Especially enjoyable on a warm summer’s day, this fantastic Suffolk coastal route makes for a great day out – including 2 places plus a ferry ride to experience.

Get off the number 173 bus or park at the Pay & Display car park on Cliff Road.

With car park on your right-hand side, continue towards the beach and follow for around 1.5 miles. Along the way you’ll pass the Felixstowe Ferry Golf Club and 2 Martello towers, plus you’ll also already be able to catch a glimpse of beautiful Bawdsey Manor in the distance. You’ll then arrive at the Ferry Boat Inn, where you can choose from a menu of delicious food (including locally caught, fresh fish) and have a well-deserved drink. A wine and ale costs around £7. We sat in the garden, that provides shelter from the cool sea breeze, and had the pleasure of a small bird frequently come to see us – think he was after some lunch too!

Go down Ferry Road until you reach the ferry crossing to Bawdsey. Ferry costs £5 return – dogs get on for free. Whilst waiting, you’ll probably see small and ‘big kids’ alike, having a friendly competition as to who can catch the biggest crab. My puppy had great fun trying to steal the bacon they were using as bait!

Once at Bawdsey, grab an ice-cream or just turn right and explore the shingle beach beyond. Be aware of the tide, however, as it comes in fast and you may end up stranded! The sea creates pools around the beach – here my puppy had his first swimming lesson. You’ll also have lovely views back across River Deben to Old Felixstowe whilst watching the boats of all shapes and sizes come and go. If you’re lucky, like I was, on a quiet day you may even get a bit of coast all to yourself to sit and soak up the sun or enjoy a peaceful picnic.

What you can do next:

1) Head back to the ferry landing – ask captain about times/last return trip

2) Savour some homemade food at The Boathouse Café, The Quay, Bawdsey

3) Try sailing, kayaking or power-boating at Bawdsey Quay Watersports

This 5-mile circular route on the Suffolk coast provides the best of both worlds – beach and countryside. It takes around 2 hours (when walking non-stop) however, as both Aldeburgh and Thorpeness are so charming, we tend to make a whole day of it to make sure we get to enjoy what each has to offer.

Start at the main car park in Aldeburgh, which is located at the end of Slaughden Road, off of the High Street. Here you can head straight down on to the beach (which is a very pebbled one, so it’s wise to wear hardy shoes!). Also, check the Suffolk Tourist guide website before you go to find out about dog restrictions.

Basically, all you do now is follow the coast for around 2 miles until you reach the wooden ramp marked on the map. This will take you into Thorpeness.

Make your way around the Meare boating lake, head down Lakeside Avenue, turn right into The Uplands and then you’ll find a small path to take you to the impressive House in the Clouds (incorrectly located by Google) and original Thorpeness Mill.

With the Mill on your left, head down the path until you reach the golf club. On the right-hand side of the main building, you’ll see a public footpath sign. This is the start of the return journey through lovely countryside – initially running alongside the golf course and is parallel to the beach.

As with the coastal part, it’s a case of just following the small paths provided. Along the way it’s possible to see deer, rabbits, horses and a variety of birds. This is due to the tranquil nature reserves that are present either side.

Once you reach a holiday home park, keep following the public footpath signs and make your way to Victoria Road. This is the main road that leads back to Aldeburgh’s High Street. Located in Crabbe Street and backing on to the seafront is The Cross Keys Inn. They serve both food and drinks – a wine and ale costs about £7. They’re dog-friendly too so everyone can have a rest after a long stroll!

What you can do next:

1) Grab yourself some fresh fish ‘n’ chips – they are delicious on the coast!

2) Treat yourself to a mini break – we hired a fantastic dog-friendly cottage

3) Time a visit to co-inside with the many festivals (www.aldeburgh.co.uk)

Hilly Fields is a local ‘jewel in the crown’ nature reserve, nestled just outside the town centre. It offers walks-within-walks depending on how much time you have or how far you want to go. On average the longest is around 2 miles but you can twist and turn, go in and out, to make it longer/shorter.

It’s easily accessible by foot if you’re already in Colchester or parking is available in Sussex Road, off Lexden Road (5 mins from A12). Here’s the start of the main walk. Turn left to begin.

A circular route, it includes a combination of woodland areas and fields – so great for both on and off the lead exercise for dogs. Wildlife is abundant – you’ll see rabbits, birds, squirrels and, if you’re lucky, a deer or two.

In the top field, that overlooks Colchester, you’ll find a section of round, open grassland with a pathway. Dotted around this there’s historical information signs for your interest.

Make your way down to the lower field and, with Colchester Institute on your left-hand side, aim towards the Balkerne Lane exit (indicated with an arrow). Head up the path to Popes Lane then turn right onto Rawstorn Road. Follow this road right to the bottom, turn right onto Crouch Street then just a 30 second walk and you’ve arrived at The Hospital Arms.

This dog-welcoming pub is a huge favourite of ours (well it is our local!) with extremely friendly staff and management (Ros the lovely landlady is a massive dog-lover and owner herself). A wine plus an ale costs around £7. Food here is delicious and it’s a great place to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon!

