Sutton Heath Wetlands, Ancient Heaths, Windswept Shingle Beaches Key to Map and Historic Towns and Villages

Suffolk 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 Ipswich and then north to Kessingland. The AONB covers 403 square kilometres, including wildlife rich Lowestoft Sutton Heath wetlands, ancient heaths, windswept shingle beaches Key to Map and historic towns and villages. Beccles AONB area Additional project area Kessingland Towns and villages Explorer Guide A145 Visiting Sutton Heath A12 Woodland Lowestoft Ordnance Survey Key Heathlandto Map Halesworth Main roads Beccles Southwold Explorer Map No. 212 AONB area Railways/stations KessinglaRivernd Additional project area Blyth Suffolk Coast Path/Stour Blythburgh (Woodbridge and Saxmundham) Towns and villages A145A144 Walberswick and Orwell Walk A12 Woodland or Explorer Map No. 197 Sandlings Walk Heathland Halesworth Dunwich (Ipswich, Felixstowe and Harwich) MainSailo roadsrs’ Path A1120 Southwold Railways/stationsYou are here River Blyth Suffolk Coast Path/Stour Blythburgh WalberswickMinsmere Access via the B1083 and Orwell Walk A144 Sandlings Walk Framlingham SaxmundhamDunwich from the A12. Sailors’ Path A1120 You are here Leiston Minsmere Public transport information: Framlingham SaxmundhamSnape www.suffolkonboard.com Wickham Leiston Aldeburgh Market River or call 0845 606 6171 Alde Rendlesham A12 Snape Wickham Aldeburgh Market River River Alde Orford Ore Rendlesham A12 Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Orford Ness Woodbridge River 01394 384948 Sutton Orford Ore Hoo Woodbridge Orford Ness www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org Sutton Ipswich Hoo North River A14 Ipswich Deben NorthSea River A14 Deben Bawdsey Sea Suffolk Coast & Heaths A14 Bawdsey A14 Trimley St Mary/ River Orwell AONB is a partner of A12 TrimleySt Marti St Mary/n OS Licence info. © Crown copyright A12 River Orwell St Martin Alton Water and database rights 2012 Ordnance Alton Water the BALANCE project, Survey 100023395. A137A137 Shotley part-financed by the FelixstoweFelixstowe River Stour ManningtreeRiver Stour European Union through Manningtree Harwich Mistley Harwich the Interreg IV A 2 Seas Mistley Cross-border Programme. Enjoy two beautiful walks exploring heathland in the Parish of Sutton. Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

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

Sutton Heath is a beautiful area of lowland heath, forest and Sutton Heath farmland. Paths criss-cross the Heath and lead through areas of Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide heather and woodland, giving lovely views of the landscape.

Highlights of Sutton Heath Scots Pines are a feature of the Heath and are native to Britain. These trees have orange flaky bark 1 is a special place for many Sutton Heath and produce lots of small cones. They people and the miles of paths are very provide a home for many insects and popular. Lowland heath is rare in Britain and birds. Even the wood from dead trees provides a home for numerous animals, insects A is important as it provides a home and plants. Birds such as stonechat, nightjar for insects and fungi. and woodlark can be seen, depending on the time of year. Reptiles such as common lizards enjoy the dry, sandy soil. If you visit in the 4 MoD Woodbridge is the large military base evening, you may see bats above the clearings to the north of the Heath. It started life during and deer slipping through the woodland. World War II as an emergency landing strip for Ponies and sheep are used to graze the Heath damaged aircraft. During the Cold War it was to keep the vegetation under control. The used by the United States Air Force, along Heath is managed by Suffolk Coastal District with nearby Bentwaters, as a base for fighter B Council and Suffolk Wildlife Trust. aircraft. Today it is home to 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) of the British Army. The heathland was first created when Stone Age people cleared the wildwood to graze animals. 5 has had a great Since then, people have had a huge influence Modern agriculture impact on the Sandlings landscape. The on the landscape. There is evidence of a heathland soil is not very fertile, but the use of medieval rabbit warren and a shepherd’s fertilisers and irrigation has allowed farmers to garden. During World War II, anti-glider grow a variety of crops. Almost 80% of Sandlings trenches were dug to prevent enemy heathland has been ploughed for agriculture. The soil is gliders landing on the Heath. ideal for growing good quality root vegetables. The remaining A few miles north west is the famous heathland is now protected. Anglo Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo. Sutton Hoo is managed by the Images: Front cover – Many paths lead across the Heath. A. Sutton Heath – a mixture of National Trust and is accessed from the heath and woodland. B. Exmoor Ponies – used to control the vegetation. C. Heathland – first created many centuries ago. D. Scots Pine trees – a distinctive feature of the Heath. road to Woodbridge. E. Dead wood – a great habitat for insects and fungi. Two wonderful walks across open heathland, past Sutton Heath twisted pines trees and through sun dappled woodland. Suffolk Coast & Heaths Explorer Guide

