Blaxhall & Tunstall Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide Blaxhall Highlights of the walks 1 Blaxhall Common is an ancient landscape with an Iron Age burial mound. & Tunstall The villagers of Blaxhall have a commoners’ right to graze animals and take turf for fuel. Some of the ditches across the Explorer Guide Common were dug during World War II to prevent enemy gliders from landing. A Today, Blaxhall Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust. The Common provides a habitat for many species of plant, fungi and animal. Birds you might spot include woodlark, nightjar, nightingale and goldcrest. Reptiles such as common lizard and adder thrive on the dry sandy ground. The area is ideal for insects too. In 2007, the silver-studded blue butterfly was successfully re-introduced. This butterfly flourishes where bell heather grows. C Images: Front cover – Local paths – Explore Sandlings heath gateways to the landscape. A. Blaxhall and woodland starting Common – a rare lowland habitat – Tony Pick. B. Gorse flowers – coconut scented! from Blaxhall Common. C. Silver-studded blue butterfly – recently Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty re-introduced. D. Tunstall Forest – a mix of woodland types. E. Birch trees – beautiful but invasive. Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide Blaxhall and Tunstall Commons are areas of heathland and other important wildlife habitats. They are part of the Suffolk Sandlings and partially surrounded by the mixed woodland of Tunstall Forest. 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 Ipswich and then north to Kessingland. The 2 Tunstall Forest is a commercial forest AONB covers 403 square kilometres, including wildlife rich wetlands, ancient planted by the Forestry Commission in the heaths, windswept shingle beaches and historic towns and villages. 1930s. The majority of the original trees Lowestoft have been felled, so today there is a Key to Map Visiting Blaxhall & Tunstall Beccles mixture of new plantation, broadleaved AONB area Ordnance Survey Map No. 212 trees and heathland. Many trees were Additional project area Kessingland (Woodbridge and Saxmundham) Lowestoft Towns and villages A145 lost in the great storm of October Key to Map A12 Access via the B1069 from the Woodland Beccles 1987, which allowed planting to be AONB area Heathland Halesworth A1152/A12 (south) or A1094 /A12 Additional project area Kessingland diversified. Although the dense areas Main roads Southwold Towns and villages A145 (north). Walks start from car park Railways/stations A12 of commercial pine forest are not very Woodland River on E side of B1069. Blyth SuffolkHeathland Coast Path/Stour Blythburgh Walberswick wildlife friendly, the more open areas and Orwell Walk HalesworthA144 64 bus from Ipswich to Wickham Main roads Southwold SandlingsRailways/stations Walk River are ideal for nightjar and woodlark. The Blyth Dunwich Market & transfer to Coastal Suffolk Coast Path/Stour Blythburgh Sailors’ Path A1120A144 Walberswick ‘rides’ through the Forest are wildlife Accessible Transport (Suffolk Links and Orwell Walk YSandlingsou are heWalkre Minsmere Dunwich corridors linking the open heath of Alde) – must book day before travel. Sailors’ Path A1120 You are here Tel: 0845 604 1802. Normally a Framlingham Minsmere Blaxhall and Tunstall Commons. The forest Saxmundham wheelchair accessible vehicle. is popular for recreation and you may meet Framlingham Leiston Saxmundham East Suffolk Line hourly train service walkers, mountain bikers or horse riders. Leiston between Ipswich and Lowestoft. Snape Wickham Snape Aldeburgh Market River Leave train at Wickham Market. Wickham Aldeburgh Market River Alde Blaxhall is a 20 minute cycle ride. Rendlesham Alde 3 is A12 Rendlesham Tunstall Common A12 Public transport information: River River another great habitat for Orford OrfordOre Ore www.suffolkonboard.com plants and animals. Tunstall WoodbridgeWoodbridge Orford NessOrford Ness Sutton or call 0845 606 6171 HooSutton and Blaxhall Commons are Hoo Ipswich North Ipswich River North rare examples of the Suffolk A14 Deben Sea River Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB A14 DebenBawdsey Sea Sandlings, lowland heath that A14 Trimley St Mary/ Bawdsey 01394 445225 River Orwell once covered much of east A12 A14St Martin Alton Water Trimley St Mary/ www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org River Orwell A12 A137 St Martin Suffolk. The plant species are Shotley OS Licence info. © Crown copyright Alton Water Felixstowe and database rights 2012 Ordnance River Stour distinctive, with bell heather, A137Manningtree Survey 100023395. Shotley Harwich Tourist Information: Mistley Felixstowe milkwort, speedwell and sheep’s River Stour Aldeburgh: 01728 453637 Manningtree sorrel adding colour to the Harwich Woodbridge: 01394 444400 Mistley heath in summer. Some more www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/tourism/tics/ invasive species, such as bracken and birch have to be controlled to prevent them smothering other plants. Research, text and some images by Simon Peachey. Additional route checking by Mary and Bishop. Tony Printed on Recycled, Carbon FSC, ECF, Balanced paper. