Dunwich:
In medieval times a major thriving port, since claimed by the sea. The sound of Old Dunwich church bells are said to be heard on stormy nights! Walks. Ruins. Great)pub, The Ship Inn. Excellent museum chronicling the erosion over the ages. Fresh fish from the boats and best fish ‘n chips ever.
Dunwich Heath:
National Trust Nature Reserve. Great walks and views. Lighthouse keepers cottage turned teashop. Heaths Area of Outstanding Beauty, one of only 41 in the country.
Westleton:
A classic pretty village. Adjoins the Minsmere Bird Sanctuary (one of the RSPB’s premier sites and host to BBC’s Springwatch) – Nature Trails and Hides. Westleton Books is a popular, quirky second-hand bookshop and gallery.
Aldeburgh:
Traditional seaside town put on the map culturally by the Festival of Music & the Arts. Benjamin Britten connections. Historic buildings inc. the 16th century Moot Hall. Fresh fish off shingle beach. Excellent restaurants. Cinema. Maggi Hambling’s Scallop sculpture can be found up the beach and there’s plenty of scope to amble round the many galleries in the town .
Snape:
Snape Maltings – Great shopping! Performances in the world class concert hall, good food, wonderful walks through the reeds and marshes with stunning pieces of sculpture (Henry Moore) dotted about.
Thorpeness:
Pseudo-Tudor ‘planned’ village just north of Aldeburgh, built in the early 1900’s around the Meare – a 60 acre huge artificial lake studded with islands and a paradise for children. Think ‘Swallows & Amazons’. Also the ‘House in the Clouds’ and working windmill.
Lowestoft:
Once a flourishing fishing port and Britain’s most easterly point (Lowestoft Ness). To be honest, not a madly attractive town centre BUT it has excellent sandy beaches (Blue Flag), a long promenade and an excellent Maritime Museum in Sparrows Nest Park.
Visit the Hall and wonderful gardens – including the Maze – of Somerleyton Hall
Oulton Broad:
Gateway to the Broads and a mecca for boating enthusiasts and naturalists. Considered one of the finest stretches of inland water in England.
Kessingland:
Good beach. Acclaimed Africa Alive Wildlife Park. Huge Car Boot sale every Sunday.
Covehithe:
Church ‘within’ a church. Clifftop walks where dramatic coastal erosion is only too evident.
Raveningham:
Raveningham Hall Gardens & Centre – oriental carpets/hand-crafted kites etc.
Reedham Ferry:
The only crossing point of the River between Norwich and Lowestoft.
Framlingham:
Attractive town surrounded by pretty countryside and dominated by 12th century castle walls with 13 towers. Concerts and live performances held at the Castle throughout the summer. Hospitality at the 16th century coaching Crown Inn. Antiques. Vineyards nearby.
Laxfield:
Here there is an award-winning thatched Tudor pub without a ‘bar’ – beer still served from the barrel in the old kitchen, known locally as The Low House.
