Suffolk Walks
It
should be noted that coastal public rights of way around the Sizewell area are subject to blocking up orders from the extensive industrial projects that are currently taking place in the area. This includes The Suffolk Coast Path and The Sandlings long distance path. It is expected that such works are likely to last until at least 2040. Please avoid the area.
An index of the walks around the county of Suffolk that are contained on this site. Each walk details pubs en route, transport linking start and end and features to look out for and are organized by OS Map region.
Alternatively, explore using the Suffolk Interactive Map of walks, or select a Suffolk long Distance Trail such as the Sandlings or Suffolk Coast Path:
OS Explorer Map 197 - Ipswich and Felixstowe
A Walk to Languard Fort Updated!A 10 mile walk from Trimley to Languard Fort via Felixstowe Ferry...Read More Medium- Read More Medium
An Amble up the Deben Estuary Updated!A 13 mile walk along the River Deben in Suffolk, starting at Felixstowe and ending in Martlesham...Read More Long
Deben Estuary - Melton to Bawdsey Updated!A 15 mile river side walk along the Deben Estuary in Suffolk between the villages of Melton and Bawdsey...Read More Long
Foxhall Mill Stream Circular Walk Updated!Short circular walk following the Mill Stream through Foxhall, Ipswich...
Foxhall and Brookhill Wood Walk Updated!Short circular walk around heaths and woodlands of Foxhall, Ipswich...Read More Short
Fynn Valley Circular Walk Updated!A 16 mile walk along the Suffolk Fynn Valley between Woodbridge and Witnesham, with a return route via Grundisburgh and Hasketon....Read More Circular | Hike
A 13 mile walk following Suffolk's River Gipping between Needham Market and Ipswich...Read More Long
The Suffolk Sandlings path between Rushmere, on the eastern side of Ipswich, and Melton...Read More Medium
A walk along the Stour estuary following the Stour and Orwell long distance path....Read More Long
A 17 mile walk along the banks of the Orwell River in Suffolk starting at Felixstowe and ending in the centre of Ipswich...Read More Hike
A 14 mile walk along the banks of the River Orwell in Suffolk between Ipswich and Shotley Gate...Read More Long
A 20 mile walk along the Suffolk Coast Path between Snape and Felixstowe...Read More Hike- A 2 day challenge walk to complete the Suffolk Coast Path...
The Fonnereau Way to Ipswich Updated!A 12 mile walk between Woodbridge and Ipswich incorporating sections from the Fonnereau Way, the Sandlings and the Fynn Valley Way...Read More Long
A 4.5 mile walk across heathland from Martlesham to Rushmere Heath on the eastern fringes of Ipswich...Read More Short
OS Explorer Map 211 - Bury and Stowmarket
OS Explorer Map 212 - Woodbridge and Saxmundham
A 5 mile walk across the Coastal Suffolk landscape between Leiston and Saxmundham...Read More Short
A 6.5 mile circular walk around Wickham Market in Suffolk to take in the spooky sights of Potsford Gibbet...Read More Circular | Medium
A Trek Around Sole Bay Updated!A 24 mile circular walk between Sizewell and Southwold along the Suffolk Coast Path and Sandlings Walk....Read More Circular | Hike
An 8.4 mile circular walk around the Suffolk villages of Knodishall and Friston...Read More Circular | Medium
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
A Walk through the Garden of Suffolk Updated!A 14 mile walk between Saxmundham and Darsham along the East Suffolk Line Walk....Read More Circular | Long
An exhilarating 4 mile walk along the defence banks of Suffolk's River Alde estuary beginning and ending at Slaughden Quay...Read More Short
An easy 7 mile circular walk through the woodland around Sizewell on the Suffolk Coast...Read More Medium- Read More Circular | Hike
A circular walk through the quintessential Suffolk countryside following the River Alde...Read More Circular | Medium- Read More Circular | Short
A 12 mile circular walk starting at Eyke and incorporating the UFO Trail in Suffolk's Rendlesham Forest...Read More Circular | Long- Read More Short
Captains Wood, Sudbourne Updated!A 2.4 mile walk around the ancient woodland of Captains Wood just outside the hamlet of Sudbourne...Read More Short
An 8 mile walk along the Deben Valley in Suffolk from Wickham Market to Woodbridge...Read More Medium- Read More Long
- Read More Circular | Medium
A 12.5 mile walk between Aldringham and Aldeburgh through the Suffolk Coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...Read More Circular | Long
A 6 mile walk around the heaths and commons of Coldfair Green...Read More Medium
A 7 mile walk following the western parish boundary of Leiston in Suffolk, as described in a document from the middle-ages ...Read More Medium- Read More Medium
