Suffolk walk: Cycle ride from Dunwich NT to Southwold

 By the last Sunday, Marcus's car was fixed, We were going to cycle to Mindsmere that day. change of plans... Drove to Dunwich Heath ( again) then cycled into Southwold. I was always wanted to do it, to cycle to Southwold. By now, I am a bit more confident I can do this, a bit by bit, I need to build myself, if I don't move, my body seize up and feel tight. Alos having cancer treatment at moment, putting weight. I feel fatigue so I don't do as much as excise I used to pre cancer days. So I am getting a bit heavier. Anyway, keeping healthy weight is good, decrease chance of cancer coming back. i need to keep going...😁

What a lovely cycle ride. It was quite straight forward from Dunwich. We cycled down through woods into Dunwich church, past Dingle hill farm/ cafe into bridleway ( grabble path). From there, it was straight to Southwold. had different flavour of woods and field. It was lovely day, saw many people walking by, it was wonderful seeing people and doggies smiling ( some were a bit grumpy 😂) , being outdoor feels so good isn't it? And be able to say hello to fellow walkers and cyclists! 😍

When we came out from the bridleway, through some gates, I knew we were close to walberswick! I knew exactly where we were. It was my first time went to Walberswick from Dunwich, the path I always wanted to try ( from Walberswick). Such a beautiful path to cycle/ walk. Cycling along the river, through reeds to the top of the village. Straight onto path leads to the Walberswick Bailey bridge. Then realised the bridge was still closed! So we cycled to harbour, took a ferry ( smallest in the country! and at the moment it is free of charge, Suffolk County council subsidising the fees, how generous of the, they should do that more often.🤓) Anyway, it was also my first time crossing the river with the ferry. so excited. 

Safely got to the other side. We went into the town then into the pier. It was really busy, we cycled round a bit and went back to the harbour. I always wanted to try a portion of chips from one of fish and chip shop there. Now, my dream came true! 😍Yes, we had a bag of chips and water each for our snack. It was delicious! Fresh chips, crispy outside, soft inside. Hand cut chips ( I believe. ) Chips is my favorite food, which I don't have often. So this makes even more tasty! Appreciate more I guess. 

Delicious chips!

After our belly feeling happy with chips, we took a ferry again back to Walberswick. 

From Walberswick, we took different bridleway on the top of Bailey bridge turning right ( maybe footpath...), went through the field, go over the road, through cornfield ( loved it, cycled through cornfield! felt like I was in the different country!) carried on the bridleway. took a few random footpath too, and we got lost in deep Dunwich forest. I got grumpy and tired...🚴‍♀️😠But somehow,  we managed to come out the grabble path where we cycled through earlier that day. all connect in the end...😆

From there, it was easy getting back to the Heath. I just couldn't wait for my paddling in the sea. We spent another an hour or so on the beach then drove back home. So tired, crushed into my bed early that night. following day, I was still tired... Took me a few day to recover, however, I felt good. I can't wait for more adventure this weekend. 

Suffolk Walk: Carlton Marshes near Lowestoft😊

 

I read on twitter, there was mashes and new footpath was opened in Carlton Marshes, we thought it was near Beccles. We googled how to get there and thought it was close by. So, one afternoon this week, we drove to Carlton Marshes. Never been there before, and always exciting to visit places never been. 

Sat nav took us on funny country roads into big roads towards Lowestoft, it was very closed to Lowestoft from where we were going from. Marcus was a bit suspicious that we drove really close to Lowestoft, which we wasn't expected, it was this way. Anyway, we managed find the reserve and parked our car. 

It was lovely and well looked after, I saw kids and family having picnic in playground, considering the weather. It was quite cloudy and as if it was going to rain, that kind of typical English weather. But it didn't stop us going for a little walk. Marcus read black footpath was just opened, it was supposed to be board walk on marshes, so, we were excited about that. 

Started walking....

I was pretty sure we were following signs.  We even had a map too, somehow we were walking orange footpath 😂 (my favorite colour footpath, in my experience, when I follow orange footpath, I am always lost somewhere. ) However, although ended up following this orange footpath, we walked along river, marsh lands, seeing cows grazing, friendly people/walkers and enjoyed it. Lovely footpath. 

We saw many swans,  geese, white little eaglets ( quite a few and never seen so many in one place), Marsh Harrier, and  a little chinese water deer in further by water. I had my binoculars with me, so I could see what was going on a bit further. Never seen a little chinese water deer before, it looked like a bit muntjac, are they the same especies? 🤓

Many footpaths to try, we defo go back to explore the reserve. It was really flat so, easy to walk. I could hear train went by in the background, I would assume railway was nearby. Next time explore the area by getting on train from our local train station, get off Oulton Broad South (on East coast line by Greater Anglia from Ipswich). Apparently only 20-30 mins walk from the station, hopefully we can get there without getting lost 😆

There were hides too so I recommend to take your binoculars with you if you have one. I purchased mine a while ago from RSPB Mindsmere, and love them.  These days, everywhere I walk, I take them with me, so I can nosy round on wildlife. A staff  there helped me to choose mine, and she was very helpful. 

At the Carlton marshes, there is a cafe and a little shop, you can sit outside on the balcony overlooking the marshes. Very peaceful. 

Later, Marcus's mum confirmed him this place was his uncle's favorite place ( one of) who passed away last year. I can see why he loved it and worked there too, such peaceful, beautiful and amazing wildlife reserve. I saw a few people walking in the field, must've taken different footpath, which I felt I would like to try next time. 

