Woodbridge Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide
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Woodbridge Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide Woodbridge Highlights of Woodbridge 1 Woodbridge waterfront is a bustling place Explorer Guide 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 built for customers including Edward III and Sir Francis Drake. The quays allowed the town to prosper, with local products such as cloth and rope being traded. The Whisstocks Project aims to reopen one of the boat building yards as a training centre. Market Hill is a beautiful collection of old buildings. At its centre is the Shire Hall, which was built in the 16th century as a local court and corn exchange. Nearby is the imposing 15th century St. Mary’s Church. It contains memorials to many wealthy residents of Woodbridge, including Thomas Seckford, who died in 1587. He established the Seckford Foundation, which still plays a major role in the town and owns almshouses and schools. Further down New Street is the ‘Ye Olde Bell and Steelyard’ Inn. The projection from the first floor housed a device that weighed goods being traded at the market. The Tide Mill is an unusual kind of grain mill. As the tide rises, water is trapped in a large pool, which is then released to turn the machinery. Enjoy three varied walks exploring There has been a tide mill on this site for over 800 years. The present mill the riverside town of Woodbridge. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 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. Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide Woodbridge is an historic market town on the beautiful Deben estuary. Streets lined with traditional buildings lead to a waterfront, where yachts and house boats lie at anchor. 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 dates from 1793 and was working until 1957. south to the eastern fringe of Ipswich and then north to Kessingland. The It was saved in 1968 and restored to working AONB covers 403 square kilometres, including wildlife rich wetlands, ancient order a few years later. Recently, the mill has heaths, windswept shingle beaches and historic towns and villages. undergone further restoration, allowing visitors Lowestoft to learn about its history and see it in action. Key to Map Visiting Woodbridge Beccles AONB area Ordnance Survey Explorer Map No. 212 Additional project area Kessingland 4 is a mysterious place on the Sutton Hoo Towns and villages LowestoftA145 (Woodbridge and Saxmundham) or A12 hill across the River from Woodbridge. In 1939, Woodland Explorer Map No.197 Key to Map the then owner, Edith Pretty employed local Heathland BecclesHalesworth (Ipswich, Felixstowe and Harwich) AONBMain ar reaoads Southwold Additional project area Kessingland archaeologist Basil Brown to excavate some Railways/stations River Car: Woodbridge Station car park: Towns and villages A145 Blyth Suffolk Coast Path/Stour A12 mounds on her Sutton Hoo estate. This Woodland Blythburgh Walberswick and Orwell Walk A144 accessed via the B1438 or B1079 Heathland excavation uncovered the burial of an Sandlings Walk Halesworth from the A12. Main roads Southwold Sailors’ Path Dunwich Anglo-Saxon King, possibly King Raedwald Railways/stations A1120 River Blyth SuffolkYou a Coastre he Prath/Stoure Blythburgh Bus information: A144 Walberswick of the East Angles, who died around 625 and Orwell Walk Minsmere www.traveline.info Sandlings Walk AD. He had been buried in a great ship Dunwich Sailors’ Path FramlinghamA1120 or call 0871 200 2233 Saxmundham surrounded by many stunning artefacts. You are here www.suffolkonboard.com LeistonMinsmere These included the famous helmet, which is Framlingham or call 0845 606 6171 Saxmundham Snape now displayed in the British Museum. Sutton Leiston Wickham Aldeburgh Woodbridge Station is on the East Suffolk Market River Hoo is managed by the National Trust. Alde Line (hourly service Ipswich to Lowestoft). RendleshamSnape WickhamA12 Aldeburgh Market River Train information: www.nationalrail.co.uk Alde River Rendlesham Orford Ore 5 A12 is a or call 08457 484950 River Orford Ness The River Deben Woodbridge Orford Ore Sutton great habitat for breeding and Woodbridge Hoo Orford Ness Sutton migrant birds. The extensive Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Ipswich Hoo North Ipswich River North 01394 445225 A14 Sea mudflats and salt marsh support RiverDeben A14 Sea Deben Bawdsey www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org A14 Bawdsey 70 species of bird, including A14 TrimleyTrimley St Mary/ St Mary/ OS Licence info. © Crown A12 RiverRiver Orwell Orwell St Martin cormorants, oystercatchers A12 St Martin copyright and database AltonAlton Water Water Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB is a rights 2012 Ordnance and curlews. The estuary has A137A137 partner of the BALANCE project, Shotley Survey 100023395. FelixstoweFelixstowe River Stour one of the most significant part-financed by the European ManningtreeRiver Stour Manningtree Harwich Union through the Interreg IV A Mistley overwintering populations Harwich Mistley of avocets in the UK and a large population of redshanks. The 2 Seas Cross-border Programme. importance of this habitat is recognised by its designation as a Special Protection Area by Natural England. Research, text and some images by Simon Peachey. Printed on Recycled, Carbon FSC, ECF, Balanced paper. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 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 Martlesham 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.