Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide

The Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB The Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of Britain’s finest landscapes. It extends from the Stour Estuary in the south to the eastern fringe of and then north to . The AONB covers 403 square kilometres, including wildlife rich wetlands, ancient heaths, windswept shingle beaches and historic towns and villages. Woodbridge Key to Map Visiting Woodbridge AONB area Explorer Guide Ordnance Survey Explorer Map No. 212 Additional project area Kessingland

Towns and villages LowestoftA145 (Woodbridge and ) or A12 Woodland Explorer Map No.197 Key to Map Heathland BecclesHalesworth (Ipswich, and Harwich) AONBMain ar reaoads Additional project area Kessingland Railways/stations River Car: Woodbridge Station car park: Towns and villages A145 Blyth /Stour A12 Woodland and Orwell Walk A144 accessed via the B1438 or B1079 Heathland from the A12. Main roads Southwold Railways/stationsSailors’ Path A1120 River Blyth SuffolkYou a Coastre he Prath/Stoure Blythburgh Bus information: A144 Walberswick and Orwell Walk www.traveline.info Sandlings Walk Dunwich Sailors’ Path FramlinghamA1120 or call 0871 200 2233 Saxmundham You are here www.suffolkonboard.com LeistonMinsmere

Framlingham or call 0845 606 6171 Saxmundham SnapeLeiston Wickham Woodbridge Station is on the Market River Alde Line (hourly service Ipswich to Lowestoft). RendleshamSnape WickhamA12 Aldeburgh Market River Train information: www.nationalrail.co.uk Alde River Orford Ore A12 or call 08457 484950 River Orford Ness Woodbridge Orford Ore Sutton Woodbridge Hoo Orford Ness Sutton Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Ipswich Hoo North Ipswich River North 01394 384948 A14 Sea RiverDeben A14 Sea Deben www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org A14 Bawdsey A14 TrimleyTrimley St Mary/ St Mary/ OS Licence info. © Crown A12 RiverRiver Orwell Orwell St Martin A12 St Martin copyright and database AltonAlton Water Water Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB is a rights 2012 Ordnance A137A137 partner of the BALANCE project, Shotley Survey 100023395. FelixstoweFelixstowe River Stour part-financed by the European ManningtreeRiver Stour Manningtree Harwich Union through the Interreg IV A Mistley Harwich 2 Seas Cross-border Programme. Mistley

Enjoy three varied walks exploring the riverside town of Woodbridge.

Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Research, text and some images by Simon Peachey. Printed on Recycled, Carbon FSC, ECF, Balanced paper. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Woodbridge is an historic market town on the beautiful Deben estuary. Streets lined with Woodbridge traditional buildings lead to a waterfront, where yachts and house boats lie at anchor. Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide

dates from 1793 and was working until 1957. Highlights of Woodbridge It was saved in 1968 and restored to working order a few years later. Recently, the mill has undergone further restoration, allowing visitors 1 is a bustling place Woodbridge waterfront to learn about its history and see it in action. with a fascinating history. From the 1400s to the 1700s the area was the centre of a thriving ship building industry. Merchant and naval ships were 4 is a mysterious place on the built for customers including Edward III and Sir hill across the River from Woodbridge. In 1939, Francis Drake. The quays allowed the town to prosper, with local products the then owner, employed local such as cloth and rope being traded. The Whisstocks Project aims to archaeologist Basil Brown to excavate some reopen one of the boat building yards as a training centre. mounds on her Sutton Hoo estate. This excavation uncovered the burial of an Anglo-Saxon King, possibly King Raedwald is a beautiful collection of old Market Hill of the East Angles, who died around 625 buildings. At its centre is the Shire Hall, which AD. He had been buried in a great ship was built in the 16th century as a local surrounded by many stunning artefacts. court and corn exchange. Nearby is the These included the famous helmet, which is imposing 15th century St. Mary’s Church. now displayed in the . Sutton It contains memorials to many wealthy Hoo is managed by the National Trust. residents of Woodbridge, including Thomas Seckford, who died in 1587. He established the Seckford Foundation, 5 The is a which still plays a major role in the great habitat for breeding and town and owns almshouses and schools. migrant birds. The extensive Further down New Street is the ‘Ye Olde mudflats and salt marsh support Bell and Steelyard’ Inn. The projection from 70 species of bird, including the first floor housed a device that weighed cormorants, oystercatchers goods being traded at the market. and curlews. The estuary has one of the most significant overwintering populations is an unusual kind of grain mill. As the tide rises, water The Tide Mill of avocets in the UK and a large population of redshanks. The is trapped in a large pool, which is then released to turn the machinery. importance of this habitat is recognised by its designation as a Special There has been a tide mill on this site for over 800 years. The present mill Protection Area by Natural .

