Dunwich Walk

Today's Joyce's Weekly walk was from Dunwich, not far from where the U3A longer distance group walked yesterday (see here). This was the invite...

"Friday September 3rd.  Dunwich Heather......we will meet at Dunwich free Beach Car Park IP17 3EN at 10.15am and have a cuppa before we start our circular walk. I anticipate that the walk will be about 9-10 miles and it should provide some wide paths for good conversation. Please bring a sandwich/drink as usual. I can offer lifts from Skyliner Sports Centre at 9am." 

I stopped off at Skyliner Sports Centre to give Joan and Pam a lift and we arrived in good time. In all we had a good turn out of 9 on the walk. It was another grey day, and although it was warm enough for shorts and t-shirt, we had our morning coffee inside at the cafe.

Then we were off. This was our route, all of which, I think, I had walked before more than once, but it encompassed a family favourite - we have been coming to Dunwich for years.

Here are a few of my photos.

A quick look at the beach before we headed uphill onto the cliff top.

Soon we reached Greyfriars Abbey

We liked these chimneys on a cottage a little further on.

Dunwich Heath was ablaze with purple heather. and we enjoyed walking across it to the Coastguard Cottages.

Can you spot Sizewell power station in the distance?

We stopped for a drinks/snack break at the picnic tables.

We hadn't seen these display boards before...

...and here is one of those bee-wolves and its hole in the ground.

We walked along the shore for a bit. Here is the view back to the Coastguard Cottages.

We stopped briefly at the public hide overlooking Minsmere. There were plenty of others admiring the waterfowl.

We turned inland at Minsmere sluice and say the ponies at the edge of the reserve

We passed the ruins of the original Leiston Abbey, the only foundation of the Premonstratensian order known in Suffolk. It seems to have grown some antennas.

Our lunch stop was at the Eel's Foot inn.

Now it was back to Dunwich through Hangman's new wood and Dunwich heath again.

At last we got a bit of blue sky;. We stopped to admire the view along the beach...

...just before descending once more to the beach car park.

Well that was another lovely day out. Thank-you Joyce for organising it leading us round and to the rest for the company.

You can see more details of our route here on MapMyWalk and of my photos here on Flickr.