Route details, maps, pubs, features, local history and folklore for a wide variety of walks focusing primarily on Norfolk and Suffolk

OSmap:197 Walks
Showing posts with label OSmap:197. Show all posts

Tuesday 8 February 2022

Suffolk Coast Path Challenge Walk Part 1

Suffolk Coast Path Challenge Walk Part 1

A 2 day challenge walk to complete the Suffolk Coast Path

The first day of a 2 day challenge walk to walk the Suffolk Coast from Languard Fort to the county boundary at Hopton. This first day terminates at approximately the half way point of Sizewell

Tuesday 4 May 2021

Stour and Orwell Walk - Ipswich to Shotley Gate

Industry and nature

A 14 mile walk along the banks of the River Orwell in Suffolk between Ipswich and Shotley Gate

The Stour and Orwell path is an extension to the southern end of the Suffolk Coast Path and follows the coast and heaths along the estuaries of the Orwell and the Stour rivers. This particular walk focuses on the section between Ipswich and Shotley Gate following the river Orwell along the Shotley peninsular.

Saturday 27 March 2021

Foxhall Mill Stream Circular Walk

A field of sweetcorn adjacent to Brookhill Wood

Short circular walk following the Mill Stream through Foxhall, Ipswich

One branch of The Sandlings Path that leads into Ipswich, follows a route across Foxhall Heath. This small walk uses the path as the basis of a circular walk through this natural woodland location.

Friday 26 March 2021

Foxhall and Brookhill Wood Walk

A field of sweetcorn adjacent to Brookhill Wood

Short circular walk around heaths and woodlands of Foxhall, Ipswich

A pleasant stroll around the heaths and woodlands around Foxhall, to the east of Ipswich. The walk is short but nonetheless a pleasant way to while a way an hour or two. Natural woodland, babbling stream and if you look very carefully you may even see what remains of Foxhalls All Saints Church

Wednesday 15 January 2020

Stour and Orwell Walk - Felixstowe to Ipswich

A 17 mile walk along the banks of the Orwell River in Suffolk starting at Felixstowe and ending in the centre of Ipswich

The Stour and Orwell path is an extension to the southern end of the Suffolk Coast Path and follows the coast along the estuaries of the Orwell and the Stour. The start of the walk is characterised by the earthen river defences along which the footpath navigates. From Levington Creek an alternative route is used to pay a visit to the 13th century Ship Inn before proceeding through Broke Hall Woods to rejoin the official route through to Ipswich.

Tuesday 10 December 2019

Alton Water Reservoir Walk

Daisies at Alton Water

An 8 mile walk around Suffolk's Alton Water Reservoir

Located on the Shotley peninsular, the Alton Water Reservoir provides an easy walk around its water. A self contained circular route that needs little in the way of maps. Just keep the water on your left and keep walking! The mixed variety of landscapes of open meadow, woods and even the hills on the northern side of the reservoir provide a constant changing scenery throughout the walk.

Monday 21 January 2019

An Amble up the Deben Estuary

Felixstowe Ferry

A 13 mile walk along the River Deben in Suffolk, starting at Felixstowe and ending in Martlesham

The lovely walk along the Deben estuary. Although parts are inaccessible due to breaches of the flood banks, the mix of riverside paths, country lanes and footpaths provides an ideal mix of landscapes to keep any walker fascinated. The May bush pub offers a perfect place to take a rest and refreshment, its riverside location unbeatable.

Saturday 29 December 2018

Deben Estuary - Melton to Bawdsey

View across the Deben estuary

A 15 mile river side walk along the Deben Estuary in Suffolk between the villages of Melton and Bawdsey

This walk follows river side footpaths with spectacular views across the estuary. Unfortunately at Ramsholt there is no public access and one needs to divert through to the village of Alderton with a road walk for the last few miles to Bawdsey. A ferry crossing an a short walk into Felixstowe provides public transport access back to Melton

Gipping Valley Way - Needham Market to Ipswich

near Pipps Ford

A 13 mile walk following Suffolk's River Gipping between Needham Market and Ipswich

A riverside walk tracing the route of the River Gipping as it heads through Suffolk to join the tidal waters of the Orwell at Ipswich. A gentle ambling route that twists and turns through the countryside which presents a perfect summers walk.

Thursday 20 December 2018

The Sandlings Walk - Martlesham to Rushmere Heath

Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum

A 4.5 mile walk across heathland from Martlesham to Rushmere Heath on the eastern fringes of Ipswich

Like most modern towns, Ipswich is suffering from a seemingly endless amount of urban sprawl that envelops the traditional villages that once surrounded it. However, this walk follows heathland that is hidden behind the housing estates all the way from Martlesham through to Rushmere Heath and Ipswich Hospital

Saturday 15 December 2018

Suffolk Coast Path - Snape to Felixstowe

Looking bck towards Shingle Street from Bawdsey

A 20 mile walk along the Suffolk Coast Path between Snape and Felixstowe

This is the most remote section of the Suffolk Coast Path and follows the Butley River down to Shingle Street and then continues along the coast to the ferry at Bawdsey. There is an eerie sense of foreboding when walking this section. The solitude. The windswept landscape. The distant silhouettes of the Orfordness Pagodas. The lonely river. One can walk virtually the entire distance without seeing a soul and the only company is the decaying remains of WWII defences and the looming martello towers from Napoleonic times.

