Suffolk is full of beautiful parks well worth visiting when in the area. Among them is Brandon Country Park, which is located in Thetford Forest about 5 minutes south of Brandon and 30 minutes north of Bury St. Edmunds. It spans approximately 30 aches and boasts trails of varying lengths to be enjoyed by families, friends, couples, and individuals alike. Dogs are also welcome on leads!
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Hours, Amenities, & Parking
Brandon Country Park is open daily from dusk until dawn. Obviously, this means hours vary by season, so check current sunrise and sunset times when planning your visit.
Parking is managed by West Suffolk Council, but the cost is very reasonable. You'll be able to park for up to two hours for £2; sessions over two hours are only £3. Acceptable payment methods include cash, card, and RingGo (location code 4499). Cycle parking is also available.
You can find additional parking information here.
Amenities include two play areas, toilets, disabled toilets, and numerous picnic areas.
History
During the 19th century, the British army depended heavily on Brandon for gunflint. In the early 1820's, a local businessman named Edward Bliss owned much of the land on which Brandon Country Park is now located. In addition to providing the French army with flint during the Napoleonic Wars, Bliss is responsible for planting approximately 8 million trees on his property (essentially creating Thetford Forest). He also had two structures built - the Brandon Park House and a gothic mausoleum, which can still be visited today. Interested parties can see the flintwork of the time at the mausoleum. While there, keep an eye out for the ghost of Baron Boretto (Bliss' nephew), who reportedly haunts the area!
Attractions
Copper Beech Tearoom
The tearoom is open daily from 10am. April to October it closes at 4:30pm, but from November to March is closes at 3:30pm. Patrons can enjoy a range of offerings, from hot drinks to light lunches. Afternoon tea is also available.
Numerous Hiking Trails
Brandon Country Park has several walking and cycling trails, all of which start outside the Copper Beech Tearoom. The trails are color-coded - red, purple, orange, green, and blue.
Red Trail | 1 mile loop | 20-30 minutes |
Purple Trail | 3.5 mile loop | 1-2 hours |
Orange Trail | 5.5 mile loop | 2-4 hours |
Green (Tree) Trail | 1 mile loop | 45-75 minutes |
Blue (Cycle) Trail | 5.75 mile loop |
Walled Garden
A perfect place for a picnic, the Walled Garden is located very close to the tearoom. It contains a well, herb garden, and adorable pumpkin patch.
Lake
Bliss had the lake built in the 1800s. While manmade, it was redeveloped in 1992 and appears more natural today.
Mausoleum
Located a short distance from the parking area, the Mausoleum can be accessed from most of the park trails. It is the final resting place of Edward Bliss and his wife.
Engine House
Originally two buildings, the Engine House is a historic flint structure built in 1883. It originally generated electricity for the estate, as well as pumped water throughout. Today, it's available to hire for events, parties, workshops, and meetings.
Heathland Area
My personal favorite part of visiting Brandon Country Park is the Heathland! This area is simply stunning, especially when the heather is blooming (best between July and September).
My Experience
My husband and I visited Brandon Country Park in early spring. It was just starting to get warmer, but coats were still useful to block out the wind.
We arrived at the car park and had no problems using the RingGo app to pay for parking. There were also plenty of spaces available. Do keep in mind, however, that it can get much busier during the summer, especially on sunny days.
As there is a decent amount of ground to cover, I encourage spending at least three hours at Brandon Country Park. We actually wandered the trails and Heathland for longer than this and really enjoyed ourselves.
We opted for the orange walk, which cuts directly through the heathland area. This was the perfect length for us and we kept a leisurely pace. At the time, there were also numerous highland cows located in the Heath!
Unfortunately, these beautiful creatures aren't always there. They're brought in occasionally to graze the land as part of Heathland conservation projects. If you're looking for highland cows in Suffolk, you may have more luck at Lynford Arboretum, St. Helen's Picnic Site, or La Hogue.
Even without the highland cows, Brandon Country Park has a lot to offer. The scenery is gorgeous! The forest bed was covered in bright greenery, making for some absolutely fantastic photo opportunities. I felt like I was stopping every twenty feet or so to take more pictures.
While we didn't eat at the Copper Beech Tearoom, I can confirm that viewing the Mausoleum is well worth it. The structure is quite lovely and a must-see for fans of gothic architecture. The Walled Garden is also definitely worth a visit!
Recommendations
Remember to bring cash, card, or your phone for electronic payments. Parking at Brandon Country Park is inexpensive, but not free.
Wear comfortable trainers or tennis shoes for walking the trails! These Karrimor Isla Ladies Weathertite shoes are a good buy and have served me well on many of my travels.
Opt for wellies (rain boots) if the weather has been rainy leading up to your visit. We recently purchased these unisex Dunlop boots for my nephew; they're very inexpensive and, according to him, quite comfortable.
Don't forget your camera! This area is truly stunning, especially on sunny days, so you'll definitely want to snap some photos. While I sometimes discourage using bulkier, high-grade cameras for days out in England due to the weight and hassle, that's absolutely not the case for Brandon Country Park. This is the perfect setting to practice your photography skills and/or achieve beautiful nature shots. I use the Nikon D7000 digital SLR with either a 18-55mm lens or 55-200mm lens. Amazon also has a comparable Nikon D5100 digital SLR camera with 18-55mm VR lens for a very reasonable price. It's renewed, but a great deal for someone wanting to upgrade their travel photography game. Buyers in the United States may want to consider this Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera, which comes with two lenses and a carry bag.
My first more advanced camera was a Canon and I really loved it. While this isn't the exact model I used, it's reliable brand for a good price.
And have fun! More than anything, be ready with your traveler's spirit and enjoy this amazing park.
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