Pin Mill nature walk near Ipswich Suffolk
This walk can be taken at any time of the year. Discover a peaceful woodland and heath-land that comes alive with ever-changing colours from spring through to autumn. Take in the tranquillity of the wooded foreshore and savour the spectacular views of the River Orwell on this seasonal ramble at Pin Mill, near Ipswich. Be sure to take in the Heath-land colours.
Wrecks
Look out for wrecks beached along the foreshore of the River Orwell, which were once sailing cargo vessels. Some of these boats are lived in as houseboats, but others have been abandoned as dramatic wrecks and are slowly being reclaimed by the forces of nature.
Map
Start:
Pin Mill Car park (not NT), grid ref:TM205378
1
From the car park turn right along the lane for 44yd (40m), then left up a set of concrete steps. Follow the footpath up the slope and along the back of the gardens to enter Pin Mill woods via a kissing gate.
Pin Mill
Pin Mill hamlet is well known to east-coast sailors for its charming 17th-century waterside pub, the Butt and Oyster. It's the setting for the opening chapters of two children's books in the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome, We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea and Secret Water, and was also used as one of the backdrops for the Lovejoy TV series.
2
Continue past a pine plantation; a good spot to hunt for pine cones. Turn left at a junction, keeping the plantation on your right. The track turns to the left and after 383yd (350m) opens out into the first heathland area. Look out for the purple blooms of later flowering heather.
Fruits of the forest
The beautiful woodland is full of autumn seeds and fruits, many scattered on the woodland floor. This is a great spot for collecting fallen pine cones to make natural Christmas decorations from. Look out for the prickly cases of sweet chestnuts (pictured), which are a tasty snack roasted or raw.
3
Take the first left-hand path by some tall gorse bushes blooming with yellow flowers, great for making tea and wine. The path then leads to another area of heath, which is more grassy than the earlier heather heathland. Follow the path into a woodland and see what autumn fruits and seeds you can forage from the woodland floor. At the T-junction, turn left.
Heathland colours
Twenty-five years ago the heathland was the site of a conifer plantation, but during the storms of 1987 many trees were uprooted. The fallen trees and stumps were removed and the land was re-sown with wild flower seeds from Dunwich Heath, further up the Suffolk coast. The result is the fantastic wildlife-rich heathland you see today. Heather and gorse flowers were once used as a substitute for tea, and both are excellent sources of food for bees and other insects. For a more potent brew why not try making gorse flower wine.
4
To the right, the cliff top path here offers some wonderful views through the trees down to the River Orwell. Follow the path and descend a steep slope, (the cliff top path, although elevated, is not a traditional cliff, but is considered a cliff top for Suffolk!)
Orwell views
The wooded cliff top path offers breathtaking views of the River Orwell. This picture shows some of the boats at Pin Mill, but you might see large ferries on the river on their way from Ipswich to Ostend or even a Thames barge in full sail.
5
At the bottom of the slope, turn right at a path junction to follow the route along the shore. Keep an eye out for shipwrecks and houseboats along the foreshore of the River Orwell, some of which were once sailing cargo vessels. Some boats are lived in as houseboats, but others have been abandoned as dramatic wrecks and are slowly being reclaimed by the forces of nature.
6
The path leaves Pin Mill woods and descends a few steps to the foreshore in front of the Butt and Oyster pub. Follow the foreshore to pass in front of the pub, then turn left on the lane to return to the car park. Be aware that if there's a high tide and it's not safe to walk along the foreshore in front of the pub, then retrace your steps 165yd (150m) to the steps and follow them back up to the top path. Turn right and return to the car park.
End:
Pin Mill Car park (not NT), grid ref:TM205378
