A Walk around Orford.

Without doubt a really delightful and fascinating village, Orford has retained almost all its historic charm, despite its failing fortunes over the centuries and some not terribly attractive house building over the last twenty years.

Christmas 2007 is now over and yes, despite all my fears, it was a good Christmas. We spent time with family and friends, no one argued, the turkey was delicious and the cat wasn't sick! What more could I ask for?

Well........, it sounds terribly indulgent I know, but actually I could do with a quiet and peaceful holiday away from everyone. Long walks, bracing sea air, not too much to eat and somewhere cosy where I can curl up and read all those wonderful books I was given for Christmas.

December is the one time of the year when I am likely to go into major depression. Minor signs appear towards the end of September as the supermarket shelves fill with Christmas cards and garishly painted boxes of chocolate biscuits. By the end of October my mood, like the days, gets darker as mince pies, Christmas nuts and wreaths of holly are added to those yawning Christmas shelves.

By now I am dreading the phone ringing and those inevitable words: “Have you any plans for Christmas?” or worse still “It would be nice to see you over Christmas”. Urghhhhhhhhhh!

December is the one time of the year when I am likely to go into major depression. Minor signs appear towards the end of September as the supermarket shelves fill with Christmas cards and garishly painted boxes of chocolate biscuits. By the end of October my mood, like the days, gets darker as mince pies, Christmas nuts and wreaths of holly are added to those yawning Christmas shelves.

By now I am dreading the phone ringing and those inevitable words: “Have you any plans for Christmas?” or worse still “It would be nice to see you over Christmas”. Urghhhhhhhhhh!

A single row of assorted cottages stands sentinel against the ravages of the North Sea whose wild and wondrous waves crash relentlessly against the shifting shingle bank. Here the Alde and Ore estuary reaches the sea, its eastern bank a narrow shingle spit running northwards past Orford to Aldeburgh.

Not the top destination on the Suffolk Coast, probably as there is no beach - but Orford is certainly the 'most charming and interesting.' Orford Quay is a fascinating, and quite busy, focal point for sailors, fishermen and boat trips. Today there is a fine fresh fish stall, a tea rooms with a lovely verandah giving super river views and a jetty from which one can take excellent river and coastal trips on the Lady Florence.

The Alde Estuary is one of the most attractive estuaries in the country. From Aldeburgh it meanders close to the coast past Shingle Street and Orford, finally reaching the maltings at Snape where there is now a fine international concert hall. From Snape to Aldeburgh is a Sailors Path and walking along here today you realise just how remote and quiet stretches of the river bank can be - a great spot to land contraband.

Below is an extract from Smuggling in the British Isles: a History by Richard Platt. For more detail visit his website www.smuggling.co.uk

From Snape take the B1069 towards Woodbridge and Orford, passing the Snape Maltings on your left. At the next road junction take the left fork B1084 to Sudbourne and Orford. Follow the road through Orford to the Quay.

Reached by boat from Orford Quay on the Ore estuary, Havergate Island is an RSPB reserve and Suffolk's only island. Just two miles long and half a mile across at its widest point the island is sheltered from the North Sea by the long shingle spit of Orford Ness.

Orford Lighthouse
Orford Ness Lighthouse, in Suffolk, is situated at the end of a 13 mile shingle spit which runs parallel to the Suffolk coast between Aldeburgh and Orford. Constructed to give a light range of around 20 miles, the present lighthouse – known as the great light - was built in 1792 by Lord Braybrooke of Audley End, and in 1965 became the first automated lighthouse in mainland Britain.

One of the most attractive coastal towns (although the size of a village)on the East coast, Orford has a long and fascinating history. Most visitors include a visit to the church and Orford Castle - from which there are breathtaking views across Orford, the estuary, Orford Ness and the sea - but give yourself time to walk down its tiny lanes and explore the river path to the south to the Butley river or north towards Aldeburgh.
If the weather is good then a boat trip is not to be missed. The views of the town from the water are simply stunning.