Dunwich Walk

Today it was my turn to lead a walk for Joyce's group. I took us to the seaside.

This was the invite:

"Thursday 9th February.  A winter coastal jaunt led by John. We will meet at Dunwich free Beach Car Park IP17 3EN to start walking at 10:30am. The walk, based on this one, will be about 9-10 miles and will include some heathland and coastal paths, with the opportunity to see the winter birdlife at Minsmere from the public hide. We will have a morning stop at an outside bench at the Coastguard Cottages and the Eel’s Foot in Eastbridge for lunch. Please bring a sandwich/drink as usual. John can offer lifts from Skyliner Sports Centre at 9:15am".

I collected Val and Tania on the way and we were joined by Roland at the car park by the beach. 

This was our route:

It was bright and sunny and there was a cold breeze at the start but we were sheltered from it as soon as we got going and for (nearly all of ) the rest of walk.

Here are a few of my photos.

The beach café at the start is not open at this time of year , so Roland was disappointed not to be able to get  cup of tea before we set off..

I remember photographing this boat, with a distant view of Southwold in the background, before.

We took the path along the cliff edge,

You get nice view here along the beach towards Walberswick and Southwold.

The cliffs, here at least, haven't tumbled any further. The last grave is still a few meters from the edge.

Although invited to by the signs we didn't venture into the grounds of Greyfriars Monastery to explore further - we had a walk to do!

Shortly afterwards we came across a swathe of snowdrops in the woods.

Now we were at Dunwich heath.

Sizewell Power station loomed on the horizon.

Soon we reached the coastguard cottages.

Alas, the café there was also closed but we stopped to drink from our flasks.

Then  it was down to the beach...

...and along the sea front past the military defences.

We stopped at the Minsmere Public hide.

The reserve was surprisingly quiet. I think Val was a little disappointed that there wasn't anything unusual to see.

at the Sluice we headed inland.

We took a detour to visit the ruins of the original Leiston Abbey, the only foundation of the Premonstratensian order known in Suffolk to see the stunning A Wing and a Prayer art installation.

We got a nice view of the Konik ponies that roam here.

A little further on we got a glimpse of a marsh harrier,

Here we are at our lunch stop at the Eel's Foot.I had a lovely pint of the low alcohol Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5 which they have on draught (well I was driving otherwise I might have had some of the Old Ale). And Roland got his cup of tea at last.

On our way back across Westleton Walks we saw plenty of rabbits.

I missed a turning I intended to take and we continued on the Sandlings Walk back towards the coastguards cottages before turning northwards again.

But later, instead of retracing our steps we followed the route past Mount Pleasant farm....

...passing more snowdrops...

...before entering the village from the west past the church...

...along the main street past the museum and Ship Inn.

We stopped to admire this protest poster. But I don't think the building of the new power station can be stopped now.

And here were are back at the beach car park.

A lovely walk in the winter sunshine... and no mud! Thanks to all for joining me.

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