Village near Cambs with a pub serving a top-notch Sunday roast named one of the best places to live

There's no shortage of spots for countryside walks with picturesque views in and around Cambridgeshire. However, one region just outside of the county should be high on your list of places to visit this year if you fancy a stroll ending with a top-notch pub meal.

A car trip of just under 40 minutes will take you from Cambridge to Moulton, while those living in Cambridgeshire's eastern regions – such as Burwell – can get there in just 20 minutes. With the village's charming shops and historic houses, the journey is certainly worth it.

In fact, Moulton has made its way onto the group of the 300 best places to live in the UK, by lifestyle website Muddy Stilettos. It joins nine other Suffolk spots, including Bury St Edmunds, in gaining a position on the list.

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Moulton is surrounded by the West Suffolk Hills. These could either be a destination for a hike or make for a beautiful backdrop for an easier wander around the village.

One option is a riverside ramble along the River Kennett, which runs through the village. Alongside quintessential countryside houses, a couple of which are topped with thatched rooves, the route by the river will bring you to an important local landmark.

Moulton Packhorse Bridge is a 20-metre medieval bridge made of flint and stone rubble. According to English Heritage, it is likely to have been used historically by horses and carts as well as packhorses.

Particularly if the weather is chilly, a cosy pub pitstop can be a great incentive to get out for a stroll. Moulton has just one pub, but it's a lovely one.

The Packhorse Inn, just metres from the landmark bridge, is a five-star hotel and pub. It has an average of 4.7/5 stars from 702 Google reviews, with one happy customer who dined there recently reminiscing about the "excellent" food and "modern yet stylish" setting.

Muddy Stilettos also described a 2024 refurbishment of the pub, stating: "The Packhorse Inn was lovingly refurbished in 2024 to include a new light-filled barn restaurant area with gorgeous views over the village green.

"Boutique rooms have been added at the back and all areas, from the wood-panelled bar to the characterful private function room, have been given a Instagrammable facelift. Plus, there’s a large garden to soak up the sun. The food here is top notch too, particularly the Sunday roast."

Moulton Village Stores, with its on-site post office, is a pretty little shop. The products on its shelves include newspapers, baked items, locally-grown fruit and vegetables, sandwiches and rolls.

If you are thinking about following Muddy Stilettos' advice and looking to buy in Moulton, its community spirit is likely to interest you. Chairs outside Moulton Village Stores allow locals to sit and chat, and 'burger nights' are held here each Friday.

Alongside the opportunity to meet at the shop or the pub, Moulton holds a few lively events. These include a village 'fun day', complete with a duck race and dog show, and concerts at St Peter's Church.

Although it does not have a huge amount in terms of restaurants or shops, what Moulton does have is top-notch. Another important selling point is its proximity to Newmarket, which is a drive or bus ride of less than ten minutes from the village.

Newmarket has more than ten restaurants – with cuisines spanning Thai, Turkish, Indian and Italian – and a high street dotted with pubs. Of course, it is also known as the headquarters of British horse racing, attracting scores of smartly-dressed groups from across the country every year.

If you are inspired to make the move to Moulton, you may be disappointed to discover that house prices have been on an upwards trajectory over the last 12 months. According to RightMove, the average price in this period was £350,472, which was three percent higher than the average cost over the year before.