On our way back home, we detoured to Halesworth to purchase more niknaks😆

Carlton Marshes, 

Burnt Hill Lane, 

Carlton Colville 

NR33 8HU

Lowestoft

Suffolk

Suffolk Walk: on the beach Walberswick

 

Walberswick! Such a beautiful place, for both walks and beach. Today, we went out for beaching🏝and it was lovely weather. In U.K, weather changes often, when it's sunny, need to make the most of it. It was weekday, so, the beach wasn't as busy as weekend. Need to come down here really early to find a parking space on weekends. Still, first carpark had fair amount of car parked, people were there to enjoy the British summer.

In both car parks, there are ice cream vans, no cafes. So if you feel thirsty, bring your own drinks or purchase from those vans. In the village, there's co-op, a cafe, ice cream parlour, and pubs. So you won't get hungry. In the nillage Co-op, they used to sell vegan magnums ( last year), I'm not sure if they got them now. Since they stopped stocking up, haven't gone back there, so I'm not sure😓

We usually take our little snacks and flask of tea. Cuppa on the beach always taste delicious somehow, remember when I was growing up, every summer we went to my mum's hometown in Japan. She came from sea side, so, beach was nearby. We used to take rice balls and some fruits (usually watermelon or peach) and everytime, they tasted delicious, better than having them in the house. Funny how environment changes mind to taste. Sea air, seaw water, smell of the sea, and the sun themselves taste wonderful. 😊

Walberswick is shingle beach, but sometimes depends on tide time, sandy part of beach starts appearing on the shore. Behind the beach, these rees bed where birds nest and the area is protected. 

Here, you can walk miles from Walberswick to Dunwich, or Southwold. Footpath everywhere, and lovely to walk on the beach to Dunwich. If you want to go to Southwold from here, need to across the river between. There's a bridge where footpath along the river leads to it. 

We love walking Walberswick, park car on top of the village, walk down through woods down to footpath leads to reeds bed. Beautiful. Also, there's a footpath from first car park, towards Walberswick caravanning site which leads to the reeds bed walks. 

All ages of people come here and enjoy their British summer holiday. Kids enjoy crabbing on the river, young people enjoying BBQ, sun bathing...I have youtube video on Walberswick summer day link is:  

https://youtu.be/yfhX2RqZB_M   

Sunset is also beautiful, link is: 

https://youtu.be/6Gi41peSW5Q

Suffolk is such gem, so blessed to being here. 💕😍

Suffolk Walks--- Bures & Bluebells walks

7/May/ 2016

Cute bluebells

Lovely and warm days, I really miss the weather. It's now started cold here in U.K (now it's November 2016...), winter is coming. Lovely to see some fab colours the nature creates in different seasons. 

Dragon on the hill, we sat on the bench here and had some snacks....

Well, we visited outside of this St. Stephen's Barn before. But we did not get in, usually locked. You need to ring the number on the door at the barn, then, pick up the key or the key holder would bring the key to you. He lives on the farm, where you park the car to get to the barn. From the car park at the furniture shop, walk along the foot path, straight on. After 15-20 mins or so, the foot path divide into two. Carry on walking right footpath. then, the barn/ chapel is there. 

St. Stephen's chapel

St Frances!

The barn looks very impressive, this chapel was, legend says, St. Edmund was crowned there in 855. I live in Bury St Edmund's, where he was once king for East Anglia. This has lot of history in it, it was once barn, then chapel then, hospital etc, it was restored in 1930's. 

This must be lay lines going through there, energy is lovely and ancient people did not build significant churches , abbey or monuments without no reasons (my observations..). They knew places like this was sacred. Just like any other places we visited in the past. 

I do not know what other mean, but Bures must have been one of the sacred places back in days. Also, Bures has a mound too. (I wrote a blog about it before)

Mount Bures

Apparently nothing inside, but who knows, may not just discovered yet?

After we visited the chapel, we drove off to see the cute bluebells in the Hillhouse woods. Field near by still had rapeseed flowers, contrast on lilac and yellow were amazing. 

Here's some photos from this year's bluebell woods in May. 

In the Bluebell woods

Wild garlic flowers by the stream

Looks pretty but this is rapeseed, and stinks!

Lovely wild orchid

Suffolk Walks---Sailors Path

22/05/2016

Sailors Path

On our way to Aldeburgh, we saw this cute footpath sign, and wondered what is was. Parked our car at the car park, and started walking. This foot path actually leads to Aldeburgh to Snape. 

It was nice sunny day for a change, blue sky and very pleasant day. We started walking along the path, we saw a few people walking. we saw some cute houses in the middle of nowhere. 

We just pottered round and slow walked to the Snape Malting. 

Snape Malting and cows

We got some coffee and crisps at the cafe, looked around the malting and got some goodies from the shop (we normally get some nik-naks there). Then slow walked back on the Sailors Path. 

Once we got back, we drove to coop in Aldeburgh, got some more nik-naks, then... off to the beach. Walked along the beach. We like to drive round in the area, see how we feel, we get off the car then walk for a bit. Never know what we discover that day. Every time seems to be different and see different things. And always nature looks different. i suppose that is the part of the fun walking or cycling in the nature. 

Aldeburgh beach

I moaned a lot abut how I used to get to the train station etc, I suppose I can't have everything I want, it would be nice, but because I don't drive, it is hard for me to get to certain places just using buses and trains. they limit my time and where to get to, etc. Maybe just maybe I just need to move somewhere near to the sea and woods.... and a coffee shop!