Walking Holidays and Outdoor Adventures in the Suffolk Coast & Heaths National Landscape (AONB)

Estuaries, Heathland, and Sea Air Along the Suffolk Shore

Where shingle beaches meet tidal creeks, and forest trails wind through salt-scented landscapes of wild beauty.

The Suffolk Coast & Heaths National Landscape is one of England’s most peaceful and ecologically rich walking regions — perfect for self-guided walking holidays and outdoor adventures. Stretching from Lowestoft in the north to the Stour Estuary in the south, it brings together wide beaches, saltmarshes, low cliffs, ancient woodland, and windswept heathland.

Here, long-distance trails like the Suffolk Coast Path and the Sandlings Walk link coastal gems such as Southwold, Aldeburgh, Dunwich, and Orford. Inland, forests and river valleys provide quieter walking, with estuary views and abundant wildlife around every turn.

Close to coastal towns and villages, the landscape is framed by big skies and shingle shores, while inland paths explore pinewoods and heaths alive with birds and deer. You might hear bitterns in the reedbeds at Minsmere, glimpse seals basking on the beaches, or pass estuary creeks where fishing boats still sway on the tide.

Where to Walk in the Suffolk Coast & Heaths

Suffolk Coast Path
A 60-mile trail tracing the shoreline from Felixstowe to Lowestoft, passing through coastal towns and villages with views across beaches, cliffs, and marshland.

Sandlings Walk
Running inland from Ipswich to Southwold, this route crosses ancient heaths and conifer woods, rich in wildlife and history.

Stour and Orwell Walk
A riverside trail following both estuaries, connecting waterside villages, wooded banks, and saltmarsh fringes from Felixstowe Ferry to Cattawade.

Dunwich Heath & Minsmere
One of Suffolk’s most iconic landscapes — heathland that glows purple in late summer, rolling bronze in autumn, and reedbeds alive with birdlife year-round.

Short Circular Walks and Forest Trails
From open heaths near Sutton and Hollesley to forest paths in Rendlesham, there are plenty of shorter routes for half-day outings.

Adventure Highlights

• Wildlife-rich coast with seals, bitterns, and marsh harriers.
• Estuary walks along the Alde, Blyth, Deben, Orwell, and Stour rivers.
• Quiet towns and villages like Southwold, Aldeburgh, Walberswick, and Orford.
• A mix of beach, woodland, marsh, and heathland.
• Good rail links to Lowestoft, Saxmundham, and Woodbridge for car-free travel.
• Ideal for self-guided walking holidays, birdwatching breaks, and slow adventures.