To return to the car, walk down Lexden Road and turn right back into Sussex Road.

What you can do next:

1) Why not head into town? Just take the Balkerne Lane exit, go up the path, turn left down Popes Lane and go over the bridge. Here you will see remains of the earliest Roman gateway in Britain (Colchester Castle is situated at the bottom of the High Street/top of East Hill).

This circular walk is another regular favourite – perfect for both summer-time picnics and fresh winter strolls. 

You can either take either the 87 or 247 bus from Colchester Bus Station or utilise one of two free parking areas if you’d rather drive (5 minutes off A12).

Once you’ve arrived in Dedham, head to the start of walk, located over the bridge on Dedham Road (at the end of Mill Lane) – indicated by the ‘public footpath to E. Bergholt & Flatford sign’. This is slap-bang on the Essex/Suffolk border!

Upon entering ‘Constable Country’ there’s ample space for dogs to run free. 

You will notice the Boathouse restaurant on your right-hand side. Follow the river Stour for about 0.2 miles then steer left across the field until you reach the Dedham Vale sign. Go through the metal gate and follow the tree-lined path.

At the end, turn right and head over the ‘half-way bridge’. Turn right again and follow river until you reach another gate leading to the next field. Cut right through the middle of this and follow the clear paths where you will eventually pass both commercial and quintessential residential properties. Dogs should be put back on lead here as busy Brook Street is straight ahead!

Make your way down Brook Street in front of you. You will then reach the Mill Lane/High Street crossroads where the quaint Essex Rose Tea Room is located.

Carry on down the High Street and the Sun Inn awaits.  This dog-friendly coaching inn is a traditional, comfortable place to enjoy modern British meets Italian influenced food and your favourite drinks. There are open fires to keep you cosy in the winter and a garden for summer soirees. A glass of wine plus pint of ale costs £7/8. It also has five guest rooms with a luxury, boutique feel if you wish to stay the night. 

What you can do next:

1) From March to September you can hire a rowing boat from the Boathouse for £6 per 30 minutes. Weather permitting, the last boat out is at 4.30pm.

2) Turn left once over the ‘half-way bridge’ to extend your walk for another hour round-trip to pretty Flatford – the location for some of John Constable’s most famous pastoral paintings.  Small café is available.

3) Last return buses from Dedham’s Marlborough Head are: Monday-Friday, 4.53pm (bus 87A) and Saturday, 5.03pm (bus 247). Check Sunday services with bus operator before travel.

This is a regular walk for us! It’s worth the effort to get there…you’ll enjoy peace and quiet and be surrounded by nature - all to yourself!

Take bus 61 from Colchester bus station until you reach Whitehall Road (around 15 minutes).

With the bus on your right, walk down Whitehall Road until you see a sign for King Edward Quay.

Turn right and head down Haven Road where you will come across some derelict garages/lock-ups. Go between or around them (think there is a pedestrian diversion at the moment) and carry on down the narrow path. This part of the journey is not very pretty - but it’s worth it in the end!

Then you’ll come to the start of the main part of the walk - indicated by the Hythe Lagoons sign.

Follow the clear path that runs between open grassland and the river Colne for around 40 minutes.

Along the way you’ll see many bird varieties and, depending on the time of year, there’s rabbits, sheep and cows often roaming free.

Situated on the right-hand side on a higher level of land, the tranquil ‘lagoon’ fills with rainwater, attracting wildlife. In fact, because it’s such a peaceful spot, secluded away from the hustle and bustle with rarely anyone to be seen, we chose to scatter our dog’s ashes there last year.

The Wivenhoe Trail, which is generally much busier and more suitable for cyclists, runs parallel across the river.

Once you get to Rowhedge, determined by the boat moorings, head across the small green and pass the Anchor Inn to discover the Albion pub. Biff the gorgeous, rescue doberman-staffy will welcome you into her home. She has a wonderful temperament, is relaxed around dogs and may let you borrow her bowl of water - which our puppy, Fella, was grateful for after his first long walk.

This pub is highly recommended, with a nice landlord, cosy atmosphere and reasonable prices - an ale plus a red wine costs £6.50. We’ve spent many afternoons there enjoying drinks over games of scrabble, dominoes or cards - and even sometimes braving the dartboard. They don’t offer food, but are fully stocked in the usual snacks. During the summer, benches outside provide the perfect perch for soaking up the sun whilst watching the boats sail by.

What you can do next:

1) If you’re feeling energetic, the walk can be done in reverse to get back to Colchester.

2) Alternatively there’s the bus - number 66A that can be caught from Head Street ‘shipyard corner’.

3) From April until October, it’s possible to take the ferry from Rowhedge across to Wivenhoe. Although there is a timetable, this is often tide/weather dependent. It costs around £1.50pp. The train station there runs regular services to London via Colchester.

4) Extend your walk by 1/2hour to Fingringhoe - route shown on map in green. There, The Whalebone, with its friendly Basset Hounds, offers delicious food, a spacious garden and country views. Last 175 bus to Colchester is at 16.50 from High Park Corner, so a dog-friendly taxi may be a better option.