The Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Landscapes Outstanding Natural Beauty 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 was designated in Sutton and 1970 and covers 403 square kilometres. It is a diverse and ever changing landscape which includes low-lying coast of shingle and , ancient woodland, forest, lowland heaths, farmland, valley meadowlands, estuaries with saltmarsh and Heaths intertidal flats, marshes with reedbeds and wooded fens, and historic towns and villages.

The Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB is a partnership of Walk Guide organisations which works to conserve and enhance the area’s natural beauty by encouraging sympathetic, sustainable use. AONBs are part of the UK’s “family” of protected areas that includes National Parks and Heritage Coasts. All receive special protection because of their quality and importance.

Explore the unique and rare landscape of the Sandlings heath and its diversity of wildlife and history.

1 Sutton and Hollesley Heaths Highlights

This Outstanding Landscape and its wildlife Rights of Way and clearly signed permissive is part of a network of habitats that are paths and by not allowing you or any considered rare and significant, and are dogs to cause disturbance at any time of the reason for the Area of Outstanding the year. Keep dogs on short fixed leads when livestock are present and during Natural Beauty (AONB) designation. B Within the AONB are many site-specific bird nesting season - 1st March-31st July. conservation designations, helping this Please follow the countryside code and any as well as numerous rabbits which keep noise. Bats, including pipistrelle, long-eared remain an Outstanding Landscape, for now information signs displayed. the grass short. Dartford Warblers and and noctule enjoy the woodland areas. It is and future generations. These lowland 1 Stonechat can be seen sitting on the a great place to look for fungi. heathland areas include two of these The Sandlings. Once an extensive heather and Woodlark heard singing designations: heathland stretching from to Ipswich, it was created by early farmers, overhead. Sheep graze in the fenced off 3 The Mound. Within this fenced area Special Protection Area (SPA) – who cleared trees from the light sandy enclosures during the spring and summer is an abnormally large rabbit warren, the strictly protected sites classified for rare soils. The nutrients in the acid soil were months to help maintain the heathland and Ancient Monument, sometimes called and vulnerable birds. quickly exhausted and as the farmers prevent the growth of invasive trees. Sutton a pillow mound, is set within a circular Site of Special Scientific Interest moved on the heathland plants that we Heath is typical lowland heathland which earthwork enclosure. Rabbits were (SSSI) – represent the country’s best see today colonised this area. Intensive comprises of short acid grassland, heather, introduced to after the Norman wildlife and geological sites, supporting sheep grazing began around 1,000 years gorse, and scattered birch, pine and oak Conquest in 1066 and were farmed in plants and animals that are rarely ago and heathland plants were used for trees. It is a known area for Nightjar, a rare warrens for their fur and meat. found elsewhere. All SSSIs are legally fodder, fuel and animal bedding. Turf and ground nesting heathland bird that hunts protected under the Wildlife and peat were cut for fuel and all of these for moths and insects at dusk and dawn 4 Sutton Common. This spacious Countryside Act 1981. activities maintained the open heath. In and the male makes a very distinct churring area of heathland is favoured by the rare You can help to protect these habitats the last 100 years, before the true habitat heathland birds; Nightjar, Woodlark and and their wildlife by remaining on Public value of heathland was realised, over 90% Dartford Warbler and reptiles such as the of the Sandlings heath was lost to forestry common lizard and adder. Numerous fallow plantation, military use, housing and deer can be seen grazing here. Exmoor intensive farming. Much of the heathland ponies and sheep are used to help maintain is now fragmented and some is lost to the heathland and prevent the overgrowth invasive trees and bracken but landowners of invasive plants. and conservationists are working hard to restore, maintain and reconnect what 5 Upper Hollesley Common. This area remains of this rare and special habitat. of heathland has a different feel to Sutton. It is boarded by Forestry Commission 2 . The area of acid plantation, self-seeded pines and the grassland near to the car park is a great airbase. An archaeological survey in 2006 A C place to see pied and yellow Wagtails, indicated the presence of many rare 3 4 Sutton and Hollesley Heaths walks

