Starting at a single row of cottages known as Shingle Street, you'll head up the coast to the river mouth at Orford Haven before cutting inland through fields and along well-signposted tracks and lanes back to the start.

Why it's special
From the Martello tower that marks your starting point, built to protect England from invasion during the Napoleonic wars, to some well-preserved second world war pillbox defences, this walk has an impressive military pedigree. Just up the coast is Orford Ness, where the first experiments with radar were conducted in the 1930s, while Shingle Street itself has been the subject of fevered speculation ever since it was evacuated in 1940. Conspiracies include rumours of a German landing and a shoreline littered with burning bodies, schemes to protect the coastline with an impenetrable barrage of flames and the testing of experimental chemical bombs. Four dead German airmen were certainly washed up on the beach, and weapons testing did result in the Lifeboat Inn being blown up. As for the rest, the conspiracy theories rumble on.

Find the whole walk here
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/jun/08/shingle-street-walking-guide-suffolk

How to get there
By car
From Ipswich, take the A12 towards Woodbridge, then the A1152 towards Melton. Take the second exit at the roundabout after the river, towards Hollesley, then follow signs to Shingle Street.

By public transport
Take the Ipswich-to-Lowestoft train and get off at Melton, but it's an 11km walk to the start, mostly on minor roads with no pavement.

#beach #coast #coastal #suffolk #uk #england #britain #walk

Find all hotels by Independent in Woodbridge from SAR 317

Change your mind

Book hotels with free cancellation

Treat yourself

Be picky

Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check prices for these dates

Tonight

Tomorrow

This weekend

Next weekend

Compare rooms and suites by Independent in Woodbridge with rates, reviews, and availability. Most hotels are fully refundable.

"Comfortable spacious rooms with large double bed. Everything for an overnight stay, coffee on the terrace, good evening meal in the restaurant and a lovely pre-breakfast swim in quite a large swimming pool with sauna and jacuzzi available. Overall an enjoyable and restful stay with friendly staff.."

"Great for visiting Minsmere "

"Great place "

"Great place to stay. Friendly staff, great atmosphere and great food"

SAR 432 total

includes taxes & fees

3 Sep - 4 Sep

Indoor pool, open 7:30 AM to 8:30 PM, sun loungers

"The spa facilities were really great and created a great opportunity for the family to spend time together. Really appreciated the hotel faciltating our family of 4 to stay in a junior suite even though we were 4. The room was clean and spacious and was a real break for us! Only thing was breakfast wasa bit expensive for us as it the resaurant seemed to be managed separately. All in all really lovely!"

SAR 427 total

includes taxes & fees

21 Sep - 22 Sep