Suffolk Coast and Heaths Path
80 km / 50 miles
The Path follows rights of way and permissive paths along the Suffolk Heritage Coast north from Felixstowe on river and sea walls and across marsh, heath, foreshore and low cliffs and via the foot ferry to Bawdsey. It follows the western bank of the River Ore inland from Orfordness up to Snape Maltings, before heading east down the northern side of the River Alde to regain the coast of the festival town of Aldeburgh and from there it follows the coast to Lowestoft South Pier. Check the Suffolk Coast & Heaths website for the latest news on coastal erosion.
At Felixstowe, it connects with the Stour and Orwell Walk to provide links to the Stour Valley Path (East Anglia) and Essex Way at Manningtree. On OS mapping, Landranger maps show the Stour and Orwell Path combined while Explorer maps name them both.
The Sandlings Walk takes a route generally inland from the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Path that runs broadly parallel, particularly south of Snape towards Ipswich where the Sandlings route snakes across the inland heaths and forests, while the Path returns to the coast. Between Snape and Southwold the two routes meet and cross several times. Near Dunwich both routes skirt the RSPB Minsmere Nature Reserve (link below), the Path here going along the coast and the Walk inland. These intersections provide for a number of circular options for shorter walks.
Details:
| Path Type: | Paths Marked on OS mapping | |
| Waymark: | Small named yellow and purple markers (being replaced by Suffolk Coast Path) | |
| Attributes: | Coastal; Heath | |
| Start: | TM313349 - Felixstowe, Suffolk  |
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| Finish: | TM548926 - Lowestoft, Suffolk |
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| Web Sites: | Suffolk Coast and Heaths Project | |
| RSPB - Minsmere Reserve |
Publications, Badges and Certificates:
| Folder: | Suffolk Coast & Heaths Path (Suffolk Coast and Heaths Project - 2000) |
| Paperback: | Sandlings Walks: 20 Circular Walks Around the Suffolk Coast & Heaths (Larks Press - 2007) |
| Paperback: | Suffolk Coast and Heaths Walks (Cicerone Press - 2012) |
Maps: |
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| Purchase Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps): | |
| OS Landranger: | 134, 156, 169 |
| OS Explorer: | 197, 212, 231, 40 |
| OS Explorer Active: | 197, 212, 231, 40 |
Group Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:
| Hostel Accommodation: | Blaxhall YHA, Heath Walk, Blaxhall, Woodbridge, Suffolk | 2 Km |
Connected Paths:
| Path Highlights: | Suffolk Coast and Heath Path Highlights |
| Paths Marked on OS mapping: | Sandlings Walk; Stour and Orwell Walk; Stour Valley Path (East Anglia) |
| Other Paths: | Nelson Way; Suffolk Way |
Downloads:
| GPS Exchange Format Route File: | Suffolk Coast and Heaths Path GPX Exchange Format Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| MemoryMap Route file: | Suffolk Coast and Heaths Path Memory Map Route File | Login to Download (Members Only) |
| Tracklogs Route file: | Suffolk Coast and Heaths Path Tracklogs Route file | Login to Download (Members Only) |
Route Profile:
| 91.5 Km (56.9 miles) 474 m (1,555 ft) ascent 27 m (89 ft) maximum height |
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