The Dunwich Leper Chapel

A circular walk between Leiston to Dunwich using the Suffolk Coast Path from Sizewell to Dunwich with a visit to the ruins of the 12th-century Leper Chapel. The return uses the footpath via Mount Pleasant to get onto the Sandlings Path across Dunwich Heath to return back to Leiston.

Technical sheet

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 22.83 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 51 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 58 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 29 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: -2 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: Minden Drive bus stop, Leiston. Grid ref. TM 446 620

(S/E) From the bus stop, walk South for a few meters to take Redhouse Lane left on the south side of Leiston. Walk along the lane continuing onto the track marked as Grimseys Lane.

(1) At the end cross the field and emerge onto the Sizewell road at Halfway Cottages.

(2) Turn right and follow the road for 1.3 Km through to Sizewell.

(3) Walk up the coast (North) in front of Sizewell Power Station, past Minsmere.

(4) At the northern edge of the reserve head up the cliff to the coastguard cottages. There is a path that winds its way in front of the cottages and across the heather, following the cliffs. This eventually meets the road.

(5) Cross the road and follow the path that runs alongside the road until it meets the coast path route which crosses the road.

(6) Turn right and head into Greyfriars Wood. Take this through the wood to emerge onto the road into Dunwich.

(7) Turn right and continue straight on as the road bends sharp left, down the track in front of a terrace of cottages.

(8) Before it meets a small bridge, turn left through the woods and follow the Greyfriars perimeter fence around to the cliff edge, keeping to the path until it emerges opposite the Ship Inn.

(9) From there carry straight on. The Leper Chapel is at the end of the road, just behind the church. Opposite the church, just around the corner from the war memorial is a track marked as the Sandlings.

(10) Take this until it passes a farm on the right.

(11) Just before the farmhouse take the track on the left. This eventually crosses the road and meets the Suffolk Coast Path on Dunwich Heath.

(12) As the paths cross, turn right and follow the footpath across the heath. Keep to this, through the woods.

(13) Then walk across the Minsmere road, across a grassed field and then down through more woods where it joins the road.

(14) Turn right and follow the road into Eastbridge.

(15) Continue through Eastbridge and beyond there is a track on the left marked with a Sandlings waymarker.

(16) Take this all the way through until it meets the Sizewell Road.

(17) Keep straight ahead, down the hill.

(18) In the dip is a footpath on the right which leads back into Leiston. Turn right along the footpath.

(19) Then keep to Valley Road through Leiston until it gets to the town centre.

(20) Turn left along High Street and walk through the town back to the start. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 20 m - Minden Drive bus stop, Leiston
  2. 1 : km 1.34 - alt. 11 m - Grimseys Lane
  3. 2 : km 1.75 - alt. 8 m - Halfway Cottages
  4. 3 : km 3.11 - alt. 5 m - Sizewell
  5. 4 : km 8.05 - alt. 3 m - Northern edge of the reserve
  6. 5 : km 9.08 - alt. 16 m - Road
  7. 6 : km 9.96 - alt. 23 m - Junction Greyfriars Wood
  8. 7 : km 10.74 - alt. 24 m - Road into Dunwich
  9. 8 : km 11.15 - alt. 26 m - Small bridge - Woods
  10. 9 : km 11.78 - alt. 8 m - Ship Inn
  11. 10 : km 12.19 - alt. 4 m - The Sandlings track
  12. 11 : km 13.11 - alt. 5 m - Farmhouse
  13. 12 : km 14.4 - alt. 20 m - Footpath right
  14. 13 : km 16.05 - alt. 13 m - Minsmere road
  15. 14 : km 17.15 - alt. 9 m - Road
  16. 15 : km 17.88 - alt. -1 m - Eastbridge
  17. 16 : km 18.85 - alt. 13 m - Sandlings waymarker
  18. 17 : km 20.5 - alt. 11 m - Sizewell Road
  19. 18 : km 20.81 - alt. 3 m - Dip right
  20. 19 : km 21.49 - alt. 6 m - Valley Road through Leiston
  21. 20 : km 22.14 - alt. 13 m - High Street
  22. S/E : km 22.82 - alt. 19 m - Minden Drive bus stop, Leiston

Practical information

Start: Minden Drive bus stop. Grid ref. TM 446 620

Refreshments :
The Ship, Dunwich
Eastbridge Eels Foot

Find more information and walks at Griffmonsters Great Walks here.

In the nearby area

Leper Chapel

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