Remote shingle shores, lagoons, and big-sky walking on the Suffolk Coast
Shingle Street is a tiny, windswept hamlet on Suffolk's open coast, famed for its wild shingle ridge, tidal lagoons, and huge skies. It’s a wonderfully quiet base for walking holidays and outdoor adventures on the Suffolk Coast Path, with nothing but sea, marsh, and heath for company. The remoteness is the appeal: there are no shops or seafront amusements here — just waves, birds, and space.
From Shingle Street you can follow seawalls and beach sections towards Bawdsey and Hollesley, or look north across the water to the protected wilds of Orford Ness. Inland, heaths and grazing marshes give variety to circular routes. Walking on shingle is slow and the coast is exposed, but the rewards are solitude, wildlife, and big coastal views.
Why Walk Here
- Wild shingle beach with tidal lagoons and uninterrupted horizons.
- Quiet, remote section of the Suffolk Coast Path.
- Birdlife across marshes and shingle (waders, terns, and winter flocks).
- Stark beauty, dark skies, and atmospheric sunrises/sunsets.
Nearby Trails
- Suffolk Coast Path – passes by Shingle Street on the Bawdsey/Hollesley stretch.
- Sandlings Walk – heathland route linking nearby Hollesley to the coast.
- Shingle Street to East Lane (Bawdsey) – seawall and shingle there-and-back or loop.
- Hollesley–Shingle Street Circular – marsh, seawall, and beach combo.
Outdoor Adventures and Activities
- Long beach walks on shingle and along seawalls.
- Birdwatching around marshes and lagoons (seasonal sensitivities apply).
- Photography of lagoons, shingle curves, and big skies.
- Stargazing on clear nights, far from town lights.
