THE WALKING PARTY ITINERARY FOR A 'TASTE OF SUFFOLK COAST PARTY: ALDEBURGH'

THE WALKING PARTY
       ITINERARY FOR A ‘TASTE OF SUFFOLK COAST PARTY: ALDEBURGH’

                                        Price : £2290 Single Supplement : £360

                                         Distance: 63 kms              Walking : easy

The county of Suffolk is the where I was brought up so it gives enormous pleasure to be able to show you around one of the most
beautiful counties in England. This is our second itinerary in Suffolk and centres around the beautiful coast line which has been
an inspiration to so many writers, poets and composers. This is ‘required taste’ walking as it is well off the beaten track. It is
unique desolate windswept sea-eroded scenery with wonderful marshes, heaths and the muddy estuaries of the Alde, Deben and
Ore rivers. What goes on here could be so easily reflected in Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood by the sloeblack, slow, black,
crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing sea. We centre the week around the port of Aldeburgh which was the working place of the
composer Benjamin Britten and the poet George Crabbe. There is good bird life and of course fabulous fish and shellfish to be
enjoyed.

Day 1 You will be met at Ipswich train station late morning and driven to the beautiful coastal village of
Southwold. This is one of the beautiful fishing ports of Suffolk and home to the great brewery of Adnams.
We stay at The Swan. The Swan is a famous hotel which has recently been refurbished. It is in the heart of
Southwold and has lovely bedrooms all with bathrooms en suite. It is a famous hotel and a good start
therefore for the coastal week! We shall drive out for a picnic lunch in a field near Covehithe church. After
lunch we set off on foot for a walk along the eroded coast line to Southwold. Dinner at The Swan.
Walk: 9 kms

Day 2 After another delightful English breakfast we will visit the famous brewery of Adnams. This is a
world class family run brewery. We will then walk from Southwold and catch the rowing boat ferry to cross
the river Blyth to the small port of Walberswick. This is a place where famous journalists, writers and film
directors like to dwell. We will then continue for lunch at Flora’s. Flora’s has the reputation of producing
the best fish and chips in the country. It is a canteen like extravaganza. I know nothing like it! A
wonderful lunch-time experience! Dunwich was a large port and the capital of East Anglia 1500 years ago
before most of it got swept into the sea with erosion. On clear moonlight nights the bells can be heard
tolling from the depths of the sea! After looking at Dunwich we will continue on foot to the duckpond in
the small village of Westleton. Here you will have a chance to wander through the extraordinary second-
hand bookshop in the former chapel, otherwise return to Southwold by car. Dinner at Sutherland House.
Walk: 10 kms

Day 3 We leave The Swan in the vehicles and drive back to Dunwich to start the mornings walk. This is a
lovely marshy walk that will lead us to the RSPB reserve of Minsmere. We will look in at a hide and see if
we can spot avocets, or bar-tailed godwits, shelducks, tufted ducks, spoonbills, arctic terns, mergansers,
harriers … who knows! We will carry on to Eastbridge for a local lunch at the Eels Foot pub. After lunch
we will continue by foot to Sizewell. This is not a usual end of the day stop! I find the architecture of
Sizewell though eerily beautiful. We then drive on to the pretty coastal village of Aldeburgh and the
Brudenell Hotel. This hotel lies at the south end of the village on the shoreline and is a lovely luxury hotel
with light and ait and filled with the sound of the sea!. Dinner at The Brudenell. Walk: 15 kms

Day 4 After breakfast at The Brudenell we start a walk that is a well-known trail called the Sailors Walk. It
takes us through the salt marshes to Snape Maltings. The Maltings was built here in 1800 for malting the
barley for beer. Many Thames barges would come up the river to carry the malted barley away for brewing.
Now it is a famous arts centre and where the Benjamin Britten Festival takes place. We will return to
Aldeburgh by car for a picnic on the beach. After lunch we shall walk to Thorpeness set up by the Ogilvys
in the 1920s as an ideal holiday resort with a beautiful mere. We shall visit Benjamin Britten’s house on the
way with its enchanting collection of artefacts and musical memorabilia. Benjamin Britten lived here for
many years having emigrated to the States during the war. He had come across the poems of George
Crabbe in a New York bookstall in 1941and the poems, especially the poem of Peter Grimes, brought so
much nostalgia (he was born in the port of Lowestoft) that he returned forthwith in 1942 to the beauty of
this unique and wonderful place. Time off then before dinner. Walk: 12kms

Day 5 Drive after breakfast to Orford. We will walk along the sea wall before boarding the Lady Florence
boat and eat lunch whilst cruising along the rivers Alde and Or. Here we shall hope to see seals and avocets
and other various waders and estuary and sea life. We shall visit Pinneys upon our return to shore for those
of you wishing to buy some beautifully smoked salmon or kippers or smokies … all vacuum packed so
perfect for taking home with you! Drive back to Aldeburgh for a sundowner on beach. Dinner at The
Regatta. Walk: 7kms

Day 6 After breakfast a drive to another pretty village. From here we walk to Bawdsey Point and the little
boat club for lunch overlooking the fish boat bobbing estuary. It is a charming walk past Martello towers
and where we often see avocets. We will return to Aldeburgh by car and take time off before our last dinner
at the Brudenell. Walk: 10kms
.

Day 7 We leave Aldeburgh for Ipswich train station and on to Stansted airport for those taking flights.

              Deben Estuary                                      Beach Huts Southwold

NOTE: The itinerary is subject to change according to local conditions. All mileages shown are
approximate.