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Dunwich to Walberswick Walk

6.84 miles (11 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk takes you from Dunwich to Walkberswick on the Suffolk coast. The route runs for just under 7 mile using an inland trail for the first section before returning along the beach. The route takes place on flat paths so is suitable for most abilities.
The walk starts in the pretty little village of Dunwich where there is a public car park. From here you can pick up the waymarked Suffolk Coast Path and follow it north past Dunwich Forest, Dingle Marshes, Westwood Marshes and the Walberswick Nature Reserve. You then pick up a nice waterside section along the Dunwich River to take you into Walberswick.
After exploring the village the route returns to Dunwich along the beach.

Dunwich to Walberswick Walk OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Dunwich to Walberswick Walk Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Anchor in Walberswick is a nice place to stop for refreshments on the walk. Located close to the beach it has a good sized garden area where you can relax on warmer days. You can find the pub at a postcode of IP18 6UA for your sat navs.
Back in Dunwich there's the Ship. Here there's another lovely garden area and a very good menu. The interior is also charming with lots of sea prints on the wall and a woodburner to keep you warm on winter days. You can find the pub at postcode IP17 3DT.

Dog Walking

The woodland and beach trails are ideal for dog walking. Both the pubs mentioned above are also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

To extend your walk you could continue on to the pretty town of Southwold on the Southwold to Walberswick Walk. You would head north along the Suffolk Coast Path, crossing the river on the ferry to get to Southwold.
The expansive Dunwich Heath is also nearby and has miles of trails to try.
The circular Blythburgh Walk starts at the nearby village and visits the Westwood Marshes, Walberswick and Dunwich Forest. The village is located just to the north west of Walberswick and includes trails along the River Blyth and a noteworthy 14th century church which is lit at night. There's also a notable 16th century pub with an excellent garden area overlooking the estuary. If you followed the Blyth river west from the settlement you will soon come to the neighbouring town of Halesworth. This town has some interesting history with a walk down the central Thoroughfare highly recommended. The pedestrianised area includes many buildings dating back to the sixteenth century.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Walks and the Suffolk Walks pages.

Photos

Beach scene Dunwich - geograph.org.uk - 1229580

Beach scene Dunwich. At the back of the car park is the fish restaurant famed for its locally caught fresh fish. The rectangular shape of Sizewell nuclear power station is visible in the distance near the shore.

Dunwich, Suffolk - geograph.org.uk - 155650

Dunwich, Suffolk This street of terraced houses, built in the 19th century, is all that remains of Dunwich. The town was one of the largest seaports in England, in the middle Ages. However coastal erosion has meant that most of it has fallen in to the sea. The coastline has advanced around half a mile inland over the past 800 years. A museum further down this street tells all about the town.

Dingle Marshes - geograph.org.uk - 1459477

Dingle Marshes. Looking towards Dingle Stone House. The marshes are located just to the north of Dunwich and contain reedland marshes with lots of wildlife to look out for.

Dunwich River - geograph.org.uk - 1106422

View of the Dunwich River. Flowing through the National Nature Reserve south of Walberswick.

Dunwich Beach - geograph.org.uk - 895320

People relax on Dunwich beach with Sizewell Power Station in the background

Beach Huts, Walberswick, Suffolk - geograph.org.uk - 44605

A row of Beach Huts in Walberswick. Unlike the brightly coloured huts of neighbouring Southwold, it appears that only black is allowed here!

Walberswick marshes - geograph.org.uk - 1104147

Walberswick marshes. From the Southwold bank adjacent to the Harbour Inn, looking across the river to the Walberswick jetties and marshes.

The Anchor, Walberswick - geograph.org.uk - 1597680

The Anchor, Walberswick

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Dunwich to Walberswick Walk.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Dunwich to Walberswick Walk.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)