The Sandlings Walk - Dunwich to Southwold
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Thursday, 6 January 2022
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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
This is the final stage of the Sandlings Walk from Ipswich to Southwold. Starting at Dunwich, it takes the trails through Dunwich Forest and heads over Walberswick Heath to Southwold. The woods are full of mushrooms and nuts and berries this time of year... and hops! This is a lovely walk through the woods and well worth the effort. To make the route circular, the return is either via Dingle Marshes, or the Suffolk Coast Path or if the tide is out then its an easy walk along the beach.
NOTE
This is a walk summary intended to provide the user with just the essential information in order to navigate the walk route. Fully detailed information notes, refreshment stops and walk features are not included in this. A full write up will be included in the near future.
Dunwich to Southwold Circular Walk - Essential Information
Walk Statistics:
- Start location: Dunwich
- Distance: miles ( km)
- Total Gain: ft ( metre)
- Total Descent: ft ( metre)
- Min Height: ft ( metre)
- Max Height: ft ( metre)
- Walk Time:
- Walk type: Circular
- Walk Grade: Easy
- Terrain: Footpath, Country Lane
Maps:
The following maps and services can assist in navigating this route. There are links to printed maps and links to downloadable GPX route data for importing into navigational software and apps.
- Ordnance Survey Explorer Map
- OS Explorer 231 - Southwold & Bungay
- GPX Route File
Route Verification Details
- Date of Walk: 29/08/2010
- Walk Time: 11:00 to 16:30
- Walkers: griff, kat
- Weather Conditions: menacing clouds but stayed dry
Walk Notes
Its always good to visit Southwold and this walk is a great way to do it. With the alternative routes to return to Dunwich there is plenty of scope for varying the walk on different occasions. Beware of path closures across the marshes as there are frequent maintenance operations to the defences. An interesting sight at the start of the walk was sheep grazing in the church graveyard - it was a Sunday so why shouldn't they?
Dunwich Forest touches both Westleton Heath and Walberswick Heath. There are signs decreeing that the area was once used for military exercises and you should not touch any suspect items that may be found. I have never found any devices thus far!
One of the first instances of walking this route was in early April way back in 2010 when the day was full of cold heavy showers, including hailstones. Luckily we had packed the waterproofs so the upper half stayed relatively dry. Trousers got soaked and dried by the ensuing sun twice during the day. It was amusing when we found a group of grockels in a car on the track into Walberswick - a woman with wellies on was leading their car and testing the depth of the puddles, in once instance reaching the top of her boots. She declared they had taken the wrong road, thinking it was the main road into Dunwich.
This walk has been undertaken many times over the years by Griffmonsters Walks and never ceases to impress.
Directions
A track from the north end of Dunwich village, just beyond the church and adjacent to the war memorial leads into Dunwich forest. Follow the Sandlings waymarkers through the forest. Eventually it comes out onto a track that leads down to Walberswick. Before getting to the village, the path doubles back on itself across the heath on the left of the track. The path eventually comes out onto a track to the footbridge across the River Blyth - this was the route of the former Halesworth to Southwold Railway, a narrow gauge branch line which closed in 1929. The path then follows the river down-stream. To walk into Southwold just follow the waymarkers past the camp site.
To return use the Ferry to cross the river to Walberswick then follow the waymarkers for the Suffolk Coast Path. Do check that the ferry service is running otherwise you will need to walk up the river to the bridge and then back down the other side.
Pubs
The Harbour Inn, Southwold: - a busy little Adnams pub that offers food and beer. Vulnerable to flooding with plenty of artefacts as testament on the pub walls. Adnams Explorer was excellent on this visit. They used to have a business card that proferred the quote, an inn besides and sometimes in the River Blyth which is so true.
The Bell, Walberswick: A busy popular old pub with flagstones on its floor. It serves food and Adnams ales, expensive as ever and dutifully obeying the inverse square law that the nearer you get to Adnams brewery the more the beer costs. If you witness a fisherman sitting in the smoking room, keep your eyes on him as he may just disappear, or so local ghostly folklore tells us.
Summary of Document Changes
Last Updated: 2022-01-06
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