Thorpeness and Sizewell

Thorpeness and Sizewell is a 5.5 mile loop trail located near Thorpeness, Suffolk, England that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and bird watching.

Length5.5 miElevation gain396 ftRoute typeLoop

Description

Waypoints (6)

Getting There

This is a circular walk starting in Thorpeness, with its many interesting and quirky properties, crossing woodland and grazing marshes before reaching Sizewell. This is followed by a relaxing stroll along the Suffolk Coast Path back to Thorpeness. There are two gates along the walk and no stiles. Approx time taken 2.5 hours. Thorpeness was created by Glencairn Stuart Ogilvie who purchased the Sizewell estate in 1910 and transformed the fishing hamlet into a holiday resort with a boating lake (The Meare), a golf course, a country club and several mock Tudor houses, inducing the famous House in the Clouds. The Vulcan public house in Sizewell or the Beach Cafe in the Sizewell car park make excellent half way refreshment stops, whilst the Dolphin public house serves good meals and has a large beer garden.

Start to Mere Cottage

From the car park go up Lakeside Road with The Meare on your left and take the second road on the left, Uplands Road, which is a dirt track. Pass the old windmill on your left and The House in the Clouds on your right. Continue past the Golf Course and then turn right just before Mere Cottage.

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Mere Cottage to Public Footpath

Continue along this way-marked track with the golf course on your right. The path then enters a maintenance area for the golf course where you will need to turn left to join a gravel track that eventually reaches a main road. Cross the road with care and go straight ahead. As the track bends sharply to the right, take the footpath that goes straight ahead.

52.181627, 1.600083

Public Footpath to Second Gate

This path leads to a junction of paths. Go straight on through the gate which is ahead of you and marked Aldringham Walks.(Note: dogs must be on leads through this area). Continue through the bracken and eventually this will lead to a second gate. Go though the gate and turn immediately to the right.

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Second Gate to Beach Cafe

Sizewell power station can now be seen directly ahead, with the distinctive hemispherical dome in the distance. The dome is 65m tall. The fence line is now on your right and an embankment on the left. Keep straight ahead at a junction of wide paths. The track leads to a road. Turn left at the road and then right at the T-junction to take you into the village of Sizewell.

52.194775, 1.600675

Beach Cafe to Cliff Top

From the Beach Cafe cross onto the beach area and then turn right to travel south along the Suffolk Coastal Path. To join the path climb the cliff directly after passing Cliff House, which is the large white house overlooking the cliffs. The path is well marked and gives excellent views of the coast.

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Cliff Top to End

The path goes through a tunnel beneath a staircase leading to Sizewell Hall, which is now a Christian Conference Centre. The path continues for quite a distance and then starts to drop toward the beach. As the path runs out climb the cliff to your right and then turn left along the cliff top to enter Thorpeness via North End Avenue. The Dolphin public house can be found straight ahead.

52.188075, 1.621473

Thorpeness is on the Suffolk Coast 2 miles north of Aldeburgh and at the east end of the B1353. Approximate post code IP16 4NW. Car parking is free on the road around The Meare and there is a car park nearby.

Weather

UV Index

Daylight

Reviews (11)

Photos (66)

Recordings (14)

Completed (33)

Fox Seeker

December 17, 2020

Hiking

View Fox's Recording

peter mack

October 24, 2020

Hiking

View peter's Recording

Les Davies

July 4, 2019

Hiking

First to Review

A little overgrown in places but a nice easy stroll. Heather starting to look very pretty. Route very easy to follow. At the start views of the old windmill and House in the Clouds. Able to park close to Uplands Rd at the beginning but we may have got lucky. Nice sea breeze on the coast path back to Thorpeness. Followed by fish and chips in Aldeburgh and a pint of Adnams.