In search of the lost Suffolk village of Hethern

Start: Dunwish Beach car park (IP17 3EN) Grid ref. TM 479 707

Waymarkers: The walk uses the Sandlings and Suffolk Coast Path to get to and from the St Helena Trail which is marked throughout with prominent markers.

(S/E) From the car park, walk along Beach road and turn right at the junction to leave Dunwich Westwards towards the Church.

(1) Then take the footpath on the left hand side of the road just beyond the war memorial and marked with the Sandlings moniker. Keep to this track until it meets with Sandy Lane Farm on the right. Take the footpath right down the near side of the farm which leads through a marshy area around the Dunwich river. There are several bridges and a board-walk across this section before the path leads up a hill to the road. This area is thought to be the location of the medieval village of Breggestreet.

(2) Cross the road and proceed onto a path that leads into the woodland. Bear round to the right and head for the car park where an information board displays the forest tracks and trails. Head down the path to the left of the information board and through a metal gate.

Follow the trail to the left which is marked out by the green arrows on a circular white background. At the end of the path, the trail turns right and heads through the forest. Keep to this track until it comes to a large metal gate across the track which leads out onto the road at St Helena.

(3) Turn right onto the road, then take the track on the left down towards some nissen hut type buildings. Go through the metal gate and continue along the track as it curves through the forest. Eventually it will come to a point where a marker points to the right, with a further marker just beyond that point to the left. Take the path indicated by the first marker which leads along the northern edge of the forest with the Westwood marshes on the left.

Not far along this path, another marker will direct to the right and up the hill, with another path continuing along the bottom of the hill and a wooden hide constructed on the left by a straight watercourse. Keep to the marked track on the right, proceeding up the hill to where there is a viewing point across the marshes.(A)

(4) Continue along the marked trail heading back into the forest. Eventually it comes to a point adjacent to a cottage where a marker directs the trail to the right. Ignore the marker and turn left, past the cottage and over the cattle grid until it meets another track.

(5) Turn right and follow the track. This is now the route of the Suffolk Coast Path which will lead back into Dunwich, turning left when it meets the road which continues past the church (1) and the pub back to the car park. (S/E)

Start: Dunwish Beach car park (IP17 3EN) Grid ref. TM 479 707

Waymarkers: The walk uses the Sandlings and Suffolk Coast Path to get to and from the St Helena Trail which is marked throughout with prominent markers.

Refreshments :
The Ship, Dunwich

Find more information and walks at Griffmonsters Great Walks here.

(A) Viewing point across the marshes At this point it is worth perusing the area and taking in the sights. The area around this hill was probably the site of Stonehill Castle and the medieval village of Hethern would have been located on the marsh. Looking across the marsh one can see the distinctive Westward lodge on the horizon, atop the hill above the marsh. Just beyond the viewing point, a track leads down to the marsh. This is probably the route of the medieval Dunwich to Blythburgh road which crossed the marshes by way of Stonehill Bridge and continued up to the right of Westward lodge. If one looks carefully across the marsh the old track up to the lodge is still there, leading down to the marsh.

• The lost village of Hethern