4 2 MoD Woodbridge

The Chase Start 1 1

Heath and Forest Hike Sutton Heath Stroll 1 Tangham B Road Sutton Forest C Road 3 Common Un-made road B1083 2 1 ‘Highlights’ Location 5 Parking Public House Frogs Hole Settlements Wooded Areas Ministry of Defence Oak Covert Heathland Ash Covert Cottage Sutton Carr Wood

N 1000ft Woodhall Wood Bussock Wood 200m Sawpit Covert Dogs are welcome, please keep them under Distance 4 miles (6.4 km) control and on ‘Heath and Forest Hike’ lead as advised

Time: 2 hours When you reach corner of heath Terrain: Paths and tracks can beside sewage works, go through be muddy after rain. Because of gate to cross tracks and continue grazing animals and ground nesting straight on path opposite, keeping birds, please keep dogs on leads. field to right. When you reach kissing The route follows Public Rights of gate on left, turn left and follow Way and permissive routes. path beside fence. As woodland on A left thins, turn right and follow path across heath back to car park. Start from the Sutton Heath D Southern Car Park off the B1083 road. Follow track that leads away Distance opposite car park entrance, beside ‘Sutton Heath Stroll’ 2 miles (3.25 km) information boards. Keep straight until cross paths, then turn right. Time: 1 hour Follow track straight over another E cross paths and through woodland. Terrain: Paths and tracks can be B Continue past field on left until muddy after rain. Because of grazing you reach major cross tracks, with animals and ground nesting birds, sewage works opposite. Turn left and follow wide please keep dogs on leads. The route When you reach kissing track. follows Public Rights of Way and gate on right, turn right and permissive routes. enter heath. Follow path across heath, keeping straight at cross tracks. When you reach Start from the Sutton Heath Southern open grassy area, take path Car Park off the B1083 road. Follow left towards distant cottage. At track that leads away opposite car cottage, go through gate and park entrance, beside information take track sharp right. Follow boards. Keep straight until cross paths, track until you come to wooden then turn right. After short distance, Countryside gate on right. turn left at cross paths. Code Go through gate on to heath Follow path, ignoring wide track that The area has a network of footpaths and and follow path parallel with leaves on right. When path splits, bridleways. We have shown suggested fence on left. to reach second car routes on this map. Here are a few simple At cross paths, take middle path suggestions to help you enjoy the area bear left, keeping roughly park. From car park, turn right before safely and assist our work in caring for it. parallel with fence. When information board and follow path Follow the Countryside Code: you reach fence on far side of through forest. Plan ahead and follow any signs heath, turn right and follow When you reach open forest track, Leave things as you find them path along edge of heath. Protect plants and animals, control fires turn right. At T junction, turn left and take your litter home. along path followed earlier. When Dogs are very welcome, but please keep cross paths reached, Follow them under close control at all times and C turn left. path through woodland until kissing Images: A. Birch woodland – beautiful shady on lead as advised. walks. B. Sutton Heath – many paths cross the Thank you. gate on right. Go through gate and Heath. C. Sheep – graze the Heath to keep the Find out more about the Countryside Code: vegetation in check. D. Gorse bushes – the coconut follow winding path across heath until scented flowers provide food for insects - Gary K www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk path junction. Turn right and follow Smith/FLPA. E. Pine cones – crunch underfoot as you walk. F. The Heath under snow – Sutton path back to car park. Heath is a great place to visit all year round.