Suffolk Coast and Heaths Path

The Path follows rights of way and permissive paths along the Suffolk Heritage Coast for 50 Miles - north from Felixstowe on river and sea walls and across marsh, heath, foreshore and low cliffs and via the foot ferry to Bawdsey. It follows the western bank of the River Ore inland from Orfordness up to Snape Maltings, before heading east down the northern side of the River Alde to regain the coast of the festival town of Aldeburgh and from there it follows the coast to Lowestoft South Pier.  The path is confusingly labelled on Landranger OS maps, but clearly labelled on Explorer's, to differentiate it from the Stour and Orwell Walk that I have previously completed

Bawdsey to Snape

Friday 28 August 2009 - 18 Miles

ID28082009#25

Dropped of around 10 at Felixstowe Ferry to catch the Bawdsey Ferry.  A rather windy start and the only passenger, but a pleasant 'crossing' and very soon I was on my way along the shingle by Bawdsey Manor, an erstwhile MOD establishment.  A gruelling slog brought me to a diversion through Bawdsey, which I was grateful for, as I prefer road walking to shingle anyday.  before long I was led back down to the beach at East Lane, but it was a much more pleasant path on firm ground.  Passing by 4 Martello Towers to pass through Shingle Street, then along to pass the Youth Offenders on Holiday in Hollesley!  A rather lonely and beautiful section on to Butley Ferry (only running Summer Weekends) saw me stop for lunch.  Shortly after it started raining and I was rather soaked by the time I reached Butley High Corner.  The next village at Chillesford was a possible termination point, with a bus due after 45 minutes, but I decided to carry on as the weather had dried up.  A satisfying romp through Tunstall Forest followed, then after skirting round farmland, eventually coming to the river Alde near Iken.  The stretch along the banks towards Snape Maltings holds a lot of memories for me of family trips and little walks.  Predictably, the bus service on from Snape Maltings was non-existent at 1730 - apart from a bus that would just dump me in Aldeburgh, so I mainlined a Latte and pushed on to Saxmundham, via Snape and a link path I had previously used for the Sandlings.  Got a bit wet again but overall a tiring but memorable walk.

The ferry across the Deben, looking back towards Felixstowe Ferry from Bawdsey Manor

Bawdsey Manor sticking its head up behind the bushes.  Now a glorified conference centre, it has had a long history as a RAF station, right into the 1990's

Pesky Shingle - getting previous after a while, although it was a beautiful day and the sea looked unusually pleasant

Observation Tower at East Lane, along with concrete gun batteries.  Apparently this area is under serious threat of a sea breach, which would explain the rerouting of the path away from the beach

Looking North towards Shingle Street, with this narrow bank protecting the land behind

Nearing Shingle Street these tank blocks are still in situ

For some reason, persons unknown have created a meandering line of shells across the beach at Shingle Street, quite sweet really, but rather pointless!

Simpson's Saltings, after passing them pesky kidz at Hollesley

Butley Ferry, looking across to Gedgrave and the Orford loop

Blimey - A hill in Suffolk!  Actually not that rare...

Butley Mills, a nice place to have a 'staycation'

Tunstall Forest - always a pleasure

A field of piggie homes turned upside down - why?

The River Alde near Iken.  Lots of luvvly jubbly childhood memories

Path leading to Snape Maltings

Snape Maltings.  Now for a few miles to Saxmundham station, fuelled on Latte and a cheese roll