Starting at a single row of cottages known as Shingle Street, you'll head up the coast to the river mouth at Orford Haven before cutting inland through fields and along well-signposted tracks and lanes back to the start.

Why it's special
From the Martello tower that marks your starting point, built to protect England from invasion during the Napoleonic wars, to some well-preserved second world war pillbox defences, this walk has an impressive military pedigree. Just up the coast is Orford Ness, where the first experiments with radar were conducted in the 1930s, while Shingle Street itself has been the subject of fevered speculation ever since it was evacuated in 1940. Conspiracies include rumours of a German landing and a shoreline littered with burning bodies, schemes to protect the coastline with an impenetrable barrage of flames and the testing of experimental chemical bombs. Four dead German airmen were certainly washed up on the beach, and weapons testing did result in the Lifeboat Inn being blown up. As for the rest, the conspiracy theories rumble on.

Find the whole walk here
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/jun/08/shingle-street-walking-guide-suffolk

How to get there
By car
From Ipswich, take the A12 towards Woodbridge, then the A1152 towards Melton. Take the second exit at the roundabout after the river, towards Hollesley, then follow signs to Shingle Street.

By public transport
Take the Ipswich-to-Lowestoft train and get off at Melton, but it's an 11km walk to the start, mostly on minor roads with no pavement.

#beach #coast #coastal #suffolk #uk #england #britain #walk

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Standard Double or Twin Room | Free WiFi

"A comfortable room at very reasonable rate. "

NT$1,817 total

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Sep 13 - Sep 14

"A frequent comment I have is that a double room is not provided with 2 chairs. Our room was compact, similarly the bathroom. We could unpack, a positive to me. When staying a few nights, I do not want to live out of a suitcase. Lack of towel rails to hang used towels to dry."

NT$4,107 total

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"Convenient BnB above the nicest restaurant in the area. "

NT$3,319 total

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"Peaceful location and great value."

NT$3,509 total

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"Great little find, clean and comfy room, plenty of free parking, other amenities on site but didn't get round to using them"

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"Best breakfast ever ideal place 1 min walk to shops beach bars ect this is best place ived stayed"

NT$3,922 total

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Standard House, 3 Bedrooms | Building design

"We had a wonderful stay at the Traveller's Choice. There was so much room available, we were provided with absolutely everything we needed and everything was extremely clean and lovely. "

"The property and the owners were excellent the helped in every way that we needed and went out of there way to make sure that we had everything that we needed and that our comfort was at the top of the list "