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Snape Malting is a renowned arts and cultural complex set within a former maltings building by the River Alde. It offers a variety of galleries, shops, and performance spaces, including the famous Snape Maltings Concert Hall. It's definitely worth stopping here for a coffee if you have time.

A dead end for roadies but a scenic approach across the marshes towards the huge shingle bar that protects the coast.

Lovely setting for this cafe with indoor tables, outdoor deck as well as picnic tables on a large lawn by a pond. Open 9am-4pm Mon-Sat.

It's a dead end for roadies as there's only one tarmacked road to it but it's a nice ride and there's the Tinto Café horsebox at the car park, which does hot drinks, sandwiches and toasties, cakes and snacks. Officially it closes at 4pm but it was still serving at 4.30 when I was there, thankfully.

Nearest available refreshments are at The Ship Inn in Blaxhall.

Limited parking so try the harbour one down the road

With commanding views over Orford Ness, the castle stands 27m (90ft) tall and looks remarkably similar to when it was built over 700 years ago. The materials used to build the castle were brought from far and wide with some timbers coming from Scarborough and limestone from Caen in France. Legend has it the 'Wild Man of Orford' was held in the castle in the 12th century. Described as a merman he was captured by fisherman but eventually escaped.

Alas despite looking there's no standpipe

A nice rest stop with trees for shelter and a covered seating area on the joining play area for when you need shelter from the worst of the weather

If your local this ancient burial site is not to be missed. I've walked round several times with both my children and grandchildren and they've all been captivated

Pleasant ride through the trees although as it’s one of the main routes to Orford it’s not always as quiet as you might expect, particularly during the summer tourist season.

Part of the back route from Woodbridge to Rendlesham Forest if you want to avoid traffic.

Watch out for heaped sands by the sides and down the middle of many of the roads in the area, it can get quite deep and tricky on skinny road tyres.

Great view across the estuary of the Alde/Ore to Orford Ness, now a nature reserve but formerly an MOD atomic weapons research centre, with the silhouettes of the ‘pagoda’ weapons test structures on the horizon.

Due to conservation works Orford Castle is currently (August 2022) enshrouded in scaffolding. The unique polygonal tower keep of Orford Castle stands beside the pretty town and former port, developed by Henry II. The castle is remarkably intact allowing visitors to explore from the basement, through the lower and upper halls to the roof where there are magnificent views seaward to Orford Ness.

Snape Maltings is one of the Suffolk Coast's most famous landmarks. The Maltings were once Victorian buildings where barley was malted for brewing. Now converted and home to shops, galleries, eateries and more. Snape Maltings Concert Hall hosts the annual Aldeburgh Festival, it is strongly linked with composer Benjamin Britten.

Tunstall Forest has a tarmac road (Orford Road) running roughly through its centre. A network of gravel trails branch off in a grid formation. The forest consists of coniferous plantations, broadleaved belts and heathland areas

Empty roads and big skyscapes are a feature of the Suffolk Coasts & Heaths AONB.

Rendlesham Forest was planted as commercial woodland in the 1920s. The forest was the setting for a well-known UFO incident in 1980. Servicemen at RAF Woodbridge saw lights in the trees. They reported discovering a conical object, about the size of a car, floating in a forest clearing, which disappeared as they approached. 🛸 There are toilets at the car park, and a network of gravel trails to ride.

Watch the drop should you enter the water along with the rip as it can get pretty fierce here