Walking the Suffolk Coastal Path - Cove Hithe - Benacre (Walk 17)
Sunday 15th September - 2 miles - Route taken: via beach. Time 1 hour
The tide was on its way out as I walked along a pristine beach in a silent world except for the gentle waves breaking onto the sandy shore.
I was in a happy place as I strolled along, (not another human being in sight), knowing I was nearly at the end of this adventure.
Taking a closer look I could see hundreds of Canada geese. Having watched for a while I continued on my way.
We walked along together among the bracken and dead trees occasionally looking back at the beach below us.
Eventually we left the wooded area and crossed a couple of fields and passed through a narrow path, hedged on both sides which were adorned with hips and haws.
Today was my penultimate walk from Benacre to Covehithe. A short walk before a longer one tomorrow.
I was dropped off where I finished my Kessingland - Benacre walk. The drop from the collapsed road to the beach was steeper than I had anticipated but with my hands free and some careful foot placements I reached the beach fine.
The tide was on its way out as I walked along a pristine beach in a silent world except for the gentle waves breaking onto the sandy shore.
It was clear to see just how much damage had been caused by excessive storms and high tides. The cliffs were crumbling and vegetation and trees were being lost to the sea and and erosion.
Even the pill box had found a new view point. (for aquatic life only now).
I was in a happy place as I strolled along, (not another human being in sight), knowing I was nearly at the end of this adventure.
As I approached the Benacre nature reserve I caught my first glimpse of other people. The reserve is an area of open water lagoons, and reed beds with over one hundred different breeding birds. An outflow had been installed to manage the water levels on Benacre Broad to provide habitat for birds and aquatic animals.
Taking a closer look I could see hundreds of Canada geese. Having watched for a while I continued on my way.
The colours on the cliffs as the sun shone on them looked amazing. The patterns and the textures really stood out.
While looking at the cliffs and thinking the plants on top looked like miniature trees I spotted a bird which I thought was a rock pipit. I managed to take a photo although from some distance away.
As I walked along in my own little world thinking how fortunate I was to be able to walk this beautiful stretch of coast line I heard a shout. I looked behind me but could see nothing and then I heard it again. This time I looked up towards the cliffs to see my husband calling me. I had missed the start of the cliff path so I had to walk back to join the path onto Covehithe. (So much for my day dreaming).
Unbeknown to me as I had been walking along my husband had taken photos of me walking on the beach below.
We walked along together among the bracken and dead trees occasionally looking back at the beach below us.
Eventually we left the wooded area and crossed a couple of fields and passed through a narrow path, hedged on both sides which were adorned with hips and haws.
This path led us onto the old road taking us back to Covehithe church. Here we walked amongst the ruins. St Andrew's church is a small thatched roofed church built inside the remains of a once medieval church, built when Covehithe was a busy industrial port. All that remains of that church now is the fourteenth century tower and parts of the outer walls. From here we returned to the car, todays walk finished, and the starting point for tomorrows walk.
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