East of England Visitor Guide

ORFORD
Steeped in history, Orford is an
attractive town dominated by its
impressive castle, built in the 12th
century by Henry VII for coastal
defence.
The town has plenty to offer those
passing through, with excellent walks
and cycle rides for the more outdoorsy,
and plenty of good restaurants, pubs
and tearooms for those simply looking
to relax and soak up the surrounding
history.
Brick and timber buildings line the
streets to the little quayside, where
there are boat trips to Orford Ness -
Europe’s largest vegetated shingle spit.
The Reserve contains a variety of
habitats including shingle, saltmarsh,
mudflat, brackish lagoons and grazing
marsh. It provides an important
location for breeding and passage birds
as well as for the coastal shingle flora
and wildlife (including a large number
of nationally rare species).
Visitors can follow a 5.5 mile route,
which can be walked in total or in
part (the full walk involves walking on
shingle). Don’t leave without trying the
locally cultivated oysters!
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