Downs Wood Walk
- 20 minutes
- easy
- 1 mile
About
This short walk takes you through the beautiful Downs Wood. It is great as a nice easy walk for people and dogs. If it has been raining recently the path through the woods might be muddy and slippery in places and if it’s been windy there may be branches across the path.
We don’t have a video of this walk, but the first part of the walk is the same as the Downs Wood and Footpath Walk, until that walk exits the woods. This walk turns left at that T junction and exits the woods closer to Blackthorpe Barn again, where a metalled road takes you back to the Barn.
The walk starts at Blackthorpe Barn, where you can find plenty of free parking as well as Roots Café and the new Garden Room shop. Please remember that the gates to the avenue entrance are locked after the Cafe and Shop close. More details here.
For more general information about this and other walks, see Walks around Rougham Estate. We hope you have a lovely walk.
Use the Google Map below on your phone to follow the path shown or print out a pdf of the walk using the button at the top of this page, if you prefer.
If you can’t access the map through the image, use this google map link
There is no video for this walk specifically, but you can see most of it during the first part of the Downs Wood and Footpath Walk video.
Weather
Saturday
9.7°C
Today
9.7°C
Tomorrow
10.8°C
Waypoints
01
Step 1
From Blackthorpe Barn turn right and pass through the carparks along the concrete road until you reach the Downs Wood on your right.
02
Step 2
A path leads into the wood shortly after you reach its boundary. Follow this path, past some old air raid shelters on your right which are left over from the old airbase located here in Rougham during the Second World War.
03
Step 3
Shortly after the second air raid shelter, bear left and then turning left shortly afterwards. This path winds its way through the wood. Follow through the wood to the far end. Here you will find a junction of the paths.
04
Step 4
Turn left and follow this path through to the edge of the wood. You will see two more air raid shelters in the woodland on your left just before you emerge onto the concrete road.
05
Step 5
Turn left here and be aware that vehicles can come round from the bridge on the right quite fast. Follow this path back to the carparks and then to the Barn and Roots Café where refreshments await.
Important information
Here at Rougham we love dogs and really appreciate the importance that they hold for people in their lives and on their walks and outdoor adventures together.
We ask that you keep your canine friends on a lead when you are walking in Rougham. It is safer for the dog and much safer for wildlife.
Ground nesting birds and other wildlife are seriously threatened by dogs running loose. They can also frighten other people who are less comfortable with dogs, but who would also like to walk.
Finally, you will not be able to see where they poop and so will not be able to clear it up and leave a hazard for future walkers.
Some of the walks shown here include sections on public rights of way over land owned by other people. As a courtesy to them too, please always keep your dogs on the lead.
Thank you!
Please ensure that you carry poop bags with you on your dog walks. If you don’t have any with you, you can buy some in the Garden Room Shop. It is so important that you clear up after your dog and then take the bag away with you.
You will find poop bins located near Blackthorpe Barn and Roots Café.
Finding abandoned poop bags hanging in the branches of trees or just left on the ground is very unattractive for future walkers on the route, and creates a problem for wildlife, so please do take them with you.
Thank you so much.
The Rougham Estate walks, starting from Blackthorpe Barn, are largely based on existing Estate paths and public rights of way. They mostly pass through woodland and along field-side paths.
Each walk is given a difficulty rating ranging from “easy”, which are the most accessible, to “hard”, which are the most challenging and may include stiles, kissing gates, steps, steep slopes and meadows with cattle.
All these walks follow existing paths and are subject to mud and puddles in wet weather, fallen branches and trees during and after storms, ice and snow during frozen weather. Brambles and nettles are common anywhere and will overhang the paths during the summer. Stinging insects including wasps, bees and hornets may be encountered and midges and mosquitos are common on summer evenings. Adders are rare but do exist and should not be approached.
The Blackthorpe Barn has a defibrillator available for emergency use.
