Monday Walk - A Suffolk Walk: Wickham Market to Aldeburgh (posted for the walk author who will be present)

Length: 22.8 kms (14¼ miles) 

Ascent/Descent:  92/110m 

Net Walking Time: 4 1/2 hours 

Toughness: 3 out of 10

 

Catch the 9.00 Norwich train from Liverpool Street (this is fast to Chelmsford, i.e. BZ6 tickets are not valid), changing at Ipswich for the 10.16, arriving Wickham Market at 10.42. [The station is actually in the neighbouring village of Campsea Ash.]  

Buy a Wickham Market Return. 

 

This walk goes through pleasant farmland to Blaxhall Common, then crosses the Suffolk heathlands, known as the Sandlings, to Snape Maltings, for an early lunch at the Plough and Sail. After lunch you cross the River Alde and closely follow its estuary, making use of the historic Sailors’ Path - a remarkably varied section. You then have the option of following the seawall around Aldeburgh Marshes or taking a more direct route to give more time in the attractive seaside town of Aldeburgh, but pay careful attention to the notes below about bus times.

 

This is a walk check, for a Suffolk walk which rarely gets posted. There is some flexibility over the date, so if you prefer to walk on Tues 2^nd (party night) or Thurs 4^th, please post a message here. If you want to buy an Advance ticket, again please post a message and I will confirm the date.

 

Lunch is at The Plough and Sail at Snape Maltings, which like Aldeburgh itself is closely associated with Benjamin Britten. Aldeburgh is mainly known for fish and chips, but if you have a long wait for a bus, there is no shortage of refreshment options.

 

From Aldeburgh, catch a bus to Saxmundham.Times are as follows:

- Borderbus 522 leaves Aldeburgh (bus shelter on High Street) at 4.01 for Saxmundham (4.22). Catch the 5.04 train, change at Ipswich for the 6.11, arriving Liverpool Street at 7.17.

- First Bus 64 leaves Aldeburgh at 5.11 for Saxmundham (5.40). Catch the 5.56 train, changing at Ipswich for the 6.42, arriving Liverpool Street at 7.52.

- There is also Borderbus 521 at 4.36 and 522 at 5.01, but these will leave you with a longer wait at Saxmundham for the 5.56 train.

 

Savings can be made by buying Advance Tickets (£35.80 with a Senior Railcard), but this commits you to catching a specific return service.

As a guide, you will only catch the earlier bus if you start promptly, walk at 3 mph, and allow about 30 minutes for lunch, so this is probably only feasible with a picnic. I don’t believe that any buses still stop at Linden Road at the end of section 3 (as stated in the text). Both buses start from Fort Green car park, at 4 pm and 5.10 pm respectively. If timing is tight, your best bet is to turn right (not left) on Aldeburgh High Steet and get the bus from here (or lie down in front of it).t=swc.205