The Great Outdoors Around Southwold
If you love the outdoor life, then a holiday in the Southwold area is a perfect choice, and a self-catering holiday cottage is an ideal base for exploring the town, surrounding countryside and villages. From walking to cycling, bird-watching to beachcombing, golf to paddle-boarding this stretch of the Suffolk Coast offers a wealth of outdoor experiences.
Walking in and around Southwold
Southwold is located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is surrounded by miles of heritage coast. Whether you’re an energetic rambler or simply prefer a relaxed stroll, the Southwold area will not disappoint with its network of short and long distance coastal trails. Our favourite Southwold walks start The Old Water Tower on Southwold Common. There are several circular walks that can be done from here. If you ever need any advice on where to walk then pop into our office at Southwold Market Place. To help you plan some of your outdoor holiday activities, we’ve listed a few more recommended walks and resources below;
- Southwold Pub Walk
- Southwold Explorer Map
- Walberswick Explorer Map
- Angels & Pinnacles Heritage Trail
Cycling in and around Southwold
Getting on a bike is a great way to explore the area and bikes are available to hire in the town. (We do recommend that you book in advance.) For a leisurely ride with the family, we suggest a trip across the bridge to Walberswick. If little legs get tired you can bring bikes back across the river on the rowboat ferry that runs throughout the summer.For the more serious cyclists who wish to follow in the cycle tracks of the Aviva Women’s Tour why not take the National Cycle Network route from Southwold to Beccles, a delightful market town on the Suffolk/Norfolk border and situated on the River Waveney, or head towards Wrentham and explore the unspoilt countryside around Covehithe and Benacre.If you’re bringing your bikes with you and have any queries about safe storage whilst you’re here, why not give us a call on 01502 722717. Being a local team we know our holiday cottages well and can advise you on facilities available including enclosed gardens, sheds and garages.
Bird Watching and Nature Reserves around Southwold
For lovers of “all things bright and beautiful”, Southwold has several local wildlife reserves nearby that will keep the most dedicated ‘twitcher’ happy. Walberswick National Nature Reserve (NNR) is a truly beautiful place to visit and is home to a huge variety of insects, birds and butterflies. Other local reserves include the Hen Reedbeds and Reydon Woods. Reydon Woods - an ancient woodland – is a wonderful habitat for an abundance of birds, creatures and wildflowers. It also offers fabulous displays of bluebells every springtime.
Time for a Round of Golf?
Southwold Common has been home to Southwold Golf Club since 1884. This tricky 9-hole golf course is well laid out with some challenging ravines, dog-legs and slopes, not to mention the abundance of gorse bushes. If you’re an experienced golfer, you’ll thoroughly enjoy a round on this course. The greens are beautifully maintained and the views are just wonderful. After your round enjoys tea and cake overlooking the final green or perhaps something a little stronger!
Something More Active?
For those that crave something to get the adrenaline flowing, how about a surfing lesson or a go at paddle boarding? Surfwold is a fairly recent addition to Southwold and can be found on Ferry Lane, at the Southwold Campsite. Take a one-off surf lesson with the family to experience the thrill of catching your first wave, or perhaps take a course of lessons, the choice is yours.