Rougham is located in a very flat part of Suffolk and as such is more accessible than most other parts of the country, but concepts of accessibility are all relative and the final judgement must be the responsibility the visitor themselves.
The Rougham Estate does its best to make public areas as available as possible.
The Estate cannot accept responsibility for accidents or injuries incurred during visits or walks on the Estate, though every effort is made to make them as usable as possible.
We have given each walk a difficulty level, as a guide to the potential walker as to what to expect, from “easy” to “hard”.
The Rougham Estate walks are largely based on existing Estate paths and public rights of way, at times passing through woodland and along field-side paths.
A difficulty rating of “easy” means the path is most accessible.
A difficulty rating of “hard” means the path is one of the most challenging possibly including stiles, kissing gates, steps, steep slopes and meadows with cattle.
A difficulty rating of “medium” is between the two.
None of the walks are very hard as we live in Suffolk, not the Lake District, however some people are looking for something very gentle and others, something a bit more challenging.
We have endeavoured to provide a real variety of walks based on land within the Rougham Estate, however some destinations are a little remote and to achieve circular walks rather than walks which just retrace their steps, where necessary, use has been made of the extensive footpath network and chosen public footpaths on our neighbours’ land, to complete the journeys in more interesting ways.
These walks lead through the Suffolk countryside and so expect to find muddy patches, nettles and thistles. It is important to remember that the weather may change during your walk too, especially if the walk is a long one.
Remember to wear sensible boots and take something waterproof along as well.
A sun hat for warmer weather is important too.
Other routes
Waypoints 4 & 5
01/06
02/06
03/06
04/06
05/06
06/06
Start your walk with a coffee, end with a cake.
Experience a charming and cosy spot located in the heart of the beautiful countryside. The café boasts a tranquil and serene atmosphere, making it the perfect place to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of daily life.
NEVER MISS A THING
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Not one, not two, but three!
On Thursday evening, Simon and Matt from our farming team collected three awards at the 2026 Suffolk Farm Business Competition at the Suffolk Agricultural Association Awards.
We were delighted to receive:
Third prize for Roots Café in Class 1: Best Farm Shop and Café.
Third prize for Rougham Estate Farms in Class 5: Farms of 50 hectares and over.
The Special Award for Best Farm Diversification, recognising the wider business at Rougham Estate.
These awards recognise the breadth of what we do here at Rougham against some very tough competition in the county – from our farming operations to the visitor experiences and businesses that sit alongside them.
We were also thrilled to see Rougham Primary School win the Schools Show Garden Competition who we proudly support by providing essential supplies, including compost, tools and wheelbarrows, helping pupils get hands-on with gardening and learn more about the natural world.
All in all, a very proud night and a fantastic team who deserve the recognition 🙌
#RoughamEstate #SuffolkFarming #RoughamPrimarySchool
UPDATE: We are closing the entry gates to the pumpkin patch at 3pm on Saturday 24th, due to poor weather. Face painting closing at 2:30
**Open again at the usual time of 9am on Sunday 25th 👍😃
The storms have started… so we have adjusted our opening times for this weekend and any last minute changes will be put up on our website, and on our stories.
We’ll be opening as usual at 9am on Saturday 24th October and we’ll stay open until mid-afternoon. The decision of exactly when to close will depend on when the weather starts to deteriorate.
Unfortunately we have had to cancel the Pumpkins by Torchlight and Silent Disco, which is a real shame, but we were unable to re-schedule the event and the weather looks too bad to even think about holding it on Saturday. Everyone who bought headset tickets has been refunded, but it may take a number of business days before your payment shows back on your original form of payment.
On Sunday 25th, we currently think we will delay opening until around midday, but this will depend on what the weather is doing and how the field is holding up. Once we know more about opening on Sunday, we’ll put a note on our website and put up a story on socials.
With the rain we’ve had recently, bring wellies and wrap up warmly, probably with a waterproof.
There are still plenty of pumpkins in the patch thinking “Pick me! Pick me!!”
