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The Suffolk Coast: Minsmere, Aldeburgh and Orford Ness

East of England, England

medium
nature

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Suffolk Coast Explorer

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325

XP

1 day

The Suffolk Coast: Minsmere, Aldeburgh and Orford Ness

medium
nature

325 XP

Avocets returned to breed in Britain in 1947 at Minsmere, now the RSPB's reserve. On Aldeburgh's shingle beach stands Maggi Hambling's steel Scallop of 2003, a tribute to Benjamin Britten. At Orford, Henry II's keep was built in 1165–73, and a ferry crosses from the quay to Orford Ness, a shingle spit that was a secret military test site until the 1970s, with its pagodas still standing.

Required Activities

1

of 4

Watch avocets at RSPB Minsmere, where the species returned to breed in Britain in 1947

2

of 4

Walk Aldeburgh's shingle beach to Maggi Hambling's steel Scallop sculpture, made in 2003 as a tribute to Benjamin Britten

3

of 4

Take the ferry from Orford Quay to Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, the shingle spit that was a secret military test site until the 1970s, and see its pagodas

4

of 4

Climb Orford Castle, the Henry II keep built in 1165–1173

  • Watch avocets at RSPB Minsmere, where the species returned to breed in Britain in 1947

  • Walk Aldeburgh's shingle beach to Maggi Hambling's steel Scallop sculpture, made in 2003 as a tribute to Benjamin Britten

  • Take the ferry from Orford Quay to Orford Ness National Nature Reserve, the shingle spit that was a secret military test site until the 1970s, and see its pagodas

  • Climb Orford Castle, the Henry II keep built in 1165–1173

Before you go

Orford Ness can be reached only by the National Trust ferry from Orford Quay on its open days, which do not run all year; check dates before you go.

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Challenge Location

XP Breakdown

Challenge XP

325 XP


Potential total

325 XP

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