Ipswich Waterfront Walk
Introduction
The Ipswich Waterfront Walk is an enjoyable and varied 5.5 mile (9km) route through open green spaces, historic landscapes, and a vibrant urban waterfront.
Along the route discover Pipers Vale Nature Reserve, the managed parkland of Holywells Park with its famous links to the Cobbald Brewery, and enjoy the wide variety of cafes, restaurants, bistros and hotels along Ipswich’s waterfront.
The Ipswich Waterfront Walk offers an extension to the King Charles III England Coast Path beyond Orwell Bridge into Ipswich. Allow at least 3 hours to complete the walk, much more if you plan to stop, enjoy the varied sites, enjoy a meal, or even stay overnight.
Route Overview
Use the map to preview the route and look for points of interest along the way. Simply click on an icon to start researching the route. You can use the layers button in the bottom right corner to toggle Ordnance Survey mapping.
Download the Discover Suffolk App
Explore this route and many others using the FREE Discover Suffolk App. Available to download on Apple and Android devices.
Ipswich Waterfront
Seventh century, Anglo-Saxon Gipeswic was centred around today’s Waterfront. The suffix ‘wic’ means landing-place and North Sea trade made this one of the largest post-Roman townships in northern Europe. In the 14th century Ipswich was one of the richest ports in the country shipping wool to weavers in Flanders and the Netherlands.
Today, the Waterfront is a vibrant area of bars, cafes, restaurants, and home to the University of Suffolk.
Suffolk and Essex Coast and Heaths
The Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape stretches from the Stour estuary to Kessingland.
The landscape is a mixture of shingle beaches, cliffs, marshes, estuaries, heathland, forests, and farmland. This landscape forms one of the most important wildlife areas in Britain, including many nature reserves, wildlife sites and world famous RSPB Minsmere Reserve.
Ipswich Parks
Pipers Vale Local Nature Reserve forms part of Orwell Country Park. Over 100 birds species have been recorded here in diverse habitats including heath, reedbeds, scrub and alder carr.
Landseer Park known as Clapgate in the early 1900s, this area was once a wooded valley with a brook running down to the River Orwell.
Holywells Park dates back to medieval England when it was owned by Edith of Wessex, the wife of Edward the Confessor. In 1812 it was bought by John Cobbold and the natural springs produced Tolly Cobbold beers. It became a public park in 1935 and today is full of majestic trees, open ponds, and 2 listed buildings: the Stable Block and the Conservatory.
Suffolk Food Hall
The Suffolk Food Hall is owned and manged by farmers and showcases fantastic foods produced in Suffolk and East Anglia.
The farm shop offers a butchery, artisan bakery, delicatessen, and greengrocer. Eat at The Café or dine at The Restaurant @ Suffolk Food Hall with its stunning views over the River Orwell.
Project Partners
