The Sailors Path

One of the finest Suffolk walks is the Sailor’s Path, which wends its way through the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Legend has it that this six-mile leg-stretcher was first trod by the seamen who used to ply their trade along this part of the coast – when their boats got stuck in the Snape Maltings mud at low tide, the sailors would abandon their craft and head back to their Aldeburgh homes on foot. Unfortunately for them, gangs of smugglers also used the path and would attack anyone suspected of spying on them.
Like many Suffolk walks, the Sailor’s Path forms part of the Suffolk Coast Path, a 50-mile route stretching from Felixstowe to Lowestoft. The Sailor’s Path follows the meandering course of the River Alde, one of the most beautiful estuaries on the east coast, and was reopened in December 2012 after a major restoration and upgrading project. Walking it should take between three and four hours and highlights include Snape Marshes, a vital wildlife habitat containing reedbeds, wet woodland and marshland where there are freshwater dykes which are home to an otter population and a variety of plants and insects. Another must-see for wildlife-lovers is the Snape Warren Nature Reserve.
Managed by the RSPB, it provides a habitat for many birds including woodlark, yellowhammer and the elusive nightjar.