April Guided Walks
The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership has lined up three FREE Station-to-Station Guided Walks for April.
- Saturday 6 April – 11.40am
- Melton Station to Wickham Market Station
- (10:07 train from Lowestoft, 11:17 Ipswich, 10:28 Felixstowe)
- 5.75 miles – about 3.5 hours (includes 1 hour for lunch)
- No. 10 in the 2018 booklet
- Led by Trevor Garrod
The Saturday 6 April walk starts with a picturesque view of the River Deben with its wide expanse south of Wilford Bridge; it’s then northward to the village of Ufford for a BBQ lunch at the White Lion, or bring a picnic. The route slowly climbs above the floodplain through delightful countryside that is characteristic of Suffolk. The river is encountered again but this time it’s a mere shadow of its former self measuring just a few metres wide.
At the end enjoy coffee, tea and cake at Station House, Campsea Ashe inside the wonderfully restored Wickham Market rail station before catching your train home.
The walk will get underway from Melton station at 11:40 following arrival of the 11:17 train from Ipswich, the 10:07 train from Lowestoft, and the 10:28 train from Felixstowe (change at Ipswich).
- Saturday 13 April – 10:35am
- Trimley Station Circular (Orwell and Trimley Marshes)
- (8:07 train from Lowestoft, 9:58 Ipswich, 10:28 Felixstowe)
- 7 miles – about 3.5 hours
- No. 2 in the 2018 booklet
- Led by David Foster
This walks includes some of the finest estuary views in the England, lagoons, reed-beds, bird-rich tidal marshes and a stop at the Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Trimley Marshes Reserve visitor centre for a cuppa. The quiet waters upstream contrast with the busy activity at the Port of Felixstowe which is along the route.
Be sure to bring along a lunch as there are no places to buy food en route, but tea and coffee (and toilets) are available at the SWT visitor centre.
- Trimley to Felixstowe (Deben and Coast)
- (8:07 train from Lowestoft, 9:58 Ipswich, 10:28 Felixstowe)
- 9 miles – about 5 hours
- No. 1 in the 2018 booklet
- Led by David Foster
Field paths and farm tracks link Trimley station with isolated countryside of the northern Felixstowe Peninsula. From elevated ground there are views out to sea, and close by are reed beds that flow to the quit waters of the tidal River Deben providing for a variety of wildlife. Bring along enough food and drink for this walk as refreshments are not available until reaching Felixstowe Ferry.
Free – Open to the Public – No Need to Book – Dogs Welcome
The walks are all free and open to the public. Just show up on the day as there’s no need to book. Dogs on leads are welcome, and your four-legged friends travel free on the train.
Download the route maps
The East Suffolk Lines Community Rail Partnership has published a new Guided Walks booklet which details more than 20 routes along the East Suffolk Lines (Ipswich – Lowestoft and Ipswich – Felixstowe). The booklet is available at Suffolk Libraries and many other locations across the county; you can also request a copy in the post, download the entire booklet as a PDF, or view and print each individual walk. There’s also a flip-the-pages version you can view right from your PC or smartphone. All the details and links can be found on the walks page.
Guided Walks email list
Interested in receiving periodic emails about upcoming walks? Sign up here; it’s FREE and you can unsubscribe at any time.
- FREE – NO NEED TO BOOK – Just show up
- Stout footwear essential, long trousers, waterproofs if wet
- Bring water and enough food for your walk.
- Dogs on leads WELCOME
- Check times before setting out: nationalrail.co.uk or 03457 48 49 50.
- No insurance cover – come at own risk.