Walking Guides
The Coast & Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has some of the most appealing landscapes for walking, from leisurely strolls to keen hiking, and are a fantastic way to really get to know and explore the area at a pace that will help you see wildlife and also boost your health and wellbeing!
You can often use public transport to arrive at the start of a walk. Our free to download leaflets offer a range of circular walks, and are listed below in alphabetical order. We recommend you use our leaflets alongside the relevant OS map (noted in each guide) or the Discover Suffolk app.
Check our Promoted Route Updates page for any recent changes. Please also refer to our Planning Your Visit and During Your Visit pages for more information.
Planning Your Visit
During Your Visit
Promoted Routes
The Coast & Heaths AONB is a walker’s paradise, with hundreds of miles to explore and everything from shingle beaches, heathland, estuaries, ancient woodland, and forest, with diverse wildlife and habitats to admire from afar.
The terrain in the AONB is relatively flat terrain making it ideal for new walkers and people of all ages, with paths interspersed by idyllic villages and picturesque coastal towns. Three promoted routes can be enjoyed in the AONB; the Suffolk Coast Path, the Sandlings Walk and the Stour & Orwell Walk.
Suffolk Coast Path
60-mile route from Felixstowe to Lowestoft, exploring all of the beauty and wonder along the glorious Suffolk Coast.
Sandlings Walk
59-mile route through this iconic and historic heathland stretching from the outskirts of Ipswich to the seaside town of Southwold.
Stour & Orwell Walk
40-mile route taking in two of the the areas most special rivers, the Orwell and the Stour, along the wildlife-rich estuaries.
Explorer Guides
Each of the following Explorer guides can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF by using the images. Each guide offers a comprehensive handy to a different part of this special landscape.
Aldeburgh and Thorpeness Outstanding Landscapes Walk Guide (PDF)
Alton Water Park Explorer Guide (PDF)
Blaxhall and Tunstall Explorer Guide (PDF)
Kessingland Explorer Guide (PDF)
Orford Explorer Guide (PDF)
Rendlesham Forest and Staverton Outstanding Landscapes Walk Guide (PDF)
Sailors’ Path Walk Explorer Guide (PDF)
Shotley Walk Explorer Guide (PDF)
Snape Walk Explorer Guide (PDF)
Southwold Explorer Guide (PDF)
Sutton and Hollesley Heaths Outstanding Landscapes Walk Guide (PDF)
Sutton Heath Explorer Guide (PDF)
Walberswick Explorer Guide (PDF)
Walberswick Outstanding Landscapes Walk Guide (PDF)
Wherstead Explorer Guide (PDF)
Woodbridge Explorer Guide (PDF)
Wrabness Explorer Guide (PDF)
Long Distance Routes
Enjoy the challenge of a long distance walk (or three!)
This Cicerone guide to walking each of the three long distance routes is available to purchase from us for £12.95. To order please send us a cheque made out to Suffolk County Council and we will pop one in the post to you.
All proceeds from the sale of these books go to the Community Conservation Fund which funds conservation projects in the area.