Starting at a single row of cottages known as Shingle Street, you'll head up the coast to the river mouth at Orford Haven before cutting inland through fields and along well-signposted tracks and lanes back to the start.

Why it's special
From the Martello tower that marks your starting point, built to protect England from invasion during the Napoleonic wars, to some well-preserved second world war pillbox defences, this walk has an impressive military pedigree. Just up the coast is Orford Ness, where the first experiments with radar were conducted in the 1930s, while Shingle Street itself has been the subject of fevered speculation ever since it was evacuated in 1940. Conspiracies include rumours of a German landing and a shoreline littered with burning bodies, schemes to protect the coastline with an impenetrable barrage of flames and the testing of experimental chemical bombs. Four dead German airmen were certainly washed up on the beach, and weapons testing did result in the Lifeboat Inn being blown up. As for the rest, the conspiracy theories rumble on.

Find the whole walk here
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/jun/08/shingle-street-walking-guide-suffolk

How to get there
By car
From Ipswich, take the A12 towards Woodbridge, then the A1152 towards Melton. Take the second exit at the roundabout after the river, towards Hollesley, then follow signs to Shingle Street.

By public transport
Take the Ipswich-to-Lowestoft train and get off at Melton, but it's an 11km walk to the start, mostly on minor roads with no pavement.

#beach #coast #coastal #suffolk #uk #england #britain #walk

Find all hotels by Best Western in Woodbridge from AED 278

Change your mind

Book hotels with free cancellation

Treat yourself

Be picky

Search almost a million properties worldwide

Check prices for these dates

Tonight

Tomorrow

This weekend

Next weekend

Compare rooms and suites by Best Western in Woodbridge with rates, reviews, and availability. Most hotels are fully refundable.

Our top choices for Woodbridge Best Western

"Great hotel and the food served was really good"

AED 353 total

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sep

"Easy check in, friendly staff, great food in the restaurant and good bedroom size. The beer garden was an added bonus. Great value for money "

AED 352 total

includes taxes & fees

21 Sep - 22 Sep

"Nice hotel, comfortable beds. Bar staff were not very organised"

AED 334 total

includes taxes & fees

7 Sep - 8 Sep

Superior Room, 1 Queen Bed, Non Smoking | Desk, blackout drapes, iron/ironing board, cribs/infant beds

"Ample parking Good food Good service Good WiFi "

AED 356 total

includes taxes & fees

31 Aug - 1 Sep

Save an average of 15% on thousands of hotels when you're signed in

Top Woodbridge Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG

10/10 Excellent

"Speedy check-in. Check in first before you pay to park & as long as they take your email it is free. Comfy beds, clean room, decent toilet rolls, dove body wash & a great cooked breakfast. WiFi a bit sketchy & carpet in corridors has seen better days. That said didn’t put us of at all, would recommend & would definitely stay again."

Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa

10/10 Excellent

"Lovely hotel - room was modern in an old country hall - breakfast was lovely quality although smashed avocado could have done with some fresh lime juice and Coriander - it felt like chunky avocado paste spread on toasted sourdough. Otherwise a lovely stay and pool was nice temperature. Would recommend. We went to the Unruly Pig to eat which is one of UK’s top Gastropods - about an 90min beautiful walk through Woodbridge and along estuary seawall from hotel - tasting menu amazing - then got a taxi back."

Ufford Park Woodbridge Hotel, Golf & Spa

10/10 Excellent

"Comfortable spacious rooms with large double bed. Everything for an overnight stay, coffee on the terrace, good evening meal in the restaurant and a lovely pre-breakfast swim in quite a large swimming pool with sauna and jacuzzi available. Overall an enjoyable and restful stay with friendly staff.."

Dunston Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort

10/10 Excellent

"We stayed for two nights in August B&B as part of a mini break to the East of England. All staff were welcoming and helpful. The room had a king size bed and the bathroom was large and adequately supplied. Breakfast was a good choice of pastries and hot buffet...dining at 8.15am meant we had no problem with queues or choice of food. The only thing that could have been better was the lack of air conditioning, as our room was very warm on both nights of our stay although a fan was provided upon request."

Find all hotels by Best Western in Woodbridge from AED 278

Change your mind

Treat yourself

Be picky

Check prices for these dates

Compare rooms and suites by Best Western in Woodbridge with rates, reviews, and availability. Most hotels are fully refundable.

Our top choices for Woodbridge Best Western

Best Western Brome Grange

Best Western Ipswich Hotel

Best Western The Rose & Crown Hotel

Best Western Claydon Hotel

Top Woodbridge Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG

The White Horse

Orwell Hotel

Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa

Ufford Park Woodbridge Hotel, Golf & Spa

The Aviator, formerly Smugglers Cove, Clacton On Sea by Marston's Inns

The Coach House Suffolk

Dunston Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort

B&B HOTEL Ipswich

Explore a world of travel with Expedia

Woodbridge Hotels by Brand

Hotels near popular Woodbridge Attractions

More Hotel Options in Woodbridge

More Accommodation Types in Woodbridge

Hotels in Popular Destinations

Explore more hotels