Shotley Peninsula - Things to do
Venture to the tip of the Shotley Peninsula and you can enjoy dramatic views of ocean-bound traffic from two of the world's busiest ports, Felixstowe and Harwich. Venture closer towards Ipswich and you’ll find Alton Water Park – fabulous for lots of water-based recreational activities from sailing to paddle-boarding.
From award-winning food halls to walks through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there’s plenty to see and do in the Shotley Peninsula! Here’s a few of our favourite things to do in this beautiful part of Suffolk:-
- Amble around Shotley Marina at the confluence of the Orwell and Stour. Discover HMS Ganges Museum with its shipping memorabilia and displays on local life, and then refuel at The Shipwreck Pub & Restaurant with its large patio and lawn.
- Take a cookery course at the Suffolk Food Hall at Freston, eat in its award-winning restaurant, or simply shop here for the ingredients for your dinner – there's a bakery, fishmonger's counter, deli, wine & beer merchant, greengrocer, grocery and chocolatier, all under one rustic roof.
- Discover the hamlet of Pin Mill, inspiration for children’s author Arthur Ransome who wrote “Swallows and Amazons” and many other children’s books. For more information on walks around Pin Mill visit our Great Outdoors page.
- Enjoy all or part of the 67km Stour and Orwell coastal walk looping around the peninsula and along the north bank of the Orwell. This walk takes in two of East Anglia's most beautiful estuaries which are both teeming with wildlife.
- Go sailing or windsurfing at Alton Water. This reservoir is also a good spot for birdwatching, walking and cycling, with bike and canoe hire available. If you’re feeling extra energetic and fancy a spot of Wild Swimming, join in the Great Eastern Swim which takes place every June.
- Take a Shotley Peninsula Tour and find out why George Orwell (Eric Blair) took his name from the river and why other writers such as Rudyard Kipling and Arthur Ransome had such a love for the Shotley Peninsula.
- Visit Freston Woods in the springtime to witness amazing displays of flowering bluebells.
- Take the family to Jimmy’s Farm - a fantastic place to visit with the whole family. Run by TV Chef Jimmy Doherty, let the children run loose and discover where their food is grown, how to care for farm animals and how to keep a veggie garden.
