Car-free toThe Shotley PeninsulaSuffolk
Discover a salty slice of Suffolk, beginning with a scenic bus ride by the water, offering spectacular views of the Orwell estuary. The Shotley peninsula is a wild and peaceful place for a staycation and we've added a few tips on buses and places to stay at the end. There is great countryside for strolling including the long-distance Stour and Orwell Walk. Soak up maritime heritage in Shotley Gate and Harwich (seven minutes away by boat). Sample local food and drink at various pubs and the Suffolk Food Hall along the way.
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1. Waterside pub and walk
Stroll through the woods or hike along the estuary.
- Catch bus 97 from opposite Ipswich railway station and sit on the top deck, if there is one, for the best views. The bus only goes every hour and a half so you’ll need to plan ahead. Luckily, there is a pub next to the bus stop.
- A day rover ticket lets you get on and off where you like. On Sundays, there are only four buses each way.
- Hop off the bus after twenty minutes, in the village of Chelmondiston.
- Head for Pin Mill, an easy half-mile from the bus stop, to visit the Butt and Oyster pub surrounded by sailing boats
- Take a stroll through the National Trust’s Pin Mill woods next door with masses of wild flowers in spring and views of the wide river.
- For a longer hike, follow the Stour and Orwell Walk for five miles to Shotley Gate, through idyllic fens and atmospheric salt marshes.
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2. Visit the Museum and Marina at Shotley Gate
If you’d rather ride than walk, simply get back on the bus and take it all the way to the marina. The bus waits here beside the boats before heading back towards Ipswich.
- Dozens of benches look out from the marina’s grassy bank, across the confluence of two huge estuaries.
- Shotley Gate’s free museum of HMS Ganges, where 160,000 naval recruits trained in the 20th-century, celebrates the area’s maritime heritage.
- A short walk along the nearby cliffs above the River Stour reveals more relics of the area’s naval past.
- If you love wildlife, don’t miss spectacular Erwarton Bay nature reserve, a mile away along the River Stour. Look out for orange-billed oystercatchers, great crested grebe, and all kinds of other water birds.
3. Catch the little yellow ferry to Harwich
Just seven minutes across the water from Shotley marina, the long sands and colourful beach huts of Harwich beckon.
- The ferry costs £8 return and runs hourly with a break for lunch. It is currently best to book in advance.
- You can visit the lighthouses, pier and huge fort museum or just have tea somewhere.
- For more car-free adventures in the area, see our guide to Harwich
- From here, you could choose to get a direct train towards London. Without a car, you don’t have to return the way you came!
4. Take a scenic bus ride back
The bus from Ipswich to Shotley and back runs beside the River Orwell
- Erwarton Hall near Shotley has an extraordinary brick gateway with turrets. Get off at Erwarton Turn and stroll down the Street to see this and some great countryside beyond.
- Look out of the bus for 18th-century Wolverstone Hall near Chelmondiston – a Palladian mansion framed by a leafy drive.
5. Relax at the Suffolk Food Hall
As the bus goes under the spectacular Orwell Bridge, you can get off to eat or shop at the Suffolk Food Hall
- You’ll find beef from Red Poll cattle, artisanal sourdough from the bakery, local fish, fruit and veg, wines from Dedham Vale, and a delicatessen counter selling pies, quiches, cured meats and cheeses.
- Stop off on the way out for a picnic and morning coffee in the café or on the way home for souvenirs and tea… great cakes too.
- The Cookhouse restaurant upstairs serves full meals until 5pm and is open late on Fridays and Saturdays.
Buses, bikes and places to stay
Here’s a bit more practical info if you’re planning a staycation on the Shotley peninsula.
- If you’re taking several bus rides around Ipswich there are day tickets giving unlimited trips across and around the city with a Country Routes ticket including Shotley and some great value options for families.
- If you are taking local bus journeys on the same day that you arrive by train, get a bargain PlusBus ticket for unlimited bus rides to the air or transport museums, show ground or leisure park. If you have limited time, the PlusBus ticket will also take you to Red House, the bus stop for the Suffolk Food Hall (buses 92 or 97 from the station). You can have tea with views of the wooded estuary.
- You can hire bikes from the Bicycle Doctor in Ipswich or to cycle around the reservoir at Alton Water, a short ride on bus 92 from Ipswich or Manningtree train stations.
- There are quite a few places to stay around Shotley, including Ipswich Travelodge near the marina with rooms from about £30/night. Handy for both trains and buses, the Station Hotel opposite Ipswich railway station, right by the Shotley bus stop, has rooms from £50/night. At the far end of the peninsula, the Shipwreck Loft offers B&B from £90/room.
