Shotley Point Walk

It was a lovely morning and Dawn asked, "Shall we go for a walk?". But of course. I had a little browse through my walk index pages (2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 - which is now up to date) and chose this one we had done in October 2018 from Shotley Point.

We followed exactly the same route...

...but note my tracker leapt from the edge of Shotley for 1/2 a mile or so - w did follow the path on the map.

Here are a few of today's photos.

We parked at Shotley Pier opposite the Bristol Arms. I don't think the project to renovate it is getting anywhere very fast.

The tide was out and Dawn walked along the water's edge.

The path is a bit dodgy in places.

Dawn met a couple of beachcombers who had found a mammoth's tooth.

I preferred to watch the seabirds in Erwarton Bay.

As we turned inland we passed a house with this jolly flag.

He got a good view of Shotley |Church as we descended from Shotley village.

There are some seats in the community Viking Forest.

We passed Shotley Hall....

...before arriving at St. Mary's Church.

Unprepossessing from the outside, it is worth going in to have a look. The kneelers make a colourful display. 

The naval cemetery is quite poignant. As Simon Knott eloquently says... "The churchyard is set on a steep hillside, the huge cranes of Trimley Dock towering precipitously beyond the river below. This churchyard is one of the most haunting in East Anglia, filled with the graves of mostly teenage lads sent out by HMS Ganges to die in accidents and wars. Some of their bodies were brought back for burial, but most often these are mere memorials to young boys lost deep beneath fathoms of filthy, icy water. "

Next door, Shotley Vineyard was full of autumn colour. Their 2020 wines, their second vintage, are available now - see here.

Soon after we were down by the edge of the River Orwell. From here it was along the edge back to the start, with lovely views along the way.

You can see Harwich in the distance....

...and Felixstowe docks.

We passed Shotley Marina...

...before arriving back at Shotley Pier, where we started.

A lovely morning walk. Then it was home again for lunch.

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