out then, or by coming and voting in person at Blackthorpe Barn.
📆 On 29th July we will announce the winner from these votes, announcing it both on Instagram and on our website.
To enter:
➡️You must be aged 18 and over
➡️You must be a resident of the UK
➡️The photo entry must be of Rougham Estate
➡️There is a maximum of 3 picture entries per person
➡️No purchase is necessary
All the details and full terms and conditions are listed on our website - see the link in our profile. By entering this competition you agree to abide by these rules.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by or associated with Instagram. By entering, entrants confirm they are 18+ years of age, release Instagram of responsibility and agree to Instagram’s terms of use.
More info on our website.
#SuffolkDay #roughamestate #photographycompetition
Last chance to book on to the Canvas Club with @_day_design_ in on Friday 26th June.
Drink fizzy, eat tapas and get creative!
Set in the lovely Roots Cafe on Rougham Estate it makes for a very enjoyable evening out where you can connect with friends, family or on your own.
Bookings can be made via our website.
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Tag us @RoughamEstate
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