Southwold Tour
The old fishing town of Southwold is located along a stretch of beautiful, unspoilt coastline in the county of Suffolk, the Heritage Coast.
The area is full of quiet villages, a pretty coastline and varied landscapes, many areas being classed as areas of outstanding natural beauty and many old villages and towns hold conservation orders to keep them special.
Dunwich and Minsmere
The coastal village and rural parish of Dunwich is a delightful place to visit or stay. About 20 minutes from Southwold by car and situated between Southwold and Aldeburgh, the village is mostly surrounded inland by Dunwich Forest and Heath, a large expanse of conifer forest and beautiful heath land, full of very accessible walks, with parking. The village itself (or what is left of it, as the original City of Dunwich and the former capital of East Anglia fell into the sea a long time ago) is very quiet and pretty. With good parking and toilet facilities next to the beach. The beach is mostly pebble, but a quieter alternative to the hustle and bustle of Walberswick or Southwold in the summer. For walkers or families the Dunwich Heritage coastal walk is very interesting, and easy to follow, from the car park. A 3.5 circular walk over the top of the ever disappearing cliffs, past the old monastery and through country lanes. If some refreshment is needed after all that exercise there is an excellent Pub ‘The Ship’ and a café on the beach serving the most wonderful fish and chips!
Minsmere
For the serious walker, bird-watcher or family wishing to explore some of lovely wildlife of Suffolk, Minsmere is a stunning place to visit. Further south along the coast from Dunwich, Minsmere is a large area of heath, woodland and marsh. With a fantastic array of birds and wildlife to be seen. The facilities are good and include a nature trail for younger visitors, hides, tearoom, shop, toilets and good access for the disabled. The RSPB may charge for you to visit this reserve.
Walberswick
Situated just south of Southwold, Walberswick is a delightful and popular place to stay or explore. The village itself is coastal and full of character, but cannot be accessed by vehicle directly from Southwold, due to the harbour mouth where the river Blyth enters the sea. Walberswick is about a 20 minute drive by car, but if visiting from Southwold there is an excellent walk along from the Harbour over the foot-bridge to the centre of Walberswick or in the Summer a foot ferry runs all day, again from the harbour (charges apply). Walberswick has a lovely beach which is a mixture of sand and shingle, a gift shop, tearoom, restaurant, two pubs ’The Anchor’ and ‘The Bell’ and general stores. Again Walberswick boasts a wonderful nature reserve, which includes hay-meadows, sandings, reedbeds and mud flats. Walberswick is also famous for its Crabbing Challenge every year!
Reydon
The quiet village and rural district of Reydon sits just inland of Southwold separated by Buss Creek. Boasting the beautiful ancient woodland of Reydon Wood and reed beds.
View of Reydon over the common in Southwold
Reydon Village itself is a minutes drive from Southwold or about a 10 minutes walk or a cycle ride. The village is quieter than the bustling town of Southwold but still close enough to all the amenities and the beach. Self contained with its own general stores and excellent pub/restaurant ‘The Randolph’ which has a lovely garden and is very child and dog friendly.
The Randolph in Reydon
Southwold
One of the most delightful parts of Southwold, accessed from the high street in Southwold turn right just before ‘The Kings Head’ pub. The drive or walk will take you over the common and by the golf course, tennis courts and café and over the marsh to the harbour. Passing by Blackshore.
The working harbour is a wonderful experience; soak up the salty air and the sound of masts chattering away. This is where the river Blyth meets the sea and there are all sorts of boats to be seen. You can also take the foot-ferry or footbridge to Walberswick from the harbour.
Boats and the harbour
The harbour is a great place to sit and boat watch from the Harbour inn or one of the cafes.
The Harbour Inn
It is also a great place to Crab from, Just bring with you a bucket (make sure you fill it with sea water) a crab line (you can get these at the harbour or in town, and some bacon- (old smelly or smoked works best, we’ve found!) And then sit and enjoy the mixture of jubilation and frustration as the little critters drop off into the sea or into your bucket!!!
The harbour is also a great place to buy really fresh fish, there are several true fish huts selling the fruits of the sea, straight from the sea
Fresh Fish at the harbour
Boat trips also run from the harbour.
Boat trips from the harbour
Following on around the coast from the harbour mouth the beach Southwold beach starts. The first section is dunes into shingle and strips of sand, this is currently the largest expanse of beach on this side of Southwold due to tidal problems. Dogs are allowed on this stretch of beach on high summer.
Then the well know and well loved beach huts start and the beach gets more sandy.
The beach huts
From the area ‘Gun Hill’ with the famous green ‘South Green’
Gun Hill South Green
Further round are the areas of South and East Cliff behind our office in Trinity Street. Here also are the famous reading rooms and our favourite pub in Southwold ‘The Lord Nelson’
The Lord Nelson
Here the coast straightens up along North Parade, a long stretch of sandy beach.
Eventually you end up at the pier, a really interesting place to visit, several places to eat, a gift shop, amusement arcade, The under the pier show and the ‘waterclock’ are well worth a visit.
The pier
The town has one main high street full of interesting and delightful shops, boutiques, galleries, the famous Amber shop and traditional butchers. Also lots of great places to eat and drink including the modern Blue Lighthouse, the well loved Adnams run Crown and Swan, The Kings Head and The Red lion on South Green and The Sole Bay sitting by the lighthouse near St James Green and East Green.
Centre of the High Street The Crown
The Red Lion
Running along the high street inland is the common; a lovely area to fly a kite or take a walk, there is also free parking near this area too.
The other popular areas are East Green where the famous Adnams brewery still produce their fine beers.
Adnams Brewery
The lighthouse is near St James Green and Stradbroke Road. The lovely traditional row of cottages in Victoria Street and the Acanthus office situated in picturesque Trinity Street.
We hope you enjoyed the tour. We do not guarantee that anything mentioned will be exact, and distances are approximations. This tour must not be copied or reproduced in any way.