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.