In Search of Sizewell Chapel Updated!A 10 mile walk following the southern side of the parish boundary of Leiston in Suffolk ...Read More Medium
A 10 mile walk following the southern side of the parish boundary of Leiston in Suffolk ...Read More Circular | Medium- Read More Circular | Long
A 7 mile walk along the Alde estuary, following the Suffolk Coast Path from Snape to Iken...Read More Circular | Medium
A 10 mile circular walk around Leiston and Eastbridge in Suffolk ...Read More Circular | Medium![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlkXRhuGjuDqqQ6RS1cYXqFRW10hoOU_mZeIQYwvO4nU1J3E82D-oOWGG8xuYLZCGczfBWpPt7BwGoUejadcgSkHSgNBX5OEqhHyX5HIH5jLuvqZ7tMgV-TDObDMX8P2UhVHm5U74FJ8/s144/20181117_133544.jpg"></div></div><div id="Description" class="block"><meta itemprop="name" content="Kenton Hills and Broom Covert Circular Walk"><p class="block" itemprop="description"><em>A circular walk around the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Sizewell</em></p><p class="block" itemprop="articleSection">This walk has a diverse landscape that has something for everyone. Woodland, coast and beach, freshwater marsh and Sandlings Heath which is a delight to any visitor and worthy of its status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The walk heads out of Leiston alongside the man-made Aldhurst Farm nature reserve, an area of wetland, heath and grassland created in 2015 as a sweetener for the local folk should the proposed Sizewell C Power Station get approval. It isn't presently accessible to the public other than the established footpath that runs along the valley and a new path running adjacent to Valley Road. The north side of the reserve was once known as Winters Heath, common land that was enclosed in the early 19th century. Therefore this is not so much as giving something to the community as returning the access rights to the people that such common land once afforded. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><figure><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQx_SSvtpXk214kVolQHpCW8WoXKUuhjrSePrtYrTMCVj7Eu57SgMWDtaGpv28Rv0n1PFYv1yEhf6HoirJbdSIVbQKtmTJ2DyaskAkJvdyb06WRfKqj4apOUdvMFnNUZWtlnG3IdvrqQ/s144/20181117_122321.jpg" alt="Views across the marsh to minsmere, an area that will be covered with spoil heaps from the construction of Sizewell C"><figcaption style="font-size:0.8em;font-style:italic">Views across the marsh to minsmere, an area that will be covered with spoil heaps from the construction of Sizewell C</figcaption></figure></div><p class="block" itemprop="articleSection">Moving on up to the top of the hill on Lovers Lane where we take the track off to the right as the road bends around to the left. An interesting feature on the OS maps at this location is an area marked as Fiscal Policy. This is thought to be a so called Trap Street, a fictitious location that is used as a copyright marker for the cartographers work. This specific fictitious location has been added to OS maps since the 1920s and has varied its exact location over the decades, although keeping within the general area of the western side of Kenton Hills. It is certainly not a location known to locals and appears on no other maps of the area other than the Ordnance Survey. It is notable that there are many references to the area of Fiscal Policy made in modern documentation written by both Suffolk Council and EDF, the Power Station operators. This goes to show the lack of local knowledge these bureaucrats and business managers have which may account for their scant respect for the surrounding landscape.</p><p class="block" itemprop="articleSection">The route then heads through a car park and into the woodland through the areas known as Kenton (marked as Tenton on 19th century OS maps) and Goose Hills. The naming of the area as Hills is not self evident from the tree covered landscape. It has to be said that there is a triangulation station in the depths of Goose Hill but this is only at an altitude of 9m with the surrounding landscape no less than 5m. I guess a mere 4m high piece of land surrounded by marsh may look like a hill but it certainly is not self evident within the dense forest. The names of Kenton Hill and Goose Hill date back from long before the forest was planted, when the area was Sandlings heathland. It wasn't until the 1960s, with the coming of Sizewell Nuclear Power Station, that the heath was planted with a managed forest. Going back further in history the area is thought to have been parkland attached with the 14th century Leiston Abbey, some documents describing it as a deer park.