And we still have a fantastic line-up of food and drink for you here:
Roots&Co – venison burgers, beef burgers, crumble, drinks including a bar – cider, lager, wine.
@badboiburritos – toasted burritos
@itsotisbreading – sourdough toasties (Saturday only)
@tikka_tonic – New Delhi style street food
@pigs_in – all your pork favourites
@thecreperieshack – sweet & savoury crepes
@geegeebakes – cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@fullthrottlecoffeeco – coffees
@kiernanscoffee – tasty treats and warming drinks deep in the patch
Free entry, free parking, no booking needed.
A bit of weather won’t put a damper on things… come on down, enjoy some great food, find your pumpkins, and make the most of this changeable autumn weather!!
#roughampumpkins #roughamestate #burystedmunds #suffolkdaysout
It’s been a week since we welcomed subscribers from our newsletter mailing list and Suffolk Magazine to an exclusive preview of our Christmas Shop, giving them the chance to explore and shop before we officially opened to everyone on Monday.
The shop is now in full festive flow, open daily 9:30am-5pm, and it’s lovely to hear how much customers are enjoying this year’s displays and discovering new favourites.
Our preview event was about more than getting an early look at Christmas. Guests had the opportunity to meet the team and enjoy creative demonstrations and tutorials, picking up inspiration and ideas for making Christmas extra special at home.
Would you like to be among the first to shop next year?
Sign up to the Rougham Estate newsletter using the subscription form in the footer of any page on our website. You’ll be among the first to hear our latest news and have the chance to join us for future exclusive events.
#RoughamEstate #SuffolkMagazine #ChristmasAtRougham
From what happens in your dreams to what happens in a fermentation jar, there’s plenty to get curious about at Rougham Estate over the next few weeks…
We have two very different events coming up at Blackthorpe Barn, and there’s still time to join us:
Wake up to your dreams
Why do we dream, and what might our dreams tell us? On Saturday 7 November, psychotherapist Gilly Crow will lead an engaging session exploring the fascinating world of dreams and what they might reveal about us.
9.15am–12pm | £15 per person
On Saturday 31 October, join chef Rowen Halstead to explore the art of fermentation using seasonal ingredients. You’ll learn new techniques and make spiced pumpkin sauerkraut and orchard fruit kombucha chutney to take home.
Already been to one of our fermentation workshops? Doesn’t matter, each session explores different seasonal ingredients and techniques, so this is a fresh opportunity to learn something new.
11am–12.30pm | £38 per person
Both events take place in the Meadow Room at Blackthorpe Barn, with refreshments included.
Spaces are limited, so if either has caught your interest, now’s the time to book.
Find out more and reserve your place via the Rougham Estate website – or link in our bio
#RoughamEstate #SuffolkWorkshops #FermentationWorkshop #WakeUpToYourDreams SuffolkEvents BlackthorpeBarn AutumnAtRougham
2026 is a significant year for us here at Rougham Estate, with three special milestones to celebrate.
On 18 October, we celebrated three years of Roots Café.
And as we reopen the doors to our Christmas shop at Blackthorpe Barn for another festive season, we’re also marking its 25th anniversary.
But perhaps most astonishingly, when the Arts & Crafts Fair opens its doors on 14 November, we’ll be celebrating its 35th year!
Three milestones, each with its own story, and all part of what makes Rougham Estate such a special place to visit. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way. We look forward to welcoming you this season.
#RoughamEstate #BlackthorpeBarn #Anniversaries
EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER
Headset tickets will be refunded.
It was so good, we’re doing it again!
Pumpkins by Torchlight and the famous Silent Disco was a total blast last Saturday evening and we sold out of headsets.
For this weekend (Saturday 24th Oct) we’ve managed to get hold of some more, so we still have headset tickets left!
There are those who had such a good time last Saturday, they’ve booked again for this weekend.
Come along and join in the fun, scout through the pumpkins by torchlight, grab some great food, toast s’mores, climb on the big bales, all while having a great boogie.