Start: Car Park south of Sutton Heath, Woodbridge Road, B1083, nearest postcode IP12 3TG. TM306475. Dog exercise area available for off lead time. D Walking distances and times: 6.4 miles/10.3km. Allow 3 hrs to enjoy earthworks on the Common. The earth used by United States Air Force between the walk. banks and ditches may relate to activities 1952 -1993 for fighter bombers. The base H such as rabbit warrening or from a division is now home to 23 Parachute Engineer Terrain: Mostly flat. Route follows of the common land into shares or parcels. Regiment and is used as a training base Public Rights of Way including, Later features relate to military activity for the Army Air Corps regiments based at footpaths, bridleways and byways and a kissing gate on your right onto a well- from the first and second world wars. Wattisham Airfield. also permissive paths. worn permissive path within an enclosed fence area. Sheep graze in the fenced 6 Rock Barracks. In 1943 during World Caution: Crosses a busy road twice. off enclosures during the spring and War ll the base was constructed as an Routes can be muddy in places. summer months so please keep dogs emergency landing for damaged military on a short fixed lead and shut gates behind you. aircraft. Over one million trees needed to be Start from the car park south of felled and cleared away before construction Sutton Heath. Head North East along the Follow this path for approx. 320m until you could begin. During the Cold War it was restricted byway which is the widest track reach another gate, pass through the gate between two information boards. and then turn left along a track, almost Front Cover) Path across the heath; A) Volunteer Ray immediately turn right and enter another At the first crossroads of tracks turn Oliff helping to restore the heathland B) The Mound; fenced area through another gate. C) Sutton Heath; D) Sutton Common; E) Enjoying the left and head along the bridleway for Bell and Ling Heather on Upper Hollesley Common; approximately 125m then pass through Follow this well-worn path past World F). Weapon storage areas or “bomb dumps” at Rock Barracks. War ll anti-glider ditches which were E created in 1939-40 to stop enemy aircraft from landing, until you reach a kissing gate. Pass through the gate and turn right, on reaching a junction of tracks turn left along a wide track with areas of woodland on each side. At the next cross roads of tracks with a bench on your left you can take a detour into the fenced area on your right which is an ancient monument site. G On reaching a sandy byway turn left towards F the barracks. Pass through a kissing gate on 5 6 your right just before reaching the road; L follow a well-worn path through the heather. On reaching a broad cross track turn left, go through a kissing gate and turn immediately right to follow the fence line I on your right. Cross over the next byway and head towards Red Lodge. On reaching the red brick cottage carefully On the reaching the byway turn left. After cross over the busy road to take the approximately 340m go through a kissing Countryside Code bridleway opposite the house which leads gate on your right. Head towards the trees J Please follow the Countryside Code onto Upper Hollesley Common via a gate. on your left and follow a grass track which www.gov.uk/government/ Here you are joining the , runs parallel to a fence on your left. At publications/the-countryside-code a long distance path from Ipswich to a large gate turn right, after 50m bear a crossroads of tracks and the corner of Southwold which is signed by a silver right then left. At a junction of five tracks/ fenced area turn left, and follow the grass Respect other people: plaque embossed with the outline of a paths take the second track on your left track which runs parallel to fence line. At consider the local community and Nightjar. and proceed west along the broad track. the end of the plantation on your left the other people enjoying the outdoors Follow the bridleway until you reach a Return to the bridleway, through the gate track and fence bears right, go through leave gates and property as you cross road of tracks with the Forestry and cross the road back to Red Lodge. the kissing gate and then turn right onto find them and follow paths. Commission plantation ahead. Leave the Turn right and head across the grassy area bridleway that leads to the sewage works. Protect the natural environment: Sandlings Walk and the bridleway and turn to Gobblecock Cottage. This is the sole At the crossroad of tracks by the sewage leave no trace of your visit and take right down a track which winds through surviving intact example of an early works turn left on to the byway. Follow this your litter home the trees with glimpse of open heathland 19th century gamekeeper’s cottage on sandy track, which is muddy in places, past fires can devastate wildlife, habitats to your right. Approximately 75m before the Broxtead estate. the plantation on your right. and property – so be careful with At the next staggered crossroad of byways naked flames and cigarettes at any turn right. This sandy track leads past time of the year expansive views of heathland on your keep dogs under close control at right, where the Exmoor ponies graze, and all times, especially when amongst scattered trees. This byway takes you back livestock and during bird nesting to the picnic area, dog exercise area and season. Release your dog if chased the car park. by cattle. Wherever you are, clean up after your dog. G) Sheep grazing helps maintain the open heathland; Enjoy the outdoors: H) Adder warming itself in the sun; I) Nightjar logo of Sandlings Walk; J) Exmoor ponies grazing on the heath plan ahead and be prepared to reduce invasive trees; K) Fallow Deer; L) Gorse along K a path. follow advice and local signs. 7 8 Key

Sutton and Hollesley Heaths walk Sandlings Walk Footpath Bridleway 2 Byway open to all traffic Restricted byway 1 ‘Highlights’ location 1 3 6

4 Route through the reedbed Route through Forest 5 Public Footpath Restricted Byway Long Distance Route Bridleway Byway National Cycle Route

Visiting Sutton and Hollesley Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB T: 01394 445225 Ordnance Survey E: [email protected] Explorer Map No. 212 (Woodbridge and ). W: www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Accessed via the B1083.

Approximately 3.5 miles (5.6km) from the A12. This guide was funded in 2016 by the Coastal Communities Fund which is managed locally by District Council on behalf of The Suffolk Coast Destination Management Organisation (DMO). The guide and Rights of Way Car Park south of Sutton Heath, Woodbridge Road, B1083. improvements on this route were undertaken by the Suffolk Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Nearest Postcode IP12 3TG. and . Disclaimer: Whilst the Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of maps and Public transport information: information within this publication, they are provided as guidance only and we cannot accept any liability for their www.suffolkonboard.com or call 0345 606 6171. interpretation and use. Maps based on Ordnance Survey Copyright mapping. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Connecting communities: This is a local book in advance travel service which Copyright. Suffolk County Council Licence No.100023395 2016. links to public transport 01728 635938. All photos by Lynda and Robin Gilbert Designed by: Nearest train station Melton. www.nationalrail.co.uk Tel: 08457 484950 9 10