Rickinghall: Churches, Footpaths and Local Market

Rickinghall offers a remarkable combination of historic architecture, public footpaths and local produce. The two St Mary’s Churches differ considerably from one another, while several circular routes provide an active complement to a visit to the village.

Historic Churches in Rickinghall

In Rickinghall Superior, the Church of St Mary stands on Candle Street. The building is listed as a Grade I building of special architectural or historic interest. It is also a disused parish church dating from the mid to late 14th century. Notable architectural features include a three-storey tower and a 14th-century chancel. This combination makes the church an interesting destination for travellers interested in medieval architecture and the historical development of a place.

St Mary’s Church in Rickinghall Inferior offers a different historical perspective. It has a medieval round tower with a Saxon/Norman base. Three heads are carved into the church’s columns and are said to represent a king, a queen and a clergyman. The currently stated opening hours are also important for visitors: St Mary’s Church in Rickinghall Inferior is open to visitors every Saturday from around 10:00 am until late afternoon. Anyone planning a visit to the church can combine Saturday specifically with further activities.

Circular Routes for Different Day Plans

Rickinghall has a network of well-maintained public footpaths. The local walking map includes, among other routes, a one-hour circular walk covering 2.75 miles. This makes it possible to include a walk with a clearly specified route length in your day’s planning. If you prefer a longer circuit, you can choose the 5½-mile High Point Walk. This circular walking route starts at St Mary’s Church. The two options differ primarily in their stated lengths and give you the opportunity to decide in advance how extensive your walking day will be.

When looking for suitable accommodation, it may be useful to decide on your preferred focus first. If historic churches are the main attraction, plan around the respective visiting opportunities. If a walk is to be the main activity of the day, you can compare the location of your holiday apartment with the planned starting point or preferred route.

Local Produce at the Farmers’ Market

The Rickinghall Farmers’ Market complements the historic and landscape experiences with an insight into local food. It usually offers local meat and fish products, curries, baked goods, preserves and chutneys, Suffolk cheese and freshly ground coffee. The market takes place on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at Rickinghall Village Hall. This fixed timing is particularly useful if you would like to plan your stay around a market morning.

Rickinghall can therefore be experienced in different ways depending on your personal interests: through medieval churches and their distinctive architectural features, with a shorter circular route or a longer walk, and with regional produce at the Village Hall. A holiday apartment in Rickinghall can serve as a base for your individually chosen daily rhythm.

Further Places for Orientation

If you would like to compare Rickinghall with other places, you can also include Hopton, Leiston, Risby, Ipswich, Metfield, Icklingham, Bramford and Drinkstone in your further search.

For the higher-level travel overview: Suffolk.