Walking the Suffolk Coastal Path - Thorpeness - Sizewell (Walk 11)

(Monday 29th April. Distance 3.3 miles. Route taken: Thorpeness, Sizewell, coastal. Time taken 1.35hours)

It is said, 'A change is as good as a rest' and that was how it felt today. My husband dropped me off  at Thorpness to start my journey to Sizewell. My first image was at The Dolphin Inn which was formally known as The crown. The inn used to be attached to six cottages and when these were knocked down the building was extended with bedrooms to become the Dolphin Inn. The Dolphin Inn was consumed by fire in 1995 and was rebuilt and opened again in 1998.

From here I continued onto the heath land where I was met by a mass of yellow bloom and a glorious perfume. The gorse across the heath was in full bloom and there was an abundance of it. The smell became intoxicating and soon made me feel very relaxed. It is good to get out in the open among the smells and calls of the birds and to leave the hum-drum of life at home behind.

The chorus from the birds was everywhere. I watched Dunnocks drinking from puddles, a pair of Linnets flew over head and a small flock of Goldfinches were spotted perched on the upper reaches. Unfortunately I didn't have the right camera to take these but I did manage to get a couple of close-up shots of the inner part of a thistle and a bracken fond.

Making sure I was still on the right track I continued on my way. I left the heathland and proceeded through a more wooded area. It was at this point that I started to meet other people and I also spotted the dome of Sizewell B. I passed two structures at this point but had no idea what they might be. They appeared to be in the grounds of what was Sizewell Hall. (Could they have been an entrance to the hall as some point)?

Moving on, having investigated the huts I reached the coast. Anti tank blocks littered the area and are gradually falling into the sea. This area had a mass of such blocks to protect the enemy from coming ashore in their tanks.

Up ahead are the service platforms which were used to run the sea water through the cooling system at Sizewell. Now the only thing using them is the sea birds. Between the two platforms, in the distance is another structure. This is an artificial nesting structure built for the Black-legged Kittiwakes. The company installing wind farms in the area were required to include ecological compensation measures for the Black-legged Kittiwake who were a vulnerable kind of species whose population could be effected by wind farms.

As I walked in the sand dunes I was struck by the multiple layers of colour. Nature is a wonderful thing in its many disguises.

Lined along the beach were various fishing boats and all the trappings that go with them. Many long forgotten and rusting with age.

Before walking further along the Sizewell beach it was time for a well earned break and some lunch. It was a shame we forgot the flask of hot water. Never mind cold water quenched our thirst.

Lunch finished we, (my husband and I) wandered along the shingle until we reached the end of the area where Sizewell C will be built. The buildings are a stark contrast to the wild, unspoilt surroundings.

I hadn't ever seen Tree Lupins before so I had to take a photo of some. It proved rather difficult with the wind blowing them. I couldn't resist taking some daisies. There are so many about this year.

During this journey I am learning it is good to be in my own space - to be able to clear my head and appreciate all that is around me. 

I have never carried a phone around with me but now I do as I have mastered the mapping app. so I'm able to follow my route and also have some contact with my husband as he walks from my finishing point to meet me somewhere along the way.

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