Snape Maltings
From the Maltings car park, turn left onto the B1069 road, and at the junction with a road signposted to Orford, go left on to a broad green track marked ‘footpath’. The track heads towards the marshes at the edge of the river, with Snape Maltings and car park beyond the hedge to your left. The path joins another track coming in from the left, turning parallel to the river, and heading for a thin line of trees, where the path becomes boardwalk, with fields to your right, and reeds lining the river bank to your left. Continue following the Suffolk Coast Path (SCP) markers. Walk along the bottom edge of Iken Cliff picnic site, a sloping field with views across the river. Keep your eyes peeled for some Steps on yhr right with wooden handrails and two SCP signs. Go up these steps, then follow a path between two fences. Turn left on to a sandy track, and after about 100yds (91m), right on to a tarmac road, looking for a footpath sign to the left after another 100yds (91m).
Follow this broad track down to the buildings of a pig farm, bearing left around the buildings and through the car park, then right on to a track heading up a modest hill towards some trees. Carry straight on when you reach the corner of the wood, then go right and then left to take you on to a broad track on the other side of the line of trees. The track goes through a line of trees ahead.
When you get to the other side, take the footpath right, still following the SCP blue discs with yellow arrows. With trees to your right, and a wide expanse of pig enclosures to your left, continue ahead to a road. Cross the road following the SCP signed footpath. Head into the Tunstall Forest to reach a fork in the path after about 100yds (91m). The left path continues with the SCP. Follow the other path. This leads roughly parallel to the road until it crosses a forestry track by a barrier and swings left immediately afterwards. At the first crossroads, which is somewhat oblique, turn right. Then head straight over at all subsequent path crossings.
You eventually arrive at a clearing with some forestry cottages in it. Continue in the same line across the corner of the clearing, crossing a gravel track and taking the wide grassy path to the right of a post bearing the number 30. After 100yds (91m) take the turning off to the left. Go straight on at all crossing paths. After nearly a mile (1.4km), the path crosses a minor road, then shortly after emerges on to the edge of Blaxhall Heath, where you may see some of the long ditches dug during World War II to foil German glider landings. Cross the B1069, and continue straight ahead around a black and yellow forestry gate. The trees are rather younger here, mainly silver birch. The path narrows down, and, at the point where it meets a minor road, turn right and follow the road back to Snape Maltings.
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
- Total units: 1
- Private garden
- Lawn area
- Garden furniture
- Ice pack facility
- BBQ
- Picnic Area
- Shop onsite

