Touring Norfolk (and part of Suffolk) in a motorhome

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Day26: we cycle to Orford, once again getting very, very wet!

The scenery has notably changed from that of north Norfolk. Here, it is a softer landscape, bigger fields, sandy soils; low height two storey cottages with small dormer windows below thatched roofs. Farmyards have corrugated tin barns and in hidden corners you find old rusting lorries from the 1940’s and 50’s; dilapidated, crumbling hulks that once would have made fine restoration projects but have become ‘frozen’ remnants of a by-gone age. Time has stopped still in some of these yards. 

Along the lanes we cycle, up through Hollesley village, through Capel St Andrew and on to Butley. From there we head past the pottery (closed) and onto the B1084 at Chillesford, which we follow to Orford. We cycle all totalled, around 23 miles today.

Orford proves delightful. Historical architecture, a castle, pretty cottages and an old quayside where you can get boat tours along the river. Ahead is the famous Orford Ness shingle spit and between the river Alde. So remote is this shingle spit, it has been used for atomic weapons research and ballistic weapons testing. An important fishing port in the Middle Ages, the castle built by Henry II is a great example of a revolutionary polygonal keep.

You can find out more about Orford at https://www.thesuffolkcoast.co.uk/suffolk-coast-towns-and-villages/orford and https://www.orford.org.uk/

We didnt get to explore as much as we wanted. The heavens opened and when the rains eased, we made a dash for home. We didn’t get far. We arrived back at Baliff’s Cottage in full waterproofs and very, very soggy. And once more, the bedframes were pulled out and utilised as a makeshift drying rack!