Not forgetting face painting by @faceitfaceart
🎃Free entry, free parking, no booking needed to come along. Open 6pm-9pm.
🕺If you want to join the silent disco, book your headset on our website: £6 per headset.
Booking essential.
We run a waiting list on the night, but can’t guarantee you’ll get one.
🎃3 channels of music, one child-friendly
🎃Dogs on a short lead welcome in the play area and small doggy patch, but not in the main patch
🎃A great line-up of food trucks serving all day and in the evening (see next images)
🎃Find us at IP30 9HX
🎃All the details on our website (and under the next pictures)
Fabulous food on Saturday evening from:
Roots&Co – venison burgers, beef burgers, crumble, drinks including a bar – cider, lager, wine.
@whatthe_peck – Suffolk-reared fried chicken
And…
@badboiburritos – toasted burritos
@itsotisbreading – sourdough toasties
@tikka_tonic – New Delhi style street food
And…
@thecreperieshack – sweet & savoury crepes
@geegeebakes – cheesecakes, milkshakes & coffees
@fullthrottlecoffeeco – coffees
This is the last Pumpkins by Torchlight for 2026 – don’t miss it!
We’ll be open daily 24-31 October, 9am-5pm over half term. Free entry, no booking needed.
Quieter, ticketed SEN sessions on 27th and 29th, 9am-10am. Tickets available from our website.
See you soon 👋
#roughampumpkins #roughamestate #pumpkinsbytorchlight #burystedmunds
Our new seasonal menu has arrived at Roots Café, bringing a fresh selection of breakfast, brunch and lunch options to enjoy.
The menu includes a fresh corner with granola, overnight oats and fruit bowls, alongside our traditional fry-ups and a wider choice of brunch dishes.
There are eggs and hollandaise with your choice of topping, avocado on sourdough, pulled chicken croissants and mushrooms on toast.
For lunch, the new menu features a range of ciabattas, from roasted courgette with red pepper hummus to pulled pork with sage and onion stuffing, as well as roasted pumpkin with whipped feta and chicken with brie and cranberry.
Salad of the week has also been replaced with something warmer- a soup, perfect for the cooler months.
And for those with a sweet tooth, there are two new seasonal desserts: pumpkin loaf cake with ginger mascarpone and spiced apple swirl with butterscotch sauce. We also have fresh pastries from the Friendly Loaf each day.
Whether you’re stopping by for breakfast, meeting friends for lunch or warming up after a walk around the Estate, there’s plenty to enjoy at Roots Café this autumn and winter.
Open daily until 5pm now (4pm on Sundays), making a perfect pit stop after Christmas shopping at our Rougham Estate Christmas Shop.
#rootscafe #roughamestate #newmenu #burystedmunds
The moment we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived! 🎅🏼
Christmas magic has officially started here at Rougham Estate with the opening of our Christmas Shop, marking the start of our biggest season of the year.
This year, we’re inviting you to step inside a Christmas story, with beautifully styled rooms, thousands of decorations, thoughtful gifts and festive inspiration around every corner.
From traditional Christmas charm to playful pops of colour and cosy alpine styling, there’s plenty to discover as you explore.
And this is just the beginning. Our Arts & Crafts Fair returns for five weekends from 14th November, bringing talented makers from across Britain, while Christmas tree sales begin on 20th November.
Roots Café is open daily until 5pm throughout the Christmas season (4pm on Sundays), so why not make a day of it with a coffee, something delicious to eat and a little festive shopping?
Whether you’re starting your Christmas preparations or simply looking for a lovely day out, we can’t wait to welcome you.
Come and step inside our Christmas story and let us know what you think!
Open Monday–Saturday, 9.30am–5pm
Sunday, 9.30am–4pm
Free entry and free parking.
#RoughamEstate #ChristmasAtRougham #BlackthorpeBarn
Tag us @RoughamEstate
