An Amble up the Deben Estuary

Start: Great Eastern Square, Felixstowe (IP11 7DU) Grid ref. TM 304 350

(S) From Great Eastern Square, walk North along A1021 to reach a roundabout where you turn right into High Road East. Walk along High Road East out to where it meets the coast (1.5 Km) until it bends left and you find a footpath right past the Kiosk.

(1) Turn right to reach the concrete walkway alongside the sea. Here there is a path along the seafront all the way through to Felixstowe Ferry. Turn left and walk along the seafront for 1.6 Km North-East.

(2) At the end of the path, walk through Felixstowe Ferry. Immediately across the road is the way marker for the Stour and Orwell Path inland route which leads along the River Deben defences.

(3) After 1.5 Km, the path soon departs inland along Kings Fleet but keep with the well defined footpath along the top of the defences. Continue through keeping following River Deben on your right-hand for 5.8 Km to Kirton Creek, recognisable by the wood on the opposite shore to the creek.

(4) At Kirton Creek there are two options, either to follow the estuary a short distance further, or, as in this instance, take the footpath to the west of the woodland.
No matter what route is chosen one will end up at the hamlet of Hemley - note that taking the riverside path one needs to head inland at the next opportunity as going beyond results in meeting with a breach across the defence bank.

(5) At the end of the track, turn left by All Saints church and follow the lane (Mill Road) and the right (North) by the church tower. Continue along Church Lane until it meets a road. Here there is a track on the right next to a cottage. At the end of the track, a footpath on the left will lead through to Waldringfield. Keep following the path at the North side of the pond to come out on the shore of the Deben by the Sailing Club. Walk past the Sailing club to the boatyard and road junction with Cliff Road and Maybush Inn.

(6) Take the road by the May Bush up through the village. The road turns a sharp right and can be fairly busy, but stick to the road becoming Scholl road as it bends right past a playground field on your right at Waldringfield. Follow for 475m to a large road junction with Ipswich Road.

(7) Take the country lane straight ahead and follow this for 2.2 Km, all the way North-North-West until there is a Sandlings Path waymarker on the right.

(8) Here, there is the option to follow the Fynn Valley path right up to Martlesham or continue around the creek and into Woodbridge. Take this footpath right across the fields to Martlesham Hall where it turns sharp left and follows the road for a few hundred yards where it crosses the road.

(9) Go right down a steep wooded bank to Martlesham Creek.

(10) Just before the path comes out of the wooded area to run alongside the creek there is a Fynn Valley Path waymarker pointing to a footpath on the left just inside the woods. This follows the woods and comes out on School Lane, Martlesham.

(11) Turn right at the road (School Lane).

(12) Follow the road junction with the Red Lion Pub opposite turn right where there is a bus stop just up the road. (E)

Start: Great Eastern Square, Felixstowe (IP11 7DU) Grid ref. TM 304 350

Transport : First Group 64 service connects Ipswich, Woodbridge, Wickham Market, Saxmundhamm, Leiston and Aldeburgh.
First Group 75/76/77 bus services connecting Ipswich, Trimley and Felixstowe.
The two ends of the walk can be linked by public transport via Ipswich. It has to be said that taking the bus to the start then provides a full day with no worries about catching the bus back.

Map: OS Explorer 197

Refreshments:
May Bush, Waldringfield
Red Lion, Martlesham

Alternative : At Kirton Creek there are two options, either to follow the estuary a short distance further, or, as in this instance, take the footpath to the west of the woodland. No matter what route is chosen one will end up at the hamlet of Hemley - note that taking the riverside path one needs to head inland at the next opportunity as going beyond results in meeting with a breach across the defence bank.

Note : The Felixstowe side of the River Deben estuary has public access as far as the village of Hemley. Beyond this the defence banks have been breached which necessitates inland footpaths, tracks and lanes. The riverside is met again at Waldringfield but another breach beyond this prevents access through to Martlesham Creek and alternative footpaths have to be accessed.

Find more information and walks at Griffmonsters Great Walks here.

Despite this, the walk is still a voyage of discovery around parts of the Felixstowe peninsula that one would probably never visit other than on foot. Given a day such as when this walk was undertaken which had wall to wall sunshine and deep blue skies, the river estuary is at its best. A vast wide expanse of water with marsh on its borders and every creek and cranny something new to view. The river is well used by pleasure craft and given a fine weekend there are numerous yachts parading up and down the river. On the far shore one passes Ramsholt with its distinctive church sitting high on the hill above the river, its buttressed round tower quite unique to this area.
Find more information read at Griffmonsters Great Walks here.

• Waldringfield
• All Saints Church, Hemley