- A feature from the July 2016 issue of Suffolk Norfolk Life magazine
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- Nature, Places
By Susannah George, with doggies Harry and Lily
On the two previous occasions that I’ve visited Orford the weather has been beautiful, and the day I took Harry and Lily for a walk there was no exception. We parked at the car park opposite The Jolly Sailor, and I have to admit my mum and I earmarked calling in there at the end of the walk for a small glass of local cider. We made our way to the quay and turned right to follow the path up onto the river wall, where the outlook is fantastic. We had views of Orford Castle, the Church of St Bartholomew, the Lighthouse and the distinctive `pagodas’.
Orford Ness is Europe’s largest vegetated shingle spit and internationally renowned for its flora and fauna. It has been in the care of the National Trust since 1993 and is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve. As we strolled along the path with the tranquil water glistening in the sun, the plethora of eclectic boats were wonderful to look at. I just love reading the names of the boats and thinking about the story as to why it has been called that. We saw one called Runaround Sue, which made me smile and consequently I couldn’t get the song out of my head!
Orfordness Lighthouse is just one of the prominent landmarks that you’ll see. The Lighthouse, which was decommissioned in June 2013 because of the encroaching sea, has a 98ft tower and was completed in 1792. The modern electrical equipment and hazardous materials have been removed. The light had a range of 20 nautical miles and was equipped with an Automatic Identification System, which is an automatic tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services. Trinity House have increased the power of the light at Southwold Lighthouse to compensate for the closure. Unless the tower is demolished it is expected to one day fall into the North Sea.