Suffolk

Kyson Hill and Kyson Point walk

A misty early morning dawn picture of a lake with silhouetted reeds growing in the water and a dusky lilac sky — Kyson Hill, Suffolk | © National Trust Images/Richard Scott

Kyson Hill is a special corner of coastal Suffolk, where you'll find typical upper estuarine landscape within a very small area. The grassy hill, surrounded by wooded belts, slopes down to the saltmarshes and mudflats of the tidal River Deben and has been a favourite walking destination for generations of Woodbridge folk.

Near to

Kyson Hill

Start point

Woodbridge train station car park. Grid ref: TM273487

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 2.3 (km: 3.68)

Duration1 hour 15 mins

Dog friendly***

*Mostly flat and on well-defined footpaths, but with a few steep sections. For more info, please see Terrain section.
**Although the start involves going up a flight of steps over the railway line, the route is pushchair and wheelchair friendly, apart from one small section at high tide (see below). Kyson Hill itself may be problematic for pushchairs and wheelchairs – it's a steep slope over grass followed by fairly steep steps. May be muddy at certain times. Waterproof footwear may be necessary.
***Dogs must be kept under close control. For further info, please see Facilities section.

Footpaths

Not all the paths on this walk are on National Trust cared-for land.

This circular walk starts and finishes at Woodbridge train station and goes along the promenade and well-defined footpaths with no hills.

Although the start involves going up a flight of steps over the railway line, the route is pushchair and wheelchair friendly, apart from one small section at high tide (see below). Kyson Hill itself may be problematic for pushchairs and wheelchairs – it's a steep slope over grass followed by fairly steep steps. May be muddy at certain times. Waterproof footwear may be necessary.
Total stages: 11
Total stages: 11
Start point
Woodbridge train station car park. Grid ref: TM273487
Stage 1
Facing the railway station, at the left-hand end, cross over the footbridge to the quay. Go straight ahead and pass the Woodbridge plaque and café to your left.
Stage 2
Follow the promenade to your right with the River Deben on your left. Carry on and pass the Woodbridge Cruising Club and Deben Rowing Club on your right.
Woodbridge Cruising Club
The club was founded in 1965 to encourage local sailors to explore the numerous estuaries on the East Coast and beyond: to the Thames, the South Coast, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. The club's members organise cruises throughout the summer and early autumn, including an introductory cruise of the season to check out the changing bar at the entrance to the River Deben. The club is open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays, 12 noon–2.30pm.
Stage 3
Keep straight along the promenade and pass the toilets on your right (down a slipway). Carry on along past the Tea Hut café in the small park with the Deben Yacht Club on your left, beside the river.
Stage 4
Leave clubhouses, boatyards and cafés behind you and stride out in the countryside along the tarmac footpath high up on the bank.
Stage 5
At the end of the tarmac path, just as you enter the wood-line, follow the path to the left as you come across a public footpath sign. Take the left path down an incline (you'll pass Kyson House driveway on your right). At high tide, this route might be inaccessible – see a small green metal sign on the left at ground level for the alternative route.
Stage 6
Walk along the estuary shore – which may be wet and a bit muddy – until you come to the Kyson Point sign by a big fallen log. Kyson Point is private property but you can see the brown shed and small yachts out of the water. Do not go forward along the path marked 'Public Footpath only to Martlesham Heath' but turn around at this point.
Stage 7
Now retrace your steps along the estuary shore until you come to a track on your left. Head up this path until you reach the triple footpath sign on your right.
Stage 8
Keep to your left up the hill until you reach the National Trust sign and bench on your right. This is effectively the top of Kyson Hill. Enter Kyson Hill and admire the views over the river estuary. Head down the slope and keep left.
Stage 9
Continue down the laddered path and turn left at the bottom.
Stage 10
At the railway line, cross over and go straight ahead along a gravel track until you reach the road. Turn right here and pass a park on your right.
Stage 11
At the end of the road when it bears left, turn right down The Avenue and cross over the railway line again. Pass a model boating lake on your right (with toilets), turn left along the promenade and return to the station car park.
End point
Woodbridge train station car park. Grid ref: TM273487
Trail map
Kyson Point Hill Walk map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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