Viking Trail Tunstall Forest

Tunstall Forest is in Suffolk and is home to the 10-mile, red graded Viking Trail. Closure notice: Forestry England has confirmed that Sandgalls Car Park and the Viking Trail will be closed from Tuesday 4 August 2026 for approximately 12 months due to thinning operations, with no guarantee the trail will return to its previous size or route afterwards. Check Forestry England's Tunstall Forest page for current status before travelling.

Viking Trail Tunstall Forest

Tunstall Forest, part of the wider Sandlings forest block in Suffolk, is home to the 10-mile red graded Viking Trail, a fast, narrow and flowing singletrack loop starting from Sandgalls Car Park in the north of the forest. Closure notice: Forestry England has confirmed that Sandgalls Car Park and the Viking Trail will be closed from Tuesday 4 August 2026 for approximately 12 months due to timber thinning operations. Forestry England has stated there is no guarantee the trail can be restored to its previous size or route once operations are complete. Always check the Forestry England Viking Trail page for current status before visiting.

The Trails

• Viking Trail (Red): a 10-mile waymarked loop of fast, narrow, flowing singletrack through the forest, with berms, short climbs and pits with steep descents. A shortcut option is available. There are no real facilities on the trail itself, so come prepared with water and repair kit. Sections become muddy and are best avoided in prolonged wet weather to prevent trail damage.
• Sudbourne Dirt Jumps: previously a dirt jump and freeride area a couple of miles from the Viking Trail, this site is now permanently closed. Forestry England and the volunteer group who ran it could not agree terms for its continued operation, and the site has been fenced off with removal of the jumps planned.

Local Organisation

The Viking Trail was built and maintained for many years by TROG (Tunstall and Rendlesham Off-road Group), a volunteer club. TROG confirmed it has ceased operating following its 2025 AGM and a subsequent meeting with Forestry England, and trail maintenance has transitioned to Forestry England directly. Volunteer trail work is currently paused while Forestry England recruits and trains staff and confirms the trail's long-term future.

Getting Here

Sandgalls Car Park, Tunstall Road, Tunstall, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 2EJ, off the B1069 Tunstall to Snape road (signposted Iken). Free parking, open 24 hours, no designated accessible parking spaces. Note the closure above before travelling. There is no direct public transport to the car park; the nearest railway station is Woodbridge, several miles away.

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