Buildings and Boats beside the Sea

This walk visit the elegant seafront, the traditional harbour and the open marshes.

Technical sheet

3877308
A Southwold walk posted on 20/08/20 by Aurelie-21. Last update : 21/08/20
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.77 km
  • ◔
    Calculated time: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 9 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 9 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 12 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -3 m
  • ⚐
    District: Southwold 
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 52.330783° / E 1.684742°

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Description

(S/E) Start in front of Southwold Pier facing inland. Turn left and follow the path beside the railings onto the low cliffs. The path continues past greens and elegant houses.

(1) When you reach South Green (signed) turn right. Walk inland across the grass until you come to a large green. Cross the road and head towards the post box. Continue past the post box into a short dead-end lane. At the end, take the path between two flint walls. As the path turns left, continue ahead on the footpath. Turn right at the road. Follow the road past a car park entrance.

(2) Turn left at the junction along Godyll Road. Follow the road past attractive houses with Southwold Common on the left. Soon another big green opens up on the right. Continue along the road as it bends to the right. When you come to the T junction, cross the road and turn left towards the two water towers, using the mown path alongside the road. Soon, a grass path leads off diagonally across the green, heading just to the right of the towers. Keep on this path across the golf course until you reach a junction with a track.Turn left, towards Walberswick. This is the trackbed of the Halesworth to Southwold Railway, which closed in 1929.

(3) Just before the river bridge, turn left. Follow the footpath alongside the river to join the unmade road through Southwold Harbour. When the road turns sharply left, leave it and cross the car park. Walk over the dunes onto the beach or follow the wide grassy area behind the dunes.

(4) When you reach the first beach huts, look for the Gunhill Beach Café. Take the path beside the Café that turns right and leads up Gunhill Cliff. Walk through the gardens beside the railings and drop down to the promenade. Continue along the promenade to the Pier or explore the town.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 3 m - Southwold Pier
  2. 1 : km 0.74 - alt. 9 m - South Green
  3. 2 : km 1.08 - alt. 10 m - Godyll Road
  4. 3 : km 2.71 - alt. -2 m - River Blyth
  5. 4 : km 4.68 - alt. 3 m - Gunhill Beach Café
  6. S/E : km 5.77 - alt. 3 m - Southwold Pier

Useful Information

Paths and tracks, which can be muddy after rain. Section of beach walking. This walk takes you onto public highways. Please be aware of traffic. We recommend high visibility clothing.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 1 review

Clarity of route description
4 / 5
Clarity of route map
4 / 5
Walk interest
4 / 5
Delphinium
Delphinium

Thank you for this feedback. Do you remember what are the parts where the description wasn't that accurate so I can adjust? Thank you and happy new year

mmurden
mmurden

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 01/01/22
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk along flat, even ground. Would probably be suitable for wheelchairs unless there has been heavy rain as some sections are across grass footpaths.
Views of Southwold seafront, marshes and harbour, passing several shops, cafes, pubs and toilets along the route. Suitable for dogs, with only a very small section of the walk on a road without a path.
We had to stop and check the map on a couple of occasions as there are multiple footpaths along the route and it would be easy to take the wrong one as the description wasn’t always 100% clear.
Overall a very enjoyable amble in fair weather, which took us about 1hr 45mins.

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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.

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