Walk from Snape to Westleton via Dunwich: Suffolk Coast Path Day 4

I was really exited about today’s walk from Snape to Dunwich and Westleton for two reasons. One, I would be back at the sea. It’s been nearly two days since I’ve seen it. Ironic for a coast path walk. Plus it was very hot and I was desperate to get in the water. Two, I would see some heather. The heather isn’t part of the coast path walk, so I would be taking a detour to Westleton especially to see it. And trust me, it’s worth it.

Looking along the long sandy beach with cliffs to the left and sea to the right, on the walk from Snape to Dunwich.

A pink heather filled meadow on the walk from Dunwich to Westleton. There is a lone tree in the middle with a thin white trunk and branches pointing upwards, with green leaves.

What to expect on the walk from Snape to Dunwich and Westleton

Out of Snape, it’s a bit of woodland, and bit of road to reach Aldeburgh. Here you have some lovely colourful houses along the coast. They are on the other end of the beach from where you arrive. I was too lazy to walk over there, but I know they are nice because I’ve seen pictures online. There is a smoked fish hut here which I highly recommend. It has the best hot smoked salmon I’ve ever had.

A road junction in Aldeburgh, with pastel blue and cream houses on the other side of the road.

You then follow the coast, either on the shingle beach or grassy area next to it, to reach Thorpness which is a small seaside village.

A wide trail through the meadow, leading towards a cream walled house with res roof, on the walk from Snape to Dunwich.

Continuing on, it’s now either fully shingle beach, or hill top. I chose the hill top, which you walk through the village to get to.

A strip of sand trail, leading towards some bushes, with the sandy beach and blue sea below to the right.

Eventually it’s back onto the beach where you remain for the rest of the walk to Dunwich. At first you can choose not to walk on the shingle, but eventually it wins. I must say though, by that point the scenery was wonderful. Walking below a cliff, with patches of purple heather in parts.

A cliff face on the other side of the shingle beach, with pink and purple heather bushes, on the walk from Snape to Dunwich.

A green bush covered cliff, running alongside a shingle beach, on the walk from Snape to Dunwich.

When you reach Dunwich, you only know you have arrived because it’s where the cliff ends, and there are some black huts.

Looking up the shingle beach to some black huts next to a wooden fence. There are green bushes on the other side of the fence, with a rooftop poking out the top.

To get to Westleton, it’s on dirt trail first with masses of fern and some woodland to reach Westleton Heath, where the magic happens. A long walking path surrounded by masses of purple heather. Bare in mind, this is time of year dependant. I’d specifically chosen to do this walk in early August to catch the heather in bloom.

A mass of bushes in green, and pink, with some yellow flowers, on the walk from Dunwich to Westleton.

A long straight path running through the middle of a pink heather filled meadow, on the walk from Dunwich to Westleton.

Logistics

Start: Snape, Suffolk.
Finish: Dunwich or Westleton, Suffolk.
Distance: 15.5 Miles to Dunwich +3 miles to Westleton.
Time: 5h (+1h to Westleton).
Difficulty: Easy terrain, moderate due to length.
Time of year: I walked from Snape to Dunwich in early August.

Read the previous day here: Orford to Snape Day 3

Amenities

In Snape there is Snape Maltings which has a deli and cafe.

In Aldeburgh you have Ash Smoked fishes, which is a little shack by the beach, which sells smoked fish to go. I bought 2 salmon fillets and smoked salmon on bun, which were delicious. You also have the Aldeburgh fish and chips shop which is said to have the best fish and chips in the world.

In Dunwich is the Flora Tea rooms by the beach. In Westleton there is the Westleton Crown which has a pub, and a tea room.

Public transport

Nothing in Dunwich or Westleton. In Snape there is the Katch bus which runs to Wickham Market station.

Accommodation

In Snape is stayed in the Golden Key Inn. Very nice large room. Be aware that check in is until 3pm. Or when the pub opens again for the evening.

In Dunwich, when I was doing the walk, the cheapest was £600 per night. I’ve had another look since, and there are more affordable options. Just not when I did it. You have for example, the Ship. It’s a bed and breakfast pub.

I stayed in Westleton at the Westleton Crown. This was a gifted stay, but I highly recommend it. Food was fantastic, and room was very very nice. I even had my own little balcony.

Map for the walk from Snape to Dunwich

Map for the walk from Dunwich to Westleton

Route Description: How to walk from Snape to Dunwich and Westleton Heath

The coast path picks up again at Snape Maltings, next to the bridge.

So I headed off, on a pleasant trail, and very soon was into the woods.

Green meadows, with a village on the other side, when walking out of Snape.

A narrow trail along a ridge, surround by meadows, with a river to the right.

A dirt trail leading through woodland filled with green leafy trees and bushes.

For a while now it’s woodland, which I was happy with, as the sun was already pretty fierce. However, upon arrival, a horsefly landed on my camera. I shooed it off, and continued the walk waving my arms around in an attempt to stop him coming back for me.

Out of the woods, take a right, then at the curve in the road, take the left onto the track. It’s easy navigating, following either the signs for Aldeburgh or the Suffolk Coast Path.

A wooden trail sign pointing right for Aldeburgh, and left for Snape.

After a bit more woods, and out of woods, I took the right at the split, which led me to the road.

A narrow trail surrounded by green leafy bushes, on the walk from Snape to Dunwich.

A wooden walkway surrounded by greenery.