Tuesday 4 December 2018

A Walk to Languard Fort

A 10 mile walk from Trimley to Languard Fort via Felixstowe Ferry

This walk navigates from the village of Trimley down to Kings Fleet and along the banks of the River Deben to Felixstowe Ferry, the setting of an old Black Shuck tale from many years ago which is a feature to this walk. A coastal walk follows, along the seafront of Felixstowe through to the where the River Orwell meets the sea, a strategic point of defence against attacking enemies attempting to sail up the estuary. Key to that defence is Languard Fort which has stood here for many centuries and has played key parts in the world wars of the 20th centuries. A fascinating place to visit with a certain eeriness within its confines.

Wednesday 21 November 2018

The Fonnereau Way to Ipswich

Christchurch Park

A 12 mile walk between Woodbridge and Ipswich incorporating sections from the Fonnereau Way, the Sandlings and the Fynn Valley Way

This walk links the railway stations of Woodbridge, Westerfield and Ipswich with scenic views along the estuary at Woodbridge and the Fynn Valley before entering Ipswich from the west through the historic parkland known as Christchurch park which dates from the 12th century which includes many historic features and a mansion that is open to the public.

Fynn Valley Circular Walk

A 16 mile walk along the Suffolk Fynn Valley between Woodbridge and Witnesham, with a return route via Grundisburgh and Hasketon.

The Fynn Valley Walk is an official waymarked route following the course of the River Fynn from Witnesham to Martlesham then continuing through to Woodbridge along the banks of the River Deben. For this walk, the Fynn Valley route is walked in reverse then public footpaths are used across the fields to Grundisburgh and Hasketon and back down into Woodbridge to make a circular walk.

Sunday 26 August 2018

Sandlings Walk - Rushmere to Melton Walk Summary

Salt marsh

The Suffolk Sandlings path between Rushmere, on the eastern side of Ipswich, and Melton

The Sandlings is a long distance path linking Ipswich and Southwold through the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

A starting point is provided at Rushmere Heath, close to Ipswich Hospital and takes a rural route out behind Kesgrave and through to Martlesham. The trail then heads down to Martlesham Creek, a sizeable creek off of the River Deben that creek was said to be used in 18th century smuggling days as a discreet place to offload contraband. A riverside path then provides access all the way through to Melton. This is the highlight of the walk, a true delight to wander no matter what time of the year.

Although there are no specific pubs along the route, a short diversion gives access to The Black Tiles at roughly the half way point. There is public transport linking the two ends with 800 First Group bus service departing from outside Melton railway station. The 64 service follows a similar route and departs from The Street in Melton. There is no Sunday service.

Features along the route include an anonymous grave on Martlesham Heath known as Dobbs' Grave, reputedly the resting place of a shepherd boy named Dobbs who committed suicide. The area is purported to be haunted some saying it to be the ghost of Brainy Dobbs, an airman from Martlesham Heath airfield.

Martlesham Heath Control Tower Museum is located a little further along and pays homage to RAF Martlesham Heath, which contributed to the development of aviation as well as being a key airfield during two world wars. Open on Sundays from Easter to October.

The impressive renovated Tide Mill sits on the banks of the Deben at Woodbridge and is a worthwhile attraction to take time out and visit. The mill, over 800 years old, is said to be the oldest in the country.

Friday 17 August 2018

Stour and Orwell Walk - Cattawade to Shotley Gate Walk Summery

Salt marsh

A walk along the Stour estuary following the Stour and Orwell long distance path.

The Stour and Orwell Walk is a long distance trail that follows the estuaries of South Suffolk. This 42 mile trail links Felixstowe and Manningtree and this specific walk is the southern most section that follows the north side of the River Stour estuary. There are some superb views across the wide waters that separate Suffolk and Essex and although there is not full access along the waterfront, the route provides a pleasant days ramble to the head of the Shotley peninsular. This specific route also diverges from the official route to take in the village of Erwarton, a quiet and tranquil Suffolk community that is a pleasure to meander through.

The route is waymarked throughout although it is advisable to use an OS map or GPX tracker software to clarify the route in a few specific points where the way onwards becomes ambiguous. Do check tide times as there is a short section along the beach by Sutton Ness which can become inaccessible during periods of high tide.

The main limitation of this walk is the transport access between the two ends. There is no direct bus service and one needs to use Ipswich as a link. Having said this, the services do allow ample time to perform the walk.

It is advisable to take food and drink as there are little opportunities to purchase any on the route, with the only pub encountered being that at the end of the walk.

Walk Summaries

Latest walk summaries are basic information sheets for walks that have yet to be fully documented. These provide links to maps, public transport and walks stats, although detailed notes and features are not included.

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