Today we had a circular walk from Nacton Shores on the banks of the River Orwell.
This was the invite from Joyce.
"Wednesday May 27th How did I not realise that tomorrow is Day 1 of the Suffolk Show! There will be plenty of traffic on the A14. We will meet at Nacton Shores picnic site car park in Shore Lane, Nacton, closest post code is IP10 0ER. Our walk will begin at 9.30am NB new start time and pls be patient if any of us are held up. It's a beautiful estuary walk by the River Orwell. It's a very different landscape. We will wander to Levington Church which boasts of the most Heavenly churchyard in Suffolk (and it is lovely). We will skip the pub next door and head to a coffee stop called The Harbourside Kitchen for coffee. We then head to Loompit Lake and then some interesting paths and woodland. Lunch will be on the grass. The mileage will 9 miles and the walk contains a lot of trip hazards and tree roots so care is needed"
This was our route today, starting along the river and then back inland.
Here are some of my photos.
We all met at the Nacton Shores picnic site car park as planned, but some of us were delayed by over-running roadworks on the A14, so we were 15 minutes late in starting. Not to worry, it wasn't going to be so hot today, but sorry to those who arrived on time and had to wait for the rest of us.
We were soon walking along the edge of the River Orwell. The tide was in and the skay and water were blue.
The edge of the river here is quite sandy... hence the name Nacton Shore, I guess. We could see Woolverstone marina across the other side of the river here.
This is a view of Ipswich High School and the tower of its stable block. We have walked that side of the river several times.
In among the trees we passed some honeysuckle.
Looking towards Felixstowe docks.
We turned inland towards the church.
A couple of pictures from Miranda.
The Ship is next to the church, but we wouldn't be visiting it today.
It has a beautifully kept churchyard.
Inside, the church is quite plain.
Looking back towards the river, I realised we could see both Shotley Point (and its gasometer) and the tower at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook.
There is some asparagus growing here on a grave. I won't let on who picked a spear.
Back along the river past Levington Creek towards the marina.
Dan had brought along a picture quiz which we had fun trying to solve.
Looking back at the marina as we headed on.
Opposite the docks we could now see Harwich.
We walked round Loompit Lake before heading inland.
There was a field full of ox-eye daisies in the distance here, but we walked past it later.
There was some up and down and it was getting quite warm now.
We found some shade for a lunch stop.
We passed Levington Research Centre.
Not far to go now. I liked this field of buttercups before we entered the woods.
We got a glimpse of Broke Hall...
...just before we arrived back at the car park.
A lovely walk and we didn't get too hot. Thank-you Joyce for leading us round and to everyone else for the additional company.
You can find more details of our 9.4 mile route
here on MapMyWalk or
here on OS Maps (or download a GPX file
here) and more of my photos
here on Flickr.
Other related walks you can find on my blog include
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