Walks in the vacinity of Bawdsey Quay from Suffolk Coastal Cottage,
Holiday Let Suffolk
There are numerous footpaths in the area and a large scale OS map is useful. From the cottage it is possible to walk along the beach northwards towards Bawdsey village.
The footpath starts just to the left of the cottage gate and passes by the dinghy sailing club. ‘Stout footwear’ recommended. Bearing in mind walking on shingle is hard work – you can choose to stay on the shingle beach for most of the way. Or you can leave the beach beyond the boundary of Bawdsey Manor grounds and ascend via steps to a pathway that runs along the MOD fence. On the landside of the fence are the remains of the bunkers and buildings associated with the development of radar here during the Second World War. Local rumour has it that the underground bunkers are now being used to store computer information!
This path is easy walking, though needs care – especially in the wet weather and, of course, with children – as there is rather a steep drop in places down to the beach. This path is also along a section of the coastline which is being eroded and therefore the path may in places be dangerous. But the climb is well worth it. The views out to sea both to the south (towards Felixstowe/Harwich) and to the north (Orford/Aldeburgh) are breathtaking. On a clear day Orford Castle (English Heritage and well worth a visit) can be seen to the north beyond the entrance to the River Ore. Beware of rabbit holes! There are large numbers of the furry creatures along here!
There are good examples of sections of ‘raised beaches’ to be found – with embedded shells obligingly exposed.
Along this stretch of coast there is ample and interesting evidence of defence structures against invasion dating from at least Napoleonic times up till the Second World War. There are pillboxes, gun mountings, bunkers, air raid shelters and later, at Bawdsey (East Lane) a Martello Tower which is inhabited – having been converted into a home, but which is under threat from erosion by the sea. The well-known East Lane, Bawdsey, defence is currently (early 2009) being constructed here. Large granite boulders from Norway and France are being placed here in an effort to prevent the sea claiming the houses at the seaward end of East Lane. Interestingly, in the history of the defence of this section of coast since perhaps before Napoleonic times the biggest and now most immediate threat is the sea itself!
At East Lane you can carefully circumvent the small hamlet itself and the worksite and discover a First World War bunker. Having viewed this and paused to look at the beautiful scenery - there is the choice of continuing (for the very fit and eager) along the dyke northwards. You will come across another couple of Martello Towers and then there is a path leading across the low-lying fields into Alderton. At Alderton there is a large church worth viewing. There is also a pub and a well-stocked village shop. You can catch a bus back to Bawdsey Quay, or – if you are still feeling fit – you can walk along the road. The bonus in doing this is that there is yet another church at Bawdsey village itself to look around. The good news here is that the road is not at all busy with traffic most of the time. There are roadside paths along some of its length.
There are also additional walks at Alderton and at Rendlesham Forest (see leaflet in cottage) and these are signposted. There is a car park at Rendlesham.
Holiday Let Suffolk