Beccles’ biggest
Beccles Common
Park or garden
38 ha (94 acres)4.2 km of path
55 minto walk all 4.2 km of path
53 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.6 mi north-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Helen Steed · CC BY-SA 2.0AOutdoors Grade
Outdoors in Beccles · parks, paths & countryside
Beccles has more park space per resident than 8 in 10 UK towns
Parks and playing fields in Beccles add up to 4.5 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. The Broads National Park reaches the edge of Beccles. Footpaths add up to 50 km in the town and the kilometre around it, 3.2 for every square kilometre. Beccles grades A for the outdoors: #4 of 34 in Suffolk. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
4.5 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
87%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
50 km
3.2 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
20%
of the land within 5 km
Nearest: the Broads National Park
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Beccles?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
Room to roam4.5 ha of parks and playing fields per 1,000 residents, more than 84% of UK towns.Countryside both waysthe Broads starts 0.0 mi north-west, Suffolk Coast & Heaths 2.2 mi south-east.
Beccles’ strongest suit is plenty of park space, followed by two protected landscapes close by.
Outdoors grade
Beccles grades A for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Beccles, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
A
Better than 88% of UK towns#4 of 34 in Suffolk · 5th of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space4.5 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
85out of
100
100
A park within a walk87%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
61out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape20%of the land within 5 km
78out of
100
100
Footpaths3.2 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
64out of
100
100
The sea0%of the area within 5 km · Inland: 0.5% sea, under the 5% that counts
42out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Beccles is 5th of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 9,200 to 10,400 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Beccles3.2
Towns its size3.1
Suffolk towns2.5
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Beccles4.5
Towns its size2.4
Suffolk towns2.1
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Beccles87%
Towns its size85%
Suffolk towns80%
All UK towns83%
Against towns its size, Beccles stands out most for park space per resident: only 8 of the other 59 have more.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caldicot Gwent | A+ | 4.2 | 92% | 3 | 2% |
| 2 | Brynteg Clwyd | A | 8.5 | 100% | 2.8 | 7% |
| 3 | Bordon Hampshire | A | 8.6 | 54% | 6.7 | 49% |
| 4 | Linthwaite and Slaithwaite West Yorkshire | A | 2.2 | 97% | 4.8 | 12% |
| 5 | Beccles Suffolk | A | 4.5 | 87% | 3.2 | 20% |
| 6 | South Merstham Surrey | A | 3.7 | 84% | 3.7 | 20% |
| 7 | Nuthall and Watnall Nottinghamshire | A | 6.3 | 97% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 8 | Bradford-on-Avon Wiltshire | A | 2.8 | 88% | 3.7 | 21% |
| 9 | Southborough Kent | A− | 2.8 | 94% | 2.5 | 57% |
| 10 | Whiteley Hampshire | A− | 3 | 52% | 4.4 | 2% |
| 11 | Thurmaston Leicestershire | A− | 10.4 | 89% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 12 | Esher Surrey | A− | 6.9 | 86% | 4.8 | 0% |
| 13 | Kings Hill Kent | A− | 2.4 | 100% | 2.8 | 7% |
| 14 | Padiham Lancashire | A− | 1.5 | 95% | 4.5 | 18% |
| 15 | Bingham Nottinghamshire | A− | 3.4 | 100% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 16 | Egglescliffe County Durham | A− | 4.9 | 94% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 17 | Aveley Essex | A− | 3.4 | 84% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 18 | Irthlingborough Northamptonshire | A− | 4.7 | 94% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 19 | Yarm North Yorkshire | A− | 3.3 | 96% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 20 | Corfe Mullen Dorset | B+ | 3.1 | 72% | 3.5 | 13% |
| 21 | Woodbridge Suffolk | B+ | 1.7 | 80% | 3.9 | 30% |
| 22 | Sandiacre Derbyshire | B+ | 2.6 | 94% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 23 | Shildon County Durham | B | 2.8 | 93% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 24 | Pontllanfraith Gwent | B | 3.7 | 93% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 25 | Ludlow Shropshire | B | 2.3 | 92% | 2.1 | 16% |
| 26 | North Wingfield and Holmewood Derbyshire | B | 2.7 | 84% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 27 | Great Dunmow Essex | B | 2 | 92% | 4 | 0% |
| 28 | Queensbury West Yorkshire | B | 2.6 | 91% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 29 | Tiptree Essex | B | 2.7 | 90% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 30 | Immingham Lincolnshire | B | 2 | 100% | 1.1 | 0% |
| 31 | Perton Staffordshire | B | 2.4 | 93% | 3 | 0% |
| 32 | Pembroke Dock Dyfed | B− | 1.7 | 80% | 1.1 | 25% |
| 33 | Yaxley Cambridgeshire | B− | 2.6 | 90% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 34 | Caernarfon Gwynedd | B− | 1.7 | 83% | 1.4 | 14% |
| 35 | Horbury West Yorkshire | B− | 2.5 | 75% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 36 | Mildenhall Suffolk | B− | 2.1 | 91% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 37 | Monmouth Gwent | B− | 1.5 | 69% | 3.1 | 45% |
| 38 | Radstock Somerset | B− | 1.1 | 93% | 2.9 | 1% |
| 39 | Knottingley West Yorkshire | B− | 2.7 | 88% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 40 | Whitchurch Shropshire | B− | 2.7 | 86% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 41 | Mold Clwyd | C+ | 1.9 | 86% | 1.6 | 17% |
| 42 | Brandon County Durham | C+ | 2.2 | 72% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 43 | Raunds Northamptonshire | C+ | 4.7 | 74% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 44 | Crook County Durham | C+ | 1.5 | 85% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 45 | Lydney Gloucestershire | C+ | 2.1 | 52% | 2.5 | 0% |
