16th May - The Sailor's Path, Snape to Aldeburgh, Suffolk

We met with Friends today and decided to walk from our cottage to Aldeburgh.  Fortunately the footpath was just across the road from Snape Hall where we were staying, the footpath would pick up the Sailor's Path. The Sailors’ Path follows a beautiful route between Snape Maltings and Aldeburgh. The Path is named because sailors would walk the path between Aldeburgh and Snape.

We were not visiting the Snape Maltings, but have been there before.  Snape Maltings rises above its surroundings like a great ship. Local businessman Newson Garrett built the Maltings in stages from 1846. The railway arrived in 1859 ensuring that the Maltings remained a viable business until it closed in 1965.  They are now an antiques and craft centre, plus a concert hall.

Having picked up the Sailor's Path it wound through farmland on a sandy path and then into oak and pine woodland.  A Jay, normally a shy bird, appeared on the fence close by.

The path continued through the woodland with singing Blackcap and Chiffchaff.  There was a section of boardwalk as we passed over streams, eventually coming out into the open at Hazelwood Marshes.

The River Alde has one of the most beautiful estuaries on the east coast. The river flows through wide marshes and low hills under a huge Suffolk sky. In the past, barges transported goods to and from Snape Maltings. The barges moored at Snape today are used for pleasure trips.

The tide was rising and there were a few waders on the mud.  This Redshank in breeding plumage.

And a few Oystercatcher.

Further away a pair of Avocet were engaged in their mating display.

After the detour to look at the marshes we returned to the path and walked past two singing Nightingale which were a surprise.

The path eventually reached the main road into Aldeburgh at the golf course and you then walk along a pavement past some very large houses finally coming into Aldeburgh's High Street.

We walked to the sea front and found somewhere to have fish and chips, after which we walked along the front and beach.

The coastal town of Aldeburgh is a popular place for holidays. In medieval times, the town had a successful shipbuilding industry. Fishing has also played an important role in the town’s economy. Aldeburgh still has a small fishing fleet and fresh fish can be bought from huts on the beach.

The coastal town of Aldeburgh is a popular place for holidays. In medieval times, the town had a successful shipbuilding industry. Fishing has also played an important role in the town’s economy. Aldeburgh still has a small fishing fleet and fresh fish can be bought from huts on the beach.

Herring Gulls patrolled the beach always on the look out for an easy meal.

At the northern end of the town's sea fron there were public toilets and for some reason the building was perfect for Swallows, that could be seen flying around the buildings and call all the time either in the air of actually on the building.

They clearly breed here and the birds were paired up and chattering away to each other.

Sitting together on the roof tops

So of course there was the chance to catch them in the air, but this was the best I could do.

We opted to avoid the walk back and instead managed to get a taxi.  The weather had been good to us on what was a lovely opportunity to catch up with friends.