Suffolk Coast Path
A 57-mile long-distance path following the coast of Suffolk from Felixstowe in the south to Lowestoft in the north. Highlights of the walk include Orford Ness, Aldeburgh, Thorpeness, RSPB Minsmere, Southwold, and Benacre National Nature Reserve. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: TM 313 349
Distance: 57 miles (92 km)
Time: 24–29 hours
Duration: 4–5 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
OL40 The Broads, Wroxham, Beccles, Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth
197 Ipswich, Felixstowe and Harwich
212 Woodbridge and Saxmundham
231 Southwold, Bungay Halesworth and Kessingland
Summary
The Suffolk Coast Path (called the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Path prior to 2008) follows rights of way and permissive paths along the Suffolk Heritage Coast north from Felixstowe on river and sea walls, across marsh, heath, foreshore, and low cliffs, and via the foot ferry to Bawdsey.
It follows the western bank of the River Ore inland from Orford Ness up to Snape Maltings, before heading east down the northern side of the River Alde to regain the coast at the coastal town of Aldeburgh. From there, it follows the coast to Lowestoft South Pier. At Felixstowe, it connects with the Stour and Orwell Walk to provide links to the Stour Valley Path (East Anglia) and the Essex Way at Manningtree.
On Ordnance Survey mapping, Landranger maps show the Stour and Orwell Path combined, while Explorer maps name them both. The Sandlings Walk takes a route generally inland from the Suffolk Coast Path that runs broadly parallel—particularly south of Snape towards Ipswich, where the Sandlings route snakes across inland heaths and forests while the Path returns to the coast. Between Snape and Southwold, the two routes meet and cross several times. Near Dunwich, both routes skirt the RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve, with the Path running along the coast and the Walk running inland. These intersections provide a number of circular options for shorter walks. (Source: LDWA)