| 46 | Abertillery Gwent | C | 2.4 | 69% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 47 | Diss Norfolk | C | 1.5 | 80% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 48 | Milnrow Greater Manchester | C | 2.9 | 58% | 3 | 0% |
| 49 | Barnham West Sussex | C | 1.3 | 70% | 2.3 | 32% |
| 50 | Kippax West Yorkshire | C | 1.4 | 80% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 51 | Shepton Mallet Somerset | C | 1.2 | 70% | 2.8 | 1% |
| 52 | Catshill Worcestershire | C | 1.4 | 82% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 53 | Prudhoe Northumberland | C− | 1.7 | 37% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 54 | Polegate East Sussex | C− | 0.8 | 64% | 2.2 | 24% |
| 55 | Haxby North Yorkshire | D | 0.6 | 59% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 56 | Sherborne Dorset | D | 1.2 | 76% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 57 | Broughton Astley Leicestershire | D | 1 | 82% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 58 | Pocklington East Riding of Yorkshire | D | 1.6 | 65% | 1.3 | 0% |
| 59 | Pheasey West Midlands | D− | 0.9 | 40% | 2.4 | 0% |
| 60 | Ponteland Northumberland | D− | 1.1 | 36% | 1.4 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Beccles’ built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Beccles
The biggest is Beccles Common, 38 ha (94 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
Waveney Meadow
Park or garden
1.5 ha (4 acres)0.4 km of path
2 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.6 mi north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Close to home
9 in 10 Beccles residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (87%)Further (13%)
Beccles87%
Towns its size85%
Suffolk towns80%
All UK towns83%
About 1,300 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 20 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 490 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
the Broads and Suffolk Coast & Heaths both start about 2 miles from Beccles
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
National Park
the Broads
At the edge north-west302 km²since 198919% of the land within 5 km
Official siteNational Landscape
Suffolk Coast & Heaths
2.2 mi south-east443 km²since 19701% of the land within 5 km
Official site20% of the land within 5 km of Beccles is National Park or National Landscape, more than 78% of UK towns. The Broads National Park covers 302 km² and has been a National Park since 1989.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
6 waymarked walks pass through or near Beccles
50 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Beccles and the kilometre around it, 3.2 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
RegionalLocal
Via Beata10.4 km
Beccles and Geldeston circular walk8.0 km
Angles Way7.7 km
Beccles Marsh Green Trail6.9 km
Beccles Marsh Red Trail5.0 km
Beccles Marsh Blue Trail2.0 km
Close to home, the Beccles and Geldeston circular walk has 8 km of local walk within 2 km of the town. 2 regional routes pass through, including the Via Beata and Angles Way.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
When to get out
The best walking months in Beccles: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.2 | 9.8 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.7 | 16.8 | 16.3 | 14.7 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.6 | 7.7 |
| High (°C) | 7 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 19 | 15 | 11 | 8 |
| Rain (mm) | 51 | 44 | 42 | 36 | 47 | 50 | 56 | 60 | 54 | 66 | 64 | 59 |
April is the driest month (36 mm) and July the warmest (highs of 23 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 66 mm of rain falls in October, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 42 nights a year. The climate in Beccles →
Things to do
20 playgrounds and the nearest beaches
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
The nearest beaches
Beccles is inland. These are the nearest named beaches, measured from the edge of the town.
Gunton Sands8.0 mi from Beccles’ edge
DirectionsCorton Beach8.1 mi from Beccles’ edge
DirectionsCorton Sands8.1 mi from Beccles’ edge
DirectionsHonolulu Beach25 mi from Beccles’ edge
DirectionsGood to know
Check the water before you swim. The Environment Agency tests designated bathing waters from May to September and publishes a rating for each beach.
Every named place, with directions
Playgrounds 20
Plus 20 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Slipways 3
Plus 3 slipways without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
WorlinghamBungayThurltonDitchinghamLowestoftKessinglandBeccles
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beccles | A | 4.5 | 87% | 20% |
| Worlingham 0.9 mi | B− | 1.5 | 100% | 24% |
| Bungay 5.3 mi | C | 0.5 | 78% | 12% |
| Thurlton 5.4 mi | B− | 1.5 | 100% | 39% |
| Ditchingham 5.4 mi | A+ | 17.2 | 100% | 13% |
| Lowestoft 6.6 mi | A− | 1.8 | 79% | 17% |
| Kessingland 6.6 mi | C+ | 0.9 | 70% | 19% |
Ditchingham, 5.4 miles away, grades A+, the best next door: every resident lives within 400 m of a park. Ditchingham has at least twice Beccles’ green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Beccles
What is the biggest park in Beccles?
Beccles Common, 38 ha (94 acres), with 4.2 km of path. Waveney Meadow (1.5 ha) is second. 2 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Beccles near a National Park?
It covers 302 km² and has been a National Park since 1989.
What are the best walks near Beccles?
6 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the Via Beata, Beccles and Geldeston circular walk and Angles Way. Beccles Common alone has 4.2 km of path.
What is the nearest beach to Beccles?
Gunton Sands, 8.0 mi from the edge of the town, then Corton Beach (8.1 mi). Beccles itself is inland.
How many people in Beccles live near a park?
87% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Beccles?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Is Beccles good for walking?
For paths, yes: 3.2 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 64% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 85% (4.5 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Beccles’ overall grade.
Sources
Where Beccles’ outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.