Long Melford, Suffolk – Village on the St Edmund Way Near the Stour Valley

Long Street, Valley Fields, and Gentle Countryside Paths

Long Melford is a large village in south Suffolk on the St Edmund Way, set just north of the River Stour and the Stour Valley Path between Lavenham and Sudbury. Routes link the village with the Stour Valley and surrounding farmland, connecting lanes, field paths, and riverside ground across gently rolling countryside.

The settlement is arranged along a long, continuous main street with houses, greens, and open spaces extending north to south. Footpaths branch off toward the valley floor and surrounding fields, allowing walking to move quickly from the built area into quieter rural ground.

Long Melford offers useful services for walkers. There are shops, cafés, pubs, places to eat and drink, and accommodation within the village, making it a practical place to stop, resupply, or stay while walking this section of the St Edmund Way or exploring nearby Stour Valley routes. Bus links connect the village with Sudbury and Bury St Edmunds.

Beyond Long Melford, the St Edmund Way continues north toward Lavenham and Bury St Edmunds or south toward Sudbury and the River Stour. The terrain remains gently undulating, with firm field paths, quiet lanes, and open views across the valley landscape.