Woodbridge & the Alde Estuary
For a complete guide to the Deben Estuary and its surrounding attractions please go to Visit Woodbridge.
"Wooded banks, sandy beaches and dry landing places. Gently sloping cornfields and lush green marshes, it has no other river to compare it" so wrote W.G Arnott in his book Suffolk Estuary. Its quiet charm has, fortunately never faded.
Suffolk Cottage Holidays have a wonderful selection of self catering cottages throughout the Deben Estuary providing luxury accommodation for anyone interested in sailing, walking, bird watching, beach holidays, horse riding and cycling.
An AONB, heaths, forests, quiet sandy lanes and byways, footpaths and cycle routes offering fantastic views of the estuary and the coast. Remote pebble seashore, low craggy cliffs and sandy estuary beaches makes this an ideal holiday destination for peace and quiet in a beautiful location.
The Deben river rises in Debenham and meanders through unspoilt countryside and past pretty rural villages on its way to the sea. Make time for a visit to Framlingham with its magnificent ancient castle, attractive market square and Meare before travelling back to the coast.
Here you will find some lovely self catering cottages and larger properties at Otley - Hall Farm, Letheringham - Mole End Cottage, Marlesford - Hollyhock Cottage, Lower Ufford - Rose Cottage, Lime Cottage and Potts Cottage and Eyke - Mousehole Cottage, Netherfen and Deben Cottage.
Navigable head of the Deben estuary. Woodbridge, has some great restaurants and superb antique shops and galleries. Its ancient centre retains its Old World charm, the river walks are delightful with views over the river to Sutton Hoo, with its famous Saxon burial mounds. The Tourist Information Centre (close to the railway station with good services to London) has loads of information on the town and the area. Suffolk Cottage holidays have a selection of delightful cottages close to Woodbridge, including Partridge Farmhouse and Partridge Granary in Bredfield and The Granary, Rookery Farm in Hacheston.
From here to the coast (nine miles) are quiet and pretty rural villages, many little altered for centuries. Ramsholt: red crag cliffs, an excellent pub and a medieval round towered church surrounded by the Suffolk Sandlings overlooking the river Deben, strung with moored yachts and bobbing sailing dinghies.
Alderton, pretty terraced cottages, old houses, a fine flint clad church and great views of the sea and estuary - for the larger family or friends get together stay at The Old Rectory. At the road's end at the mouth of the Deben Estuary stands the tiny village of Bawdsey Quay, with panoramic views across the estuary, the sea and the extensive grounds of Bawdsey Manor. A foot and cycle ferry takes the visitor to Felixstowe Ferry (great place for crab fishing), a tiny huddle of fishermen's cottages and a couple of pubs, crab fishing. Cottages on and near the quay include 5 Ferry Road, Quay Cottage and East Lane Cottage. Bala Cottage and Fairhaven are just over the water at Felixstowe Ferry.