</p><p class="block" itemprop="articleSection">There are many tracks through the woods including a section of the The Sandlings long distance trail as well as specific colour coded way-marked trails. This particular route takes the unmarked perimeter paths out to the extremities of Goose Hill where there are views onto the marshes to the south of Minsmere and a purpose built hide for those who want to spend some time discovering the wildlife of the marsh. Whatever route one takes, navigating to the eastern edge one will find two footbridges which provide access across to the coastal section of this walk. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><figure><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyvtIY7R4OO9Kxn4LceoAF3qLtwnY2uE6NxGMwlfF3bJNVAgUqfF1mXiGq7bUKGjzfkK7KCLNM2rCJzpLs__fjQHeHrDI375qQ1KcQCc2KDIowiC0XvHsSVZADAup0bz36CDjNUH7VTw/s144/20181117_120558-01.jpeg" alt="Goose Hill and Kenton Hill Woodland"><figcaption style="font-size:0.8em;font-style:italic">Goose Hill and Kenton Hill Woodland</figcaption></figure></div><p class="block" itemprop="articleSection">Sizewell beach offers both coastal heath and a shingle beach to walk along. The northern section at the point where the path emerges from the woods, was once a 19th century rifle range which I believe was also used during WWI as target practice for the troops. The beach and heath paths pass in the front of the two power stations at Sizewell and is a very popular for both tourists and locals walking through to Minsmere Sluice and beyond. For those wanting refreshments there is the Vulcan Arms pub at Sizewell as well as the Sizewell T cafe although this is closed over the winter months.</p><p class="block" itemprop="articleSection">Return uses the medieval track through to Broom Covert. This was the original route between Leiston and Sizewell before the modern road was introduced in the 19th century. Broom Covert is an area of ancient Sandlings heath that is a delight to walk through and is another highlight of this walk, its contoured grassland hinting at hidden earthworks that may lie beneath. It is thought that this area was extensively used for troop training during WWII and there may be hidden structures dating from this period lying beneath the surface.</p><p class="block" itemprop="articleSection">A permissive path leads across the meadow at Round Covert to Reckham Pits Wood which was originally part of Leiston Common, the woodland growing up in the early 20th century after it had been used for aggregate excavation. The mixed woodland is a much wilder landscape than that of Kenton Hills, with a cacophony of trees, foliage and fauna all competing for space, a blaze of colour and light in all seasons. Above the woodland is what is left of Leiston Common, correctly known as Leiston Dry Common to distinguish it from Leiston Wet Common which once occupied part of the marshes. The Common features in many local tales and stories of 18th century smugglers who would stash their booty in holes dug into the sandy soils of the common. There is a permissive path on the north side of the common that leads down to the marsh known as Sizewell Belts and across to Kenton Hill woods. The public footpath leads out onto Lovers Lane with a new footpath adjacent to Valley Road to take the walker back into Leiston.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><figure><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9v18Icv1UpnzjVVQ5Oka48mVFimOSuIBPv5j4xx8pLv_cD5UenkB-RDc1p_yVF-HRyvqWEXpqQxxcsRuPu5a2zfZAYczwYBj5MetTZ52cgnDisO4-xrw3aIdU0V8dnmU44LzsgY-3Gk/s144/20181117_133432.jpg)
A circular walk around the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty at Sizewell...Read More Medium- Exploring the countryside between the East Suffolk villages of Leiston and Suffolk...Read More Long
A country ramble to the lost parish of Buxlow...Read More Medium
A somewhat challenging circular walk to Suffolks ancient parish of Hazlewood...
Leiston to Walberswick Circular Walk Updated!A 22 mile circular walk between Leiston and Walberswick incorporating sections of the Suffolk Coast Path and Sandlings Walk....Read More Circular | Hike
A woodland walk, a UFO encounter, quiet country lanes and a good old country pub...Read More Medium
Saxmundham to Rendham Circular Walk Updated!Circular Walk between Saxmundham and the village of Rendham...Read More Circular | Medium
A 4 mile walk around Saxmundham, Kelsale and Carlton...Read More Short
A 6.5 mile Suffolk circular walk along the banks of the Ore and Butley rivers between Orford and the Butley Ferry river crossing at Gedgrave....Read More Circular | Medium- A 20 mile walk along the Suffolk Coast Path between Snape and Felixstowe...Read More Hike
- A 2 day challenge walk to complete the Suffolk Coast Path...
- A 2 day challenge walk to complete the Suffolk Coast Path...
