After a few weeks break from our coastal road trip, we are now continuing our journey, this time over four days from Ipswich in Suffolk to Worthing in West Sussex. Hence the sunny weather in the Ipswich picture (September), then a bit gloomy as we continued into Essex (October).
Photo of the day
A helter-skelter on Clacton-on-Sea’s pier.
Ipswich
Our last photo as we finished the first 5 weeks of our Coastal Road Trip at Ipswich Waterfront. Feeling quite pleased with ourselves!
Mistley
Working our way down the south side of the River Stour we made the first stop of the day at Mistley Towers in Essex, the remains of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin.
Harwich
The wooden Ha’penny Pier at Harwich, named after the original toll charge for the Victorian pier. The Port of Felixtowe in the gloomy background.The Lightvessel LV18 moored off the Ha’penny Pier, the last surviving example of a manned Trinty House light vessel, now a museum.Harwich High Lighthouse that was used in combination with the Low Lighthouse as a leading light for Harwich Harbour.And the Low Lighthouse on the promenade, now the local Maritime Museum.Then just a few minutes further along the coast we reached the two matching iron towered Dovercourt Low and High Lighthouses.
Walton on the Naze
The navigational Naze Tower north of Walton on the Naze. With a beacon at the top, it was used as an early form of lighthouse to guide ships through the Goldmer Gap.Walton on the Naze Beach… and the sun trying to make an appearance. Yay!Walton on the Naze Pier. To be honest we had seen better looking piers, though the brightly painted beach huts attempted to brighten-up the area.
Frinton On Sea
A rather elaborate looking clock tower shelter on the Frinton Beach Esplanade.
Holland-on-Sea
More beach huts adding some colour to Holland Haven near Holland-on-Sea.
Clacton-on-Sea
Stopping for some lunch at Clacton Pier.The helter-skelter looking a bit spooky on the deserted pier.Just proving we were there 😉Some rather scary looking steps down to the sea from the pier.Clearly we were out of season with the empty entertainment noticeboards.
Brightlingsea
If it’s not lighthouses it’s beach huts today!
West Mersea
A rather unloved looking boat at West Mersea….… and the houseboats looking like they are in the middle of a field.
Tollesbury
Another Trinity Lightship, also with the illusion of being moored in a field.
Heybridge
The picturesque lock at Heybridge Basin, joining the Blackwater estuary and the canal to Chelmsford.
Maldon
Old Thames barges moored at Maldon’s Hythe Quay.The barges had been beautifully restored, several are still in use as charters.
Bradwell-on-Sea
As walked down a long farm track to the remote St Peter’s Chapel we came across this funny sign. Something was ‘coming soon’, not sure what…St Peter’s Chapel on the headland near Sales Point, one of the oldest Chistian churches in England, dating from the 7th century. Around a thousand years later, in the 17th century it was in use as a barn. You can still see where the barn doors were placed on the side.We were surprised that the church door was open, so we had a quick look inside. Pretty good condition for 1,400 years old!
Burnham-on-Crouch
The Yacht Harbour at Burnham-on-Crouch, our final stop of the day before heading to Southend-on-Sea for the night.
So we’ve managed to complete thirty-five days of continuous travel, as we drove from Cardiff to Ipswich. Yay! That’s the first and main leg of our coastal road trip completed, and what a great day to spend this milestone, as we travel the beautiful Suffolk coastline….
Photo of the day
Calm reflective waters as the sunset at Felixtowe Ferry.
Lowestoft
Bam! Our first stop of the day and it’s a lighthouse. The bright white Lowestoft Lighthouse looking great against the fresh blue morning sky.On this trip we have traveled to the most westerly point of Britain at Ardnamurchan (day 17), the most northerly point at Dunnet Head (day 24), and now we have reached the most easterly point at Ness Point! Not the most exciting view, to be honest…Julian sitting on the Euroscope at Ness Point, designed by John Wylson.A handsome row of houses along Lowestoft’s South Beach Promenade.The Lowestoft South Beach lifeguard keeping an eye on a lone swimmer (that just swam out of the photo).
Benachre
Driving past glorious meadows as we meandered along the small country lanes near Benachre.Such rich colours in the mid morning sunshine.
Southwold
The grade II listed Southwold Lighthouse towering over Southwold’s seafront houses.Southwold Pier, extending 190m in to the North Sea.
Walberswick
The small ferry being rowed from Southwold across the fast moving River Blyth to Walberswick. He was doing a busy trade this sunny Saturday lunchtime.
Blythburgh
A short detour inland to view the Holy Trinity Church in the small village of Blythburgh. Also know as The Cathedral of the Marshes, it was surprisingly light inside.
Dunwich
Children playing in the waves at Dunwich Beach, silhouetted against the sea. Sizewell nuclear power station lurking in the distance.
Leiston Abbey
The remains of the Augustinian Leiston Abbey, originally home to the strict Premonstratensian order, who favoured remote locations.A farmhouse had been built into the remains of the nave after the suppression.
Thorpeness
The Thorpeness village sign with its iconic House in the Clouds and windmill.The large meare that had been dug out by hand in the early 20th century, with the bright red House in the Clouds living up to its name.The House in the Clouds, originally built as a water tower, and now a pretty cool holiday house.In the 1920s and 30s Thorpeness Windmill had been used to pump water into the tank at the top of the House in the Clouds.
Aldeburgh
The Scallop sculpture at RSPB North Warren, designed by Maggi Hambling as a tribute to Benjamin Britten, the Aldeburgh born composer.Boats on the beach behind the upmarket Aldeburgh high street.
Snape Maltings
One of the many sculptures at our next stop at Snape Maltings. A fascinating place, with an amazing music venue, shops, artist workshops, sculptures and nature walks. Quite a curious mix, but done so well, we were really impressed.A rainbow forming over Barbara Hepworth’s Family of Man sculpture.Anther dovecote, we haven’t seen one of these since leaving Scotland. But this one had a modern take, and had been converted into a studio.
Orford
Orford Castle, Henry II’s splendid keep.Just down the road from Orford Castle, views from the quay across the River Alde to the Nature Reserve and Orfordness Lighthouse.
Felixtowe
The view of Felixtowe’s busy container port from the John Bradfield Viewing Area.Fishing in the UK’s largest container port.A beautiful golden sunset across the water to Harwich.
Felixtowe Ferry
Beach huts along the coast to Felixtowe Ferry.A final stop on our way to Ipswich for the night. We looped a short way back north east to Felixtowe Ferry, and had stunning views over the calm River Deben, reflecting the yachts in the dusk light.Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight…. let’s see in the morning.
