Kessingland may appear to be a strange destination for this walk when the two main towns along the route are Gorleston and Lowestoft. Yet there is reason for this madness. There is a free car park at Kessingland and there is a bus service from the village into Lowestoft from where there are frequent connections through to Gorleston. There used to be a service all the way through to Gorleston but unfortunately that is no longer the case. Lowestoft parking is expensive as is Gorleston, therefore this provides a worthwhile alternative.
This is an enjoyable walk that crosses the Norfolk/Suffolk border using the cliff top paths and promenades with some beach walking. The England Coast Path navigates along the first section from Gorleston to Hopton which follows the prom and then leads down onto the beach. This should be navigable in all but excessively high tides or storm surges. There is no alternative as the cliff top is marked as private. If one can get along the beach behind the wooden defences and it is past high tide then the route should be accessible. Once at Hopton there is an alternative coast path route through the holiday village as the beach here is not always accessible.
Beyond Hopton one can continue along the cliff top. In fact this is the advisable route due to the erosion along this section of coastline. One should take care as there are regular cliff falls along this section. The path has already been diverted around the inland side of the former cold war radar station that sits on top of these cliffs. If access is blocked by a fall then one needs to navigate up to the coast road to get into Corton. It is thought that by 2020 the Suffolk section of England Coast Path will in instated and a permanent path that recedes with the erosion will be introduced.
Unfortunately the road has to be used through Corton before the next coastal access is found, this being Tramps Lane at Gunton which leads across the heathland and down to the prom at North Beach in front of the Denes. Then follows an easy walk all the way through to Ness Point. Now, I have visited Ness Point numerous times and the one thing that I have noticed is the lack of people. In fact I can categorically state that I have never met a single person at Ness Point. Maybe it is because it is hidden away behind an industrial area. Maybe it is just not as renowned as other landmarks such as Lands End, where tourists flock, so much so that a garish theme park has been constructed there. All of this is not a criticism but an observation for I personally like the solitude. However, this seclusion may not last, as the media reported in 2017 that £1m had been secured to develop the landmark into a prime tourist attraction. Sadly, for me this would be a place to then avoid. I like it much more as one of those secret Suffolk locations where, when one visits, one is alone with nothing but the wild sea and the empowering sky.
The final trek through to Kessingland takes one along the prom to the South Beach at Lowestoft and then through to Pakefield. The remaining distance can be achieved along the beach provided the tide allows. It would need an excessive high tide or storm surge to prevent access along this section.
