Sandyand shingle beaches, lonely marshland, myriad tidal creeks and charming seasidevillages are just a few of the fascinating characteristics of the Suffolk andEssex Coast and Heaths National Landscape – an area of outstanding naturalbeauty that stretches from Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, to Maldon, in Essex.Expansive skies and far-reaching seascapes lie in wait at Southwold, Dunwichand West Mersea. Intricate inlets and tidalislets form the backdrop to the walks at Orford, where there are relics of aCold War listening station, and Maldon, site of a fearsome Viking battle. Saltmarsh and peaceful, lazily meandering riversides can be followed at Aldeburghand Orford. NearLowestoft, Oulton Broad is the southernmost of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, the walk heretreading the Angles Wayaround the wetland nature reserve of Carlton Marshes. At Dunwich, discover thestory of the city that was claimed by the sea and venture across the heathlandcommon behind the beach. You can stroll in the parkland at Sutton Hoo, site of Britain’s richest Anglo-Saxon burial, to fineviews over the River Deben; while in Dedham Vale, the walk visits several ofthe Stour Valley sites captured by John Constablein his most famous paintings. From historic Colchester,there’s a fine station-to-station walk along the River Colne to Wivenhoe.
