Walk 1648 - printer friendly version

Church End & Erwarton from Shotley Gate Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 6.0 miles / 9.8 km

Ascent - 200 feet / 61 metres

Grade - easy

Start - OS grid reference TM245336
Lat 51.9555440 + Long 1.2658692
Postcode IP9 1PZ (approx. location only)

This Suffolk walk starts from Shotley Gate at the confluence of the Stour and Orwell rivers. The route offers and interesting insight into the operation of the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich together with a lengthy section of the Stour and Orwell Walk. The route also ventures inland to Church End and passes Erwarton Hall.

The start is the seafront in Shotley Gate (grid ref. TM245336) or as near as you get if parking is problematic. At Shotley Pier face the sea and turn left passing a Martello Tower on your left, Continue past the marina keeping to the shoreline of the River Orwell. With Shotley Marshes on your left walk north ignoring the footpath on the left to Over Hall. Continue north to the next junction at Crane's Hill (grid ref. TM245360) where you leave the Stour and Orwell Walk and head inland along a track.

Reaching a junction of tracks, go left towards the church at Church End. At the crossroads in the centre of the village go straight ahead down a minor road (Shotley Walk) to reach Shotley Hall. Turn left down a track opposite the Hall to take the first footpath on the right. Initially the field boundary is on your left but the path switches to the other side of the boundary and continues to a road (B1456).

Bear left along the road to a junction. Cross the road and take the minor road (Erwarton Walk) to a T-junction close to Erwarton Hall. Turn left and then immediately after Erwarton Hall Farm turn right down a track. You are now on another section of the Stour and Orwell Walk. Continue passing a reservoir on your right to reach a junction of tracks. The Stour and Orwell Walk goes left here. You turn right and right again (grid ref. TM224347) following a track down to the River Stour near Waterhouse Creek. Turn left along the shoreline path and continue past Rose Farm Cottages. The path leads back to the pier at Shotley Gate.

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