A dusty trail split, with two people walking on the right trail. — I took this right

Unfortunately it’s now road the rest of the way to Aldebough. Fortunately it doesn’t go on for too long.

Aldeburgh

As I arrived, the first thing I noticed was the cute buildings. But they weren’t that important to me right now, and I headed straight for the beach for a swim.

An old brick and stone building on the side of the road in Aldeburgh.

A red fishing boat, yellow plough, and other stinging items sitting on the shingle beach in Aldeburgh.

In the water, I noticed some cute colourful buildings on the other end of the beach. So the plan was to head over there to check them out.

I didn’t make it far before I decided I couldn’t be bothered and went and bought some smoked fish instead.

I started out with the smoked salmon and cream cheese on bun, but then realised I was more hungry than that, so picked out a smoked salmon fillet as well. It was so delicious that I had to buy another, and put it into my empty thermos flask to keep it fresh for later.

Walk to Thorpness

The next village along is Thorpness. At first there is a nice path to follow, which made me very happy that I didnt have to walk on the shingle. This doesn’t last though.

A blue Suffolk coast path disc on a wooden post, on the walk from Snape to Dunwich. It has a yellow arrow pointing ahead along the path.

A shingle beach leading ahead, with a green bush and grass covered small hill to the left, and blue sea to the right.

Trudging across the shingle, I actually almost missed Thorpness. Lucky I checked my map when I did.

I popped in to wander down the streets with nice houses, then picked up what was a delicious coffee from The Kitchen, then headed back on my way. I completely forgot to take any photos. Sorry.

To get back onto the coast path, I wanted to avoid the shingle so walked through the village to find a different trail. It’s a good one, so I recommend it.

To get there, follow Church road, then at the end, turn right then left. Now just follow this all the way and you will reach the trail.

Follow the coast

It starts out as a mix of open fields, and narrow passage between big bushes, then you will be led down a very enclosed bush tunnel space to reach the hill top trail.

A trail snaking ahead through the meadow with yellow and green grass.

A narrow trail leading through the green bracken.

A wide trail leading straight ahead through the meadow with yellow grass.

It was particularly satisfying, seeing the shingle below and knowing I made the correct decision to come this way.

At some point you will walk under a bridge type thing which is basically under someone’s steps. It felt very dungeon like.

The trail will soon lead your back down to the beach. For a while, I stayed on the trail away from it. Avoiding shingle walking at all costs. This meant I had to deal with lots of tight bush spaces. Eventually I gave up and headed onto the beach. Which actually wasn’t bad. There is a non shingle trail you can walk on.

A barely visible narrow trail leading through the green bracken.

Various fishing items siting on the grass next to the beach, with the blue sea ahead.

A wide dirt road snaking ahead, surrounded by tall yellow grass.

There is a section further along where I was presented with three options. Shingle beach, narrow navigating through scratchy bushes, or sandy trail. The sandy trail I felt was the lesser of three evils, so I took that.

A sandy path snaking ahead, surrounded by tall yellow grass.

A gravel path leading ahead, with some stone blocks to the right.

Walk to Dunwich

The shingle eventually won though, and I was led back onto it. It’s now a very very long stretch of shingle to reach Dunwich. If the tide is out, some hard sand is revealed. Lucky for me, the tide was out.

A wide shingle beach leading ahead, with green bush covered hills ahead to the left, and blue sea to the right.

This section of the walk I found pretty breathtaking. Long long beach, with cliffs to the left, in parts covered in purple heather.

You will know you are in Dunwich when the cliffs end.

I would now be leaving the coast path to head to Westleton. Before doing that though, I took one more dip in the sea. It was quite rough here, so I stayed close to shore.

Walk to Westleton Heath

From the beach, head up the road road and walk around the cafe to the left. Follow the road, then turn right at the junction. You are now on Sandy Lane.

At the next junction, the is a trail ahead to the right. There is a Suffolk Coast path sign on it pointing right. This is for tomorrow. For Westleton Heath, stay straight.

A wooden trail sign in front of a bush, with a trail to the left. — Stay straight here

It’s now super simple, just following the trail, staying straight at any junction. It’s a mix of masses of fern and woodland, and felt very jungle like at times, before reaching Westleton Heath.

A wide trail surrounded by green leafy bushes.

A narrow trail surrounded by green bracken, on the walk from Dunwich to Westleton.

Then you have a long straight trail surrounded by all the purple goodness.

A mass of yellow grass, pink and purple heather, and green bushes, on the walk from Dunwich to Westleton.

My feet were really feeling it by this point, but it’s been so many years since I’ve seen heather. This made it all worth it.

Walk to Westleton

When you reach the road, you have two options. A trail on the right side, next to it. Or the road.

A narrow trail leading through the green bushes.

A road leading ahead, lined with green leafy bushes and trees on both sides.

The trail looked dense and scratchy, so I chose the road. There is no pavement, but the road is long and straight so I could see any oncoming traffic. Partway along, there was an opening where I could see the trail and it didn’t look scratchy at all, plus there was more heather. So I got myself onto it.

This was false though, as a short way along the scratchyness started to happen so I got back onto the road.

Up ahead, there is a side road on the left. Staying straight on the main road will lead to Westleton, but it looked more narrow and country lane type, so I decided to take the left. Left is a longer route, but it felt safer.

Further along you can take a path on the right with a Kings Farm Sign. This is a proper path with more heather that will lead you into Westleton.