Coast & Heaths Walk Explorer Guide

The Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB The Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of Britain’s finest . It extends from the Stour Estuary in the south to the eastern fringe of and, in the north, to . It covers 403 square kilometres, including wildlife rich wetlands, ancient heaths, windswept shingle beaches and historic towns and villages.

Lowestoft Sailors’ Path Visiting Snape & Key to Map Key toAONB Map area Additional project area Beccles Kessingland Walk Explorer Guide Ordnance Survey Explorer Map No.212 AONBTowns area and villages A145 A12 Woodland (Woodbridge and ) Additional project area Kessingland Heathland Halesworth TownsMain and r oadsvillages A145Southwold Easy access via the A12, A1094 and A12 WoodlandRailways/stations B1069. Plenty of parking at Snape. Blyth /Stour Heathland A144 and Orwell Walk Halesworth Public transport information: Main rSandlingsoads Walk Sailors’ Path www.suffolkonboard.com or call Railways/stations A1120 River You are here Blyth 0345 606 6171 Suffolk Coast Path/Stour BlythburghMinsmere Walberswick and Orwell Walk A144 Information Saxmundham Dunwich 01728 688303 Sailors’ Path A1120 You are here www.snapemaltings.co.uk Snape Wickham Aldeburgh Market FramlinghamRendlesham A12 Saxmundham Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB River 01394 445225 Orford LeistonOre Woodbridge Orfordness www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Sutton Hoo Snape Ipswich Wickham North Aldeburgh Sailors’ Path Walk Explorer Market River River A14 Deben AldeSea has been produced with RendleshamBawdsey A12A14 the generous support of Trimley St Mary/ A12 St Martin River Suffolk Secrets Ltd. Alton Water Orford Ore A137 01502 722717 WoodbridgeShotley Orfordness River Stour Sutton www.suffolk-secrets.co.uk Manningtree Hoo Harwich Mistley Ipswich North River A14 Deben Sea A14 Crown copyright. All rights reserved © 2012 Suffolk County Council. Licence number 100023395. © 2012 Suffolk copyright. All rights reserved Crown Trimley St Mary/ A12 River Orwell St Martin Alton Water

A137 Shotley Felixstowe River Stour Walk in the footsteps of the seafarers Manningtree Harwich Mistley who travelled from the Suffolk coast to the village of Snape Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

This leaflet was first produced in 2012 by the Balance Project and part-financed by the European Union through the Interreg IV 2 Seas Cross-Border programme. This edition, with amendments, May 2017. Original research, text and some images by Simon Peachey. Additional route checking by Mary and Tony Bishop.

The Sailors’ Path follows a beautiful route between Snape Maltings and Aldeburgh. The Sailors’ Path Path is named because sailors would walk the path between Aldeburgh and Snape. Two Suffolk Coast & Heaths Walk Explorer Guide shorter routes in this Guide explore Snape Warren and the marshes and village of Snape.

4 Snape Warren Nature Reserve Highlights of the Sailors’ Path an area of heathland, grassland and scrub is managed by the RSPB. It provides a habitat for many birds, including 1 Snape Maltings rises above its nightjar, woodlark and yellowhammer. surroundings like a great ship. Local The higher parts of the Reserve give businessman Newson Garrett built the Maltings panoramic views across the Alde estuary. in stages from 1846. The railway arrived in 1859 E ensuring that the Maltings remained a viable A business until it closed in 1965. 5 The coastal town of Aldeburgh is a popular place for holidays. In medieval times, the town had The Festival was established in a successful shipbuilding industry. Fishing has also 1948. In 1967 The Maltings was converted into played an important role in the town’s economy. a concert hall. Snape Maltings has since become Aldeburgh still has a small fishing fleet and fresh an internationally famous venue for music and fish can be bought from huts on the beach. the performing arts. One of Aldeburgh’s distinctive buildings is the As well as the concert hall, the Maltings offers F timber framed Moot Hall. The Hall dates from shops, places to eat and boat trips along the the 1500s and was built as a market place and B River Alde. meeting room. Aldeburgh has attracted writers, artists and musicians. Writers Wilkie Collins and Edward FitzGerald knew the town well. Aldeburgh 2 The River Alde has one of the most beautiful Festival founders and estuaries on the east coast. The river flows lived in the Red House. Another resident was the through wide marshes and low hills under a huge poet George Crabbe, born in 1754. His poem, Suffolk sky. In the past, barges transported goods ‘The Borough’, was inspired by the town and to and from Snape Maltings. The barges moored its fishermen. It became the basis for Benjamin at Snape today are used for pleasure trips. Britten’s opera ‘’. C

