Suffolk, England

John Cooper · Administrator

Walk the Coast

John Cooper · Administrator

Felixstowe Ferry

One of my favourite places on the Colneis Peninsular, far from the madding crowds, just taking in the views or watching the activity of others! smile

I do like the circular walk from The Cliffland Car Park to the Ferry, along the sea wall and then the River Wall returning via the bund between the two golf courses

FXT Ferry Golf Course there are two Martello Towers here, the sea wall is on the right
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martello_tower

From where this golfer is teeing off from is this Martello Tower

.......and the one in the far distance that the golfer appears to be aiming for is this one

Over the last few years the sea has breached the sea wall and flooded part of the golf course, here is an example the power of the waves can have

I have seen the boulders arrive by ship and dumped on the beach and then transported to where the defences need bolstering, an ongoing battle............

John Cooper · Administrator

The hamlet itself is small but has much to offer in the way of leisure and pleasure, the North Sea cuts into the Deben Estuary with a very fast tide running. To see how fast the tide runs have a look at the Ferry crossing the river, it is usually at an angle!

There is no height advantage in the hamlet for viewing anything, the area is very low lying and has in the past been prone to flooding, the jetty is very popular with people crabbing, not always children, it seems as if a bucket, a line and a rasher or two of best back bacon is essential.

There are two huts that sell freshly caught fish and there are always gulls around waiting for some left overs, a cafe and two public houses are nearby as well as a bus service, a green with seats that is popular with those looking at the birds, Reed Buntings are easy to spot in the Summer months.

Probably the best viewing point is the end of the sea wall adjacent to the Ferry Jetty, where you can look to your left up the River Deben and all its associated pleasure craft or across to Bawdsey Ferry. Bawdsey Manor is not viewable from here but can be seen from the sea wall at the Martello Tower at the end of the Ferry Golf Course

This view from the sea wall looking from the last Martello Tower across to Bawdsey Quay the white houses are the former Married Quarters for ex RAF Bawdsey personnel, this photo was taken at the end of February, the speed of the inflowing tide can be seen to

At the martello Tower this gives the best view of Bawdsey Manor [barring Orfordness] is where RADAR was invented and put into use, this manor was built by the then Governor of the Bank of England Sir Cuthbert Quilter, it is said that for each tower constructed that he he had just made another million pound!!

Just beyond the Martello Tower is a row of Former Coastguard Cottages, this view is from the Golf Course though

-- Edited by John Cooper on Wednesday 3rd of November 2010 04:31:09 PM

John Cooper · Administrator

This is a view upriver from the Ferry Jetty

A typical scene at the Ferry with fishermens huts and equipment

A view looking South from near the Ferry Sailing Club with the Coastguard Cottages and Martello Tower

John Cooper · Administrator

The Ferry on the Jetty

The Ferry Jetty at low tide

A yacht's hull being steam cleaned on the slipway