The Sandlings Walk
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Monday, 17 December 2018
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An overview of the Sandlings Walk, a 55 mile long distance path through the forests and heaths of East Suffolk
The Sandlings is a 55 mile walk starting at Rushmere Heath on the eastern side of Ipswich with Southwold, passing through the remaining fragments of East Suffolks Sandling Heaths. The trail leads through Rendlesham, Tunstall and Dunwich forests and also includes riverside walks at Woodbridge and heathland walks across Rushmere Heath, Sutton Heath, Thorpeness Common and Dunwich Heath..
Ipswich to Southwold Walk - Essential Information
Walk Statistics:
- Start point
- Ipswich View in OS Map | View in Google Map
- End Point
- Southwold View in OS Map | View in Google Map
- Total Walk distance
- 55 miles
- Walk difficulty
- Easy
Maps:
The following maps and services can assist in navigating this route. The links include published hard copy as well as online plots and downloadable GPX route data for importing into navigational software and apps.
- Ordnance Survey Explorer Map:
- OS Explorer Map Sheet 231 Southwold & Bungay
- Ordnance Survey Explorer Map:
- OS Explorer Map Sheet 212 Woodbridge & Saxmundham
- Ordnance Survey Explorer Map:
- OS Explorer Map Sheet 197 Ipswich, Felixstowe & Harwich
- Online Ordnance Survey Route
- Full screen plot of route on an OS map
- Online OpenStreetMap Route
- Full screen plot of route on an OpenStreetMap map
- Online Google Route
- Full screen plot of route on a Google map
- ViewRanger App Route
- ViewRanger Route
- GPX data for route (download)
- Downloadable GPX coordinates of walk
Walk Notes
There are several starting points for this path on the eastern side of Ipswich. These are at Broke Hall by the junction of Heath Road, on the Woodbridge Road and on Heath Road opposite the hospital. The routes join on Rushmere Heath to head out to Martlesham.
The path is across mainly sandy soil and through forests which make the ground very well drained resulting in little disruption from adverse weather. There can be diversions set up in the forests due to logging and clearing operations and it is worth checking out up-to-date diversions and information on the suffolk Coast and Heaths website
The Sandlings Walk can be broken down into the following sections:
- Ipswich to Melton: A walk across Rushmere Heath and down to Martlesham Creek where it follows the riverside path through to Woodbridge and Melton.
- Melton to Snape: This section encompasses Sutton Heath and Rendlesham and Tunstall Forests as it winds its way around the now defunct Woodbridge and Bentwaters airbases, renowned for their 1980 UFO encounter that was dubbed the British Roswell.
- Snape to Sizewell: The path has been rerouted at Snape, now following the river bank and the western edge of Snape Warren. The path then leads over open fields to Friston and Knodishall before it heads to the coast at Sizewell via Thropeness Common
- Sizewell to Dunwich: The original route for the Sandlings cut through to Leiston Common and then used permissive paths across Sizewell Belts and into Kenton Hill woodland. This has now been rerouted in front of the Power Station and then through Goosehill and Kenton Hill woods. It is unknown why this was rerouted as the original route was more in keeping with the typical Sandlings landscapes of heath and woodland whereas the realigned route uses the coast. The original route can still be accessed and many of the old waymarkers are still in position along with new permissive path waymarkers. There are some outstanding views as the route leads up and across Dunwich Heath.
- Dunwich to Southwold: The trail leads through Dunwich Forest and around the edge of Westwood marshes before crossing the river Blyth and ending at Southwold.
The Suffolk Coast Path runs parallel to The Sandlings Walk and makes a convenient route to create a circular walks along a lot of the sections between Southwold and Snape.
Public Transport and Getting Around
In recent years public transport along the route of the Sandlings has been severely cut back. There is only a single 65 bus service each weekday from Aldeburgh passing through Snape and Rendlesham. There are no other services until Woodbridge where both train and bus services link to Ipswich. The 64 bus service runs hourly from Leiston, only a couple of miles from the Sandlings path at Knodishall, and Woodbridge. There is no direct public transport between Knodishall and Southwold or the villages between.
There are campsites along the route including Waldringfield Moon and Sizpence (just off route), Tangham Forest Camping in Rendlesham Forest, Sizewell Beach View Camping and Caravn Site, Eastbridge Farm Campsite and Southwold Harbour Campsite, plus a youth hostel at Blaxhall which breaks the distance into manageable day-walks.
Directions
The path is marked out with the distinct Sandlings design based upon a nightjar. The design is branded onto wooden posts although during 2011 there has been an effort to overmark these with a plastic marker.
From Rushmere Heath the path navigates out to Martlesham and down to the creek where it follows the riverside past Woodbridge and through to Melton. After passing through Bromeswell the path heads out across Sutton Heath and thn enters Rendlesham Forest emrging at Butley. Next is Tunstall forest and a short trek into Snape. The path now enters open country side to take in the villages of Friston and Knodishall before heading to the coast at Sizewell. Leiston Common and Sizewell Belts and crossed before heading through Eastbridge and across Dunwich Heath to Dunwich village. The final section leads back inland through Dunwich forest and around Westwood marshes before eventually crossing the River Blyth and ending in Southwold.
Walks around The Sandlings
An index of the walks around the long distance path of The Sandlings that are contained on this site. Each walk details pubs en route, transport linking start and end and features to look out for.
A 24 mile circular walk between Sizewell and Southwold along the Suffolk Coast Path and Sandlings Walk....Read More Circular | Hike
A 10 mile circular walk through the Suffolk Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty taking in Sizewell and the Minsmere Bird Reserve...Read More Circular | Medium
An 7 mile circular walk through the woodland around Sizewell on the Suffolk Coast...Read More Medium
A 22 mile circular walk between Leiston and Walberswick incorporating sections of the Suffolk Coast Path and Sandlings Walk....Read More Circular | Hike
A 15 mile circular walk from Leiston to Dunwich along the Suffolk Coast Path...Read More Circular | Hike- Read More Short
Once upon a time Dunwich was the largest city in East Anglia. ...Read More Circular | Long
The Suffolk Sandlings path between Rushmere, on the eastern side of Ipswich, and Melton...Read More Medium
A 16 mile walk along the Suffolk Sandlings Path between Bromeswell and Snape taking in Rendlesham and Tunstall forests...Read More Hike
A 15 mile circular walk along the Sandlings footpath between Dunwich and Southwold, with an option of returning either via the beach or the Suffolk Coast Path through Dingle Marshes...Read More Circular | Long
A 9 mile circular walk that links Knodishall and Sizewell Belts along Suffolk's Sandlings Trail...Read More Circular | Medium
A 4.5 mile walk across heathland from Martlesham to Rushmere Heath on the eastern fringes of Ipswich...Read More Short
A 14 mile circular walk along the Sandlings Trail between Snape and Knodishall with return along the Sailors Path...Read More Circular | Long
Summary of Document Changes
Last Updated: 2018-12-18
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