Images: Front Cover – Across 3 Snape Marshes are managed by Suffolk Snape Warren on the Sailors’ Path. A: Saltmarsh & Mudflats Alde Wildlife Trust. They are a vital wildlife habitat, Estuary M Watson. B: The Family of combining marsh, reedbed and wet woodland. Man – Barbara Hepworth’s memorial to Britten and Pears at Snape The freshwater dykes are home to otter and Maltings. C: River Alde at Snape. many kinds of insects and plants. The marshes are D: Walking alongside wildlife – Snape Marshes. E: Yellowhammer. grazed by cattle to create the right conditions for G F: Family Fun on the estuary – Tony D wildlife. Pick. G: Aldeburgh Moot Hall – A distinctive seafront landmark. This Guide features the Sailors’ Path between Snape and Sailors’ Path Aldeburgh and two shorter routes from Snape Maltings. Suffolk Coast & Heaths Walk Explorer Guide

Crown copyright. All rights reserved © 2012 Suffolk County Council. Licence number 100023395. Meadowpiece B1069 Oakyard Covert Covert Decoyhill Covert A1094 Decoy Raspberry Horseshoe Gatehouse, The Snape Wood Covert Covert House in the Sailors’ Path Clouds & Cottages Nuclear B1122 Power Station

Black Heath 4 Wood 3 Ash Covert Snape Black Heath The Red Warren House 1 Snape Hazlewood Maltings Marshes 2 Hide

The Sailors’ Path 1 ‘Highlights’ Location 5 Views Across the Heather Church Aldeburgh Snape Stroll Parking Optional Longer Route Settlements Some walks take N A Road Heathland you onto or across 1000ft public highways. 200m B Road Wooded Areas C Road Aldeburgh Golf Club Please be aware of traffic.

Distance Distance ‘The Sailors’ Path’ 6 miles (9.5 km) ‘Views across the Heather’ 3.5 miles (5.5 km)

Time: 2½ hours (plus time for return bus journey). Time: 1¾ hours Terrain: Well-surfaced paths and tracks. Terrain: Mostly well-made paths Includes section beside busy road and and tracks. Return path from Snape road crossings. Take great care. We Warren floods at very high tides. recommend high visibility clothing. Follow the Sailors’ Path route from the Maltings Leave Snape Maltings, turning right A towards Aldeburgh, until you reach the small directly after bridge. Here you pick up Snape Warren car park. Turn sharp right along a signs for the Sailors’ Path, which guide tarmacked lane, signposted ‘Aldeburgh’. you all the way to Aldeburgh. Pass cottages and continue on track beside On reaching the main Aldeburgh road, heathland and woodland, past a wooden kissing Pass the gate to a metal kissing gate on right. follow Footpath to the right. D entrance to Aldeburgh Golf Club (which Go through gate into Snape Warren. Red is on other side of road). Follow road into markerposts will guide you across the warren. Aldeburgh. Cross track and go straight ahead. Path follows wire fence. The marker posts lead through kissing gates and across a lane before entering woodland, meeting a well-trodden path. Turn left. Pass through gate to leave Snape Warren. Turn right to follow the edge B of the saltmarsh. The footpath provides fine views of the River Alde and Iken Church. Soon after entering woodland, rejoin the path back to Snape Maltings. C Distance ‘Snape Stroll’ 2.5 miles (4 km) Optional Follow the Sailors’ Path to Snape Warren longer route Countryside woods. When you enter the woodland, (allow extra 30 minutes) Code turn left. At next junction, take path to The area has a network of footpaths and left to walk along the edge of marshes. Cross road beyond Golf Club bridleways. We have shown suggested routes on this map. Here are a few simple At end of path turn right along track. entrance. After first houses turn tips to help you enjoy the area safely and If path is very muddy, retrace to previous path. left onto metalled track (Golf assist our work in caring for it. Turn left to reach the road and turn left. Lane). At “The Red House” fork Follow the Countryside Code: Walk along road to village to re-join the route. left onto Footpath. Cross two Plan ahead and follow any signs Turn left into Snape village. Cross fairways (beware of golf balls). Leave things as you find them Protect plants and animals, control fires straight over the main road to continue Cross road and enter Warren and take your litter home. on the lane between houses and hedges. Hill Lane. When lane ends follow Dogs are very welcome, but please keep path. At track turn left and them under close control at all times and Just before a flint walled cottage immediately right. Views to the on lead as advised. take the path left into open countryside. left of Thorpeness Gatehouse, Thank you. Follow straight path to Find out more about the Countryside Code: E The House in the Clouds and track and turn left. www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code Continue on track Sizewell Nuclear Power Station. Time: 1 hour Cross road to beach and turn to main road, turn Terrain: Mostly well made right on metalled path. right. Return to Images: A: The Sailors’ Path – oak signpost. B: Wet paths and tracks; some the Maltings. Return to Aldeburgh. valley adjoining the Alde – a vital habitat for wildlife. C: Boats on the beach – a feature of Aldeburgh sections on minor roads and seafront. D: Snape Warren. E: Snape Marshes pavements. Take great care.

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