Walking: Bawdsey, coast & river

A lovely circular walk, starting pretty much at the Martello tower, then south along to Bawdsey beach & into the River Deben... the weather was so very kind!

All along this walk lies evidence of the rapid erosion that drives the alarming retreat of this part of the country: as Yorkshire & Dorset, with sand- & lime- stone rock.

Much evidence of concrete & timber defence structures, both to protect the land & to protect the country from invasion during WW11

- this area was critical in the development of useable radar technology.

Over time, the sea defences have proved the less effective!

Finally, we came to the mouth of the Deben, opposite Felixstowe Ferry 

- thankfully before the rising tide got to us shoes!

All in all a lovely wander, although walking along the 'clifftop' who had to feel sorry for the farmer who is going to lose another big chunk of field this winter!

Walking: Shottisham - Rendlesham Forest - Hollesley circular...

... although God knows what distance - we got lost in the woods for a while!

Bigger than you think are forests!

We just kinda set off along the sandy byways that criss-cross the area,

bimbling north &, once in the forest proper, all the trees began to look the same!

It was beautiful walking weather,

& we eventually found a road that took us to the Shepherd & Dog in Hollesley

- which was lovely by the way -

but evening, & rain, dropped shockingly quickly!

Coupla beers, a glance at All Saints, then a coupla miles in the damp & dark!

We had to have a few more beers when back in Shottisham!

Walking: 1st properly autumnal stroll...

Autumn gardening...

 Had to re-skin the shed roof at the allotment...

What to do wi'these..?

Love this...

Birmingham... twice!

 

Birthday!

Not birthday...

but Vietnamese again!

Walking: Shottisham, the Deben, Ramsholt, & return...

A rather lovely 7-8 mile circular walk along the Deben River, 

to the waterside hamlet of Ramsholt.  

Blustery SSE-erly to the puss, but a straightforward river walk... some lengthy dykage; marshy squelchiness; plenty o'birdage, deerage, & boatage!

Not so much peopleage!

Asparagus in the sandy fields; 

samphire on the sandy shore...

Ramsholt Arms: good pub, great beer, but now a busy foodie destination!

All Saints, one of two buttressed, round tower churches in Suffolk apparently...

it do look rather oval close up - illusion of the buttressing?

This feels like a lonely place, miles from anywhere & anything... it ain't!

Yet, the plaintive bird cry, the constancy of the breeze, 

& the church seemingly all there is beneath that big sky...

The walk back to Shottisham was a bit of a trudge 

- likely best enjoyed on a sunny summer's day - 

but, I really enjoyed this'un!

Photography: Shottisham

Went back to East Suffolk for the first time in 56 years.

St Margaret of Antioch, a rather lovely 14th century church, 

built on the site of a Saxon Domesday-mentioned church.

The Sandlings are criss-crossed with mile upon mile of seriously unadopted byways (both 'restricted' & 'open to all traffic')... often simply sand-tracks... 

& there is plenty of decent walking in this area.

The Campsite at St Margaret's House, set on a working smallholding, is fantastic... 

free-range chickens being mithered by free-range kids, direct heathland access, great facilities (including fridges, freezers, charging point)

The Sorrel Horse (great grub, iffy beer) was 250-300 metres from our tent!