Images: Front cover – Walking the river wall from Woodbridge. A. Woodbridge Quay – lots of boats! B. The Shire Hall, Woodbridge – 16th century corn exchange. C. The Tide Mill – a working mill and museum. D. The River Deben with Sutton Hoo beyond – a mysterious landscape. E. The River Deben – a great place for wildlife. These three walks explore the town of Woodbridge, the river Woodbridge Deben and the surrounding landscape. Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide

© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100023395.

Hasketon A1152 Melton A1152

B1083 B1079 Sutton Hoo B1079 4 Ships, Saltings and Thomas Seckford Woodbridge Optional shorter route 2 River and Countryside Wander 1 A Stroll by the Deben 3 A Road B Road B1438 Start C Road Seckford Hall Deben Railway Line and Train Station Wood 1 ‘Highlights’ Location A12 Parking Public House 5 These routes Settlements are open to the Marsh Land N public for quiet 2000ft 500m recreation. Enjoy your visit. ‘Ships, Saltings and ‘River and Distance Distance Thomas Seckford’ 3.6 miles (5.8 km) Countryside Wander’ 1.6 miles (2.6 km)

Time: 2 hours Time: 1 hour Terrain: Route follows exposed paths Terrain: Route follows exposed paths beside deep, tidal beside deep, tidal water. Some sections water. Some sections can be muddy. Some sections on can be muddy. Follows some busy roads roads and through urban areas. Route crosses railway line and passes through urban areas. High so take great care. Several stiles crossed. High visibility D visibility clothing recommended. clothing recommended. A Start from Woodbridge Railway over into Portland Crescent. Start from Woodbridge Railway Cross railway and Station. Cross railway by bridge just Follow Portland Crescent, Station. Cross railway line by bridge bear right across north of station and bear right along ignoring all exits and continue just north of station and bear right recreation ground, keeping river wall path, keeping river to left. on road through cemetery. along river wall, keeping river to left. playground and tennis courts to Follow path for some distance. When When road becomes track, bear Follow path for some distance. At right. On far side of tennis courts, you enter woodland, bear left and join right down hill. At bottom woodland, immediately leave this turn right along road. Re-cross track. (If route is flooded return to of hill, turn left. Follow path path (‘double back’). Follow path railway line. At river wall, turn left where you bore left and follow optional beside green and up steps to until left bend. and return to station. shorter route shown below*). Almost road. Turn right along road immediately bear left off track to between houses. Distance shore. Walk along shore then C ‘A Stroll by the Deben’ 1.6 miles (2.6 km) re-join path at grassy area. Follow path around Kyson D 1 hour Point and onto river wall Time: beside Creek. Terrain: Route follows exposed paths Continue to end of Creek, beside deep, tidal water. Some sections then turn right at path on roads and through urban areas. junction. Follow path to High visibility clothing recommended. road. Turn right and follow road until junction with main Start by catching train from road, then turn right along Woodbridge to Melton. Leave pavement. †After short distance, take Melton station; turn right beside path on opposite side of road to right of At Market Square, keep on road and cross level crossing. Turn Sandford Place. right pavement. At bottom of right at kissing gate just beyond crossing and Climb steps and bear right at path Market Square, cross road and follow path to river wall. Turn right along river wall split. When road reached, go straight take road to left of Bull Hotel Countryside – this is New Street. Follow path. Follow path for around half The area has a networkCode of footpaths and road down hill, bearing right a mile. When tarmacked area reached beside level crossing, bridleways. We have shown suggested * and ignoring all left exits. Go routes on this map. Here are a few simple Optional straight across main shopping turn left and then right in front suggestions to help you enjoy the area safely and assist our work in caring for it. thoroughfare. Keep straight of brick cottage. At junction with shorter route road to Tide Mill, Follow the Countryside Code: on until car park, then turn turn left then (saves you 30 mins) and return to Plan ahead and follow any signs left. Follow road as it bends to right beside quay Woodbridge station. Leave things as you find them and follow track for and passes roundabout. Turn right right Protect plants and animals, control fires shortcut or if above route is flooded. At main T-junction, cross to far and take your litter home. Continue on path. Cross over the side of road using pedestrian Dogs are very welcome, but please keep railway line and follow track until Images: A. Martlesham Creek – the mudflats at them under close control at all times and crossing and turn right along low tide attract many birds. B. ‘Ye Olde Bell and you reach road. Turn right and pavement. After short distance, Steelyard’ – an historic inn. C. Woodbridge Tide on lead as advised. Mill – an iconic building on Woodbridge’s riverside until junction with main into . Thank you. follow road turn left Tide Mill Way – Woodbridge Tide Mill Trust. D. Boats beside the Find out more about the Countryside Code: road, and continue When quay reached, Deben – look out for historic barges. E. Redshank then turn right turn right – this wading bird with orange-red legs and bill can www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk with remaining walk from point †. along path to station. be seen alongside the river – Phil McLean/FLPA.