Walks from Beccles

Part of the Angles Way along the River Waveney from the lovely country town of Beccles, with panoramas across the Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Castle Marshes and Carlton Marshes reserves to the open water of Oulton Broad.

2 highlights: St Michael's Church, Beccles and Beccles itself

Lunch: The Waveney Inn (reached via foot ferry) and the Ivy House Country Hotel; plenty of choice at Beccles and Oulton Broad.

1 end-of-walk reward: the Ivy House Country Hotel

Walk details: East Suffolk Lines (PDF).

Through the green parklands surrounding Redisham Hall — country of the East Anglian writer Adrian Bell, who farmed nearby in the 1940s — a delightful interlude in a predominantly arable landscape, with a riverside finish on the Waveney at Beccles.

2 highlights: Redisham and Beccles

Lunch: No pubs or shops directly on the route (the Horseshoes Inn at Ringsfield Corner is about ¼ mile off route) — carry food and drink.

1 end-of-walk reward: Beccles Station Café

Warnings: Cattle often graze the Redisham Hall meadows — keep dogs under close control; cross the busy B1062 with care.

Walk details: East Suffolk Lines (PDF).

A largely flat and easy walk on the Angles Way and local paths, on paved and unpaved footpaths winding along the river and grazing marsh, then through boatyards into Lowestoft. Wide paths for the most part; muddy and slippy in winter, a bit exposed to the elements and with a few kissing gates but no stiles. Follows the established Angles Way from Beccles to Oulton Broad. Passes the Carlton Marshes nature reserve with bird hides and abundant wildlife (great egrets, little egrets, geese and ducks). Public toilets by the boatyard in Beccles. Bus and train to each end.

Lunch: Little until the Carlton Marshes visitor centre, after which there are many pubs, cafes and hotels.

Warnings: The riverside path is exposed to the elements, so dress accordingly; the path past the boatyards in Oulton Broad can be wet with the tide.

Walk details: Slow Ways.