Today was my seventh walk in Joyce's Mini Walking Festival. This was the listing in the brochure...
"Mon: 21st Sept Shotley Gate to Pin Mill. A 13-mile circular walk with a lunchtime stop at Pin Mill.***"
I had done this walk in July with Joyce, Roland, Ann and Peter as you can read about here, but was keen to do it again. Just 4 of us today, Joyce, Jane, Julian and me - 4 J's!
This was our route today - not quite the same as before.
Here are some of my photos from our today's walk.
It was a misty start and the tide was out. We could hear the noises from Felixstowe Port across the water, but not see it.
Through the mist a ghostly cormorant was trying to dry its wings.
We set off through the marina heading up-river along the banks of the Orwell.
I loved the effect of the mist softening the views.
We turned inland towards Shotley vineyard and church.
The grapes look like they are ripening nicely. They were green the last time we were here. Shotley Vineyard's first vintage is now ready - Bacchus 2019 and Pinot Noir 2019.
We didn't stop at Erwarton Hall this time.
But we did at St. Mary's Church, Erwarton. "Legend has it that Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I, the two main architects of the English Reformation, stayed often at Erwarton Hall. She gave instructions, it is said, that her heart was to be buried in this church after her death. In 1838, when the north aisle was being renovated, a small, heart-shaped casket was discovered, walled into an alcove. It was reburied, with due ceremony, beneath the organ, and a little plaque there gives some details about it."
Looking towards the Stour, we saw some detectorists in action
...passing this sign.
By now the mist had burned off and it was a lovely sunny day. We stopped by the Butt and Oyster for our lunch. Julian and I enjoyed an Adnams beer again, He had the Mosaic Pale Ale and I had the Broadside.
Here we are ready to go again.
Occasionally we got a view through the trees as we walked through the Cliff Plantation. I think this is Orwell Park House, now a school.
I think I've taken this photo before.
Oh. Who's this cheerful chappie walking through the woods? (Thanks, Joyce).
What I hadn't spotted previously is that looking up the river we can see the Orwell Bridge.
We crossed back via St. Mary's Shotley Church...
...to visit the naval war graves.
Over the brow of this hill past the lonely Shotley Cottage we descended to the Stour estuary.
The water lapped gently at the shore as we followed the path at the edge.
I don't think I'd ever seen people drinking outside the Bristol Arms before before.
What a difference from this morning! We could see across to Harwich...
...and Felixstowe Docks...
...as we returned to the car park by the marina.
Lovely walk again. Thanks Joyce for leading us round and Jane and Julian for the company.
You can see more details of our route here on MapMyWalk and more of my photos here on Flickr.
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