Dunwich Heath Walk

It was another lovely sunny day today so we took a trip to the coast to do a favourite walk from Dunwich Heath.

Dawn wanted to be back in time to watch the rugby internationals so we set off early and were walking by 9:30 am.

This was our route, going anti-clockwise from the Coastguard's Cottages.

Here are a few photos.

There are waymarked routes around Dunwich Heath, but we didn't stick to them, although we followed the first part of the 3 mile route to start.

This is also on the Sandlings Walk. This is one of the 12 statues along the route  - a nightjar chick.

As we crossed the heath looking back we could see Sizewell 'B' power station...

...and the coastguard cottages.

We liked the yellow of the long grass against the blue sky.

In the open heathland climbing to Saunders Hill we saw loads of rabbits.

This was our coffee stop/

We found some daffodils by the seat at Joan's view.

Then it was down through the woods towards Eastleigh, crossing Minsmere new cut here.

We were too early to go to the Eel's Foot.

They have a lovely show of daffodils in the grass verge.

The Sandlings Walk has been diverted because of the work on Sizewell 'C' to follow our route along the edge of Minsmere down to Minsmere Sluice.

First we saw a marsh harrier....

then some greylag geese..

then, as we crossed the field towards the ruins of  Leiston Abbey Chapel, a flock of barnacle geese.

As we approached them...

...they all took to the air.

The beautiful glass art installation, A Wing and a Prayer by Arabella Marshall, was quite striking in the midday sun.

From here we could see one of the konik ponies.

The glass from the other side.

And here from the main path.

But then we saw more marsh harriers - 4 more, in fact. I managed to catch a couple of them with my camera.

Ah. More of the ponies.

An egret flew past.

Looking across Minsmere, we were surprised to see 3 of the ponies grazing on an island between the scrapes

I walked along the ridge of the vegetated shingle alongside the beach and got some good views of the reserve.

There were plenty others on the path too viewing the reserve.

Dawn stuck to the water's edge...

...and was rewarded by the sighting of a seal close to shore.

Not far to go now.

It was a bit hazy, but we could just make out Southwold and its lighthouse in the distance.

This path is new.

Up the hill and we were back at the car park. Oh the gorse looks good, doesn't it?

Another T-shirt day for a lovely walk that always delights. And we were home by 1:40pm in plenty of time for the rugby kick-off at 2:15.

You can see more details of our 6.6 mile route here on MapMyWalk (or download a GPX file here) and see more of my photos here on Flickr.

Other related walks you can find on my blog include

Dunwich and Minsmere Walk (Jan 2019)

The Flower of Suffolk (Oct 2019)

Sizewell Walk (Mar 2020)

Dunwich Walk (Aug 2020)

The Flower of Suffolk (Aug 2020)

Thorpeness Walk (Sep 2020)

Dunwich Heath Walk (Dec 2020)

Dunwich Walk (Sep 2021)

Dunwich Walk (Feb 2023)

Eastbridge Walk and a Game of Pétanque (Sep 2023)

Westleton Walk (Dec 2023)