Sweffling Circular Walk 2 Updated!Short circular walk through the Suffolk countryside around the village of Sweffling...Read More Circular | Short
Sweffling Circular Walk Summary Updated!Short circular walk through the Suffolk countryside around the village of Sweffling...Read More Short
A 2 mile circular walk around the Suffolk town of Saxmundham using the Town Trail...Read More Circular | Short
A 16 mile walk along the East Suffolk Line Path between Leiston and Wickham Market...Read More Hike
A 16 mile walk around the Orford Loop section of the Suffolk Coast Path...Read More Circular | Hike
A 16 mile walk along the Suffolk Sandlings Path between Bromeswell and Snape taking in Rendlesham and Tunstall forests...Read More Hike
A 9 mile circular walk that links Knodishall and Sizewell Belts along Suffolk's Sandlings Trail...Read More Circular | Medium
A 13 mile circular walk along the Sandlings Walk between Knodishall and Snape...Read More Circular | Long
Tracks and lanes to Glemham Updated!A 22 mile route that can be either walked or cycled through the Suffolk countryside around Snape, Blaxhall and Glenham ...Read More Circular | Hike- Read More Short
OS Explorer Map 230 - Diss and Harleston
- Read More Circular | Medium
The Angles Way - Diss to Wortwell Updated!A 17 mile walk along the Angles Way from Diss to Harleston and onto Wortwell...Read More Hike
A 15 mile walk from the Breckland end of the Angles Way to Diss...Read More Hike
The Angles Way - Wortwell to Earsham Updated!An 8.75 mile walk along the Angles Way from Wortwell to Earsham...Read More Medium
A 25 mile walk along the Icknield Way between Herringswell and Knetishall Heath...Read More Hike
OS Explorer Map 231 - Southwold and Bungay
A 7 mile circular walk along the Angles Way from Beccles to Geldeston Locks...Read More Circular | Medium
A 14 mile walk between Halesworth and Beccles along the East Suffolk Line Path...Read More Long
Angles Way - Earsham to Beccles Updated!A 12 mile walk along the Angles Way between Earsham and Beccles...Read More Long
Angles Way - Oulton Broad to Beccles Updated!A 9 mile walk along the Angles Way between Oulton Broad and Beccles in Suffolk...Read More Medium
An 18 mile walk down the Blyth Valley in Suffolk from Halesworth to Blythburgh, then across the heaths and commons to Leiston....Read More Hike- Read More Long
A 10 mile walk along the East Suffolk Line Trail between Halesworth and Darsham...Read More Medium- Read More Short
A 5 mile walk through Dunwich forest to the medieval site of the lost village of Hethern...Read More Short- Read More Medium
- Leiston to Walberswick Circular Walk Updated!A 22 mile circular walk between Leiston and Walberswick incorporating sections of the Suffolk Coast Path and Sandlings Walk....Read More Circular | Hike
Leiston to Westwood Marsh Updated!A walk encompassing the Westwood Marshes footpath into a circular route from Leiston...Read More Hike
A 14 mile coastal walk between Gorleston and Kessingland crossing the border from Norfolk to Suffolk...Read More Long- Read More Short
- Read More Circular | Medium
A linear walk along the former trackbed of the Southwold Railway to Blythburgh...Read More Medium
Southwold to Covehithe Circular Walk Updated!An 11 mile circular walk along the Suffolk Coast Path between Southwold and Covehithe...Read More Circular | Medium- An exhilarating 12 mile coastal walk along the Suffolk Coast....Read More Long
A 17 mile walk using the official inland route of the Suffolk Coast Path from Lowestoft to Southwold...Read More Hike- A 2 day challenge walk to complete the Suffolk Coast Path...
- 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
Wenhaston Circular Walk Updated!A ramble of the heaths and commons around the Suffolk village of Wenhaston...Read More Circular | Medium
Other Suffolk Walks
Angles Way - Belton to Oulton Broad Updated!A 14 mile walk along the Angles Way between Belton and Oulton Broad, crossing the border from Norfolk to Suffolk...Read More Long
Flatford Mill Circular Walk Updated!An 11 mile Walk along the River Stour incorporating sections of the Stour Valley Path, the Essex Way and St Edmund's Way...Read More Long
A circular walk encapsulating Leiston Airfield, Theberton woods and the Minsmere River...Read More Circular | Medium- Read More Short
A country ramble through rural Suffolk taking in the villages of Saxtead and Earl Soham...Read More Circular | Short
A 26 mile walk along the Icknield Way between Linton and Herringswell...Read More Hike
Long Distance Trails
Suffolk Coast Path Updated!An overview of the Suffolk Coast Path, a 60 mile long distance path following the coast of Suffolk ...
The Sandlings Walk Updated!An overview of the Sandlings Walk, a 55 mile long distance path through the forests and heaths of East Suffolk ...
Festivals and Events
A 9 mile return Suffolk walk from Leiston to Westleton to attend the annual Westleton Barrel Fair...Read More Circular | Medium
A simple 11 mile walk across the Suffolk heaths and woodland from Leiston to attend the annual Westleton Barrel Fair....Read More Medium
A simple 11 mile walk across the Suffolk heaths and woodland from Leiston to attend the annual Westleton Barrel Fair....
Sun, Sea, Beer and Chips Updated!A 13 mile circular walk from Leiston to the White Hart Beer Festival in Aldeburgh...Read More Circular | Long
An 8.8 mile circular walk through the Suffolk countryside to attend the 2011 Suffolk Herring Festival at Middleton....Read More Circular
News Items
A walk at high tide of the 2013 Storm Surge between Sizewell and Thorpeness...Read More Medium
A 7 mile walk from Thorpeness to Aldeburghs Martello Tower ...Read More Medium
A 8 mile beach walk to witness the damage caused by the 2013 Storm Surge...Read More Medium
A 10 mile circular walk to witness the damage caused by the 2013 Storm Surge...Read More Medium