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty These two walks follow paths across wild Suffolk heathland and Blaxhall & Tunstall through mysterious woodland. You will encounter ancient habitats, Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide old twisted pine trees, hidden glades and commercial forestry. © Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100023395. Blaxhall To Snape B1069 Tunstall 1 Forest Blaxhall Common / Heath 2 Rimple Iken Hill Wood Start Boundary Mound Long Grove Heath and Forest Hike Across the Heath Tunstall Forest Equestrian Centre B Road C Road 2 Debney’s 1 ‘Highlights’ Location Grove B1069 Tunstall Parking Forest Public House B1078 Walk Farm Church Tunstall Settlements Wooded Areas B1078 2 Heathland N B1069 Tunstall 3 Tunstall Heath 1000ft Common Cottages 200m Village Dogs are welcome, please keep them under Distance 4.25 miles (6.8 km) control and on ‘Heath and Forest Hike’ lead as advised Time: 2 hours When you reach main road, cross Terrain: Paths and tracks - can carefully and take track on opposite be very muddy after rain. Some side. Follow straight track beside sections on minor roads. We fields. When you reach end of second recommend high visibility clothing. field, take path right and then left as it follows edge of woodland. When Stay on same side of road as car you reach junction with sunken park (NGR:TM 383565). Follow path, turn right. Follow path across path that leads away from car park heath to road and car park. D and road across Blaxhall Common. Keep roughly straight. When path Distance splits, keep left. ‘Across the Heath’ 2.6 miles (4.2 km) When you reach minor road, go straight across and continue on far side through forest. Time: 1 hour 15 mins Keep on A path, ignoring all exits and cross Terrain: Paths and tracks - can be paths, until you come very muddy after rain. Some sections to cottage at When you reach power (turning left at cross on minor roads. We recommend high cross tracks lines, turn right. Keep tracks links to a longer walk to Alde visibility clothing. straight and follow path then estuary). Turn right and follow track. Continue between through forest and straight track hedges, then take first track Follow ‘Heath and Forest’ route across Tunstall Common. on left. Keep straight until until junction with minor road. road. Follow road ahead and Go straight across road and then around right bend. continue on far side through forest. When you reach track crossing E obliquely from left to right, bear right. Continue straight for short B Countryside distance, then turn right at cross Follow path uphill until you reach tracks. Continue straight until next large hollow in ground on left. Code then and cross tracks, turn right Just before hollow, take path left The area has a network of footpaths and follow path (with fence on left) to bridleways. We have shown suggested as it leads around hollow. return to minor road. routes on this map. Here are a few simple On far side of hollow, suggestions to help you enjoy the area safely and assist our work in caring for it. Cross road and take unsigned take path left path opposite that leads to right. and continue Follow the Countryside Code: C Plan ahead and follow any signs Continue on path to junction. Cross straight. When Leave things as you find them path you followed earlier and take you reach Protect plants and animals, control fires path opposite. Follow path, keeping junction and take your litter home. forest on right. When you reach with sunken Dogs are very welcome, but please keep them under close control at all times and main road, cross and continue on path, turn on lead as advised. far side. left and Thank you. Images: A. Pine Trees and Heath – great walking country. return to Find out more about the Countryside Code: B. Nightjar – summer visitor to the heaths- David Tipling/ road and FLPA. C. Goldcrest – nests and feeds in the conifers - Lesley www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk van Loo/Minden Pictures/FLPA. D. Blaxhall Common – car park. winter sunshine. E. The Forest Floor – pine cones and needles. F. Tunstall Forest – spectacular conifers. .