Visitors to this lovely town wishing to see the Nature Reserve have to catch a ferry from Orford Quay.
The reserve is the largest of its kind in Europe, it is an important area for both breeding and passage birds, offering a wide variety of habitations which include brackish lagoons and marsh grazing. But is beautiful wildlife oasis was not always the contented place it appears today. From the early part of the 20th-century right up until 1980, this area which is one of the largest shingle spits in the country, was a secret military test site.
On the spit visitors can search out a variety of shingle plants such as sea kale, yellow horned poppies, and the purple sea pea. Beside the river the mud flats provide an important feeding area for roosting wildfowl and waders. Both sea purslane and sea lavender grow in wild abandon all over the mud flats.
This is a spectacular region for exploring wildlife. Havergate Island, notorious in the 17th and 18th-centuries for smuggling, and with associations with World War II when it was used for ballistic experiments, is today famed as a breeding site for Avocets.
The reserve is of international importance, it is a wonderful place which is of interest to everyone no matter what age. It is in the care of the National Trust and is one of Suffolk's most visited tourist attractions
a Seaside Town in the county of Suffolk
(0.1 miles, 0.2 km)Orford retains a tranquil atmosphere, it is ideal for people wishing for a relaxing time just messing around in boats, crabbing, walking, bird-watching, or just to sit, soak up the peaceful charm of the place whilst enjoying wonderful views...
a Seaside Town in the county of Suffolk
(5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction NE)Aldeburgh is a seaside retreat with boundless charm. The history of the resort quite possibly reaches back to Saxon times, certainly during the Middle Ages it was a prosperous port and later it became known as a fishing centre...
a Seaside Town in the county of Suffolk
(5.4 miles, 8.7 km, direction N)Snape is not simply unique for its beautiful location at the head of the River Alde, it is also unique as a village with an international reputation for music...
in the county of Suffolk
(7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction NE)Thorpeness's quaint village sign gives the visitor some hint of the surprises to come, it depicts the House in the Clouds and Windmill, for which the village is most noted...
in the county of Essex
(16.0 miles, 25.7 km, direction SW)The great seafarers of centuries have left the shores of England, these include Raleigh, Drake, Frobisher and Admiral Lord Nelson, all of whom brought glory for England...
All towns in Suffolk
Orford Castle stands guard over the coast from a high vantage position above the River Alde. It was built by Henry II in the.....
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Sutton Hoo can be found amongst the marshy creeks and reedy rivers of Suffolk. It is perhaps most famous as the setting of one.....
These are the evocative remains of an abbey founded when the order of the land was God first, followed by King and country. The.....
On reaching the curve of Market Hill a quaint, colourful sign proclaims to the visitor that you have arrived in the pretty market.....
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