Suffolk: a Boardwalk Amble - Snape Maltings to Iken Church.
Arriving at Snape Maltings was familiar, I’d been here a months ago but knew at the time my whistle stop wasn’t going to be satisfactory. But it so happened that fate would find me back some 6 months later for a photography commission. Deciding to make a trip of it so I could really get to know the area I invited my Mum and sister to join me for a few days prior to my shoot days starting.
It was a grey, dismal sky when we arrived at the extensive car park of Snape Maltings but ever optimistic with dogs that needed to stretch their legs we resolved to set off for a walk along the salt mashes of the River Alde. A few people had insisted this walk was a must do for the Suffolk Coast AONB so who am I to argue? And having done a short walk the other side of the river earlier in the year I knew we were in for a treat with the golden reeds and birds with beaks as long as the worms they were hunting in the mud.
In the upper right hand side of the overflow car park a path disappears between the trees, we heading along it crossing some farmland with some trees to our left and it wasn't long before Monty bounded off to dig in the stinky water under the first boardwalk. Maiking our way through the reeds and over another field we came to another, much longer boardwalk. Here we could view the mudflats and the wildlife (don’t forget your binoculars) while ambling along chatting about holidays past.
My mum is 74 and slowing down a lot now, once a keen walked we sometimes forget that she struggles but she was doing fine on this flat path through the marshes, distracted from tired legs by a landscape that holds your interest. Arriving at Iken Cliffs car park as the light dwindled on a November afternoon we debated whether to carry on or not, there’s something about walking slow that is more tiring. Without momentum limbs start to ache but ever geeing each other on my sister and I stubbornly resolved ourselves to getting to the church.
We walked round the delightful Iken cliffs, dodging the mud and soon found ourselves out on a lane that would lead us to the church. The three of us ploughed on to our destination with the dogs sniffing at the verges as we went until the church came into view. My Mum, who needed a little pick me up, was delighted to find there was a single pack of homemade fudge sitting in the kiosk. Popping her coins into the honesty box and a few cubes of fudge into her mouth she instantly lifted and suddenly became excited to see the church.
It was an eery moment opening the door to the St Boltolph’s church, dark inside due to the low light I wasn't sure if my eyes were playing tricks on me or I was experiencing a bit of the ancient history of the church. But I definitely felt like something else other than the here and now was at play here. As you perhaps know by now, churches and religious buildings aren’t really my bag but if you’re interested in learning more see here. We walked around for some time paying respects to the headstones here before heading back through the gate and fussing the St Bernard who resides in the rectory.
Going a pep talk about momentum in our walking and getting us there quicker, we got a stride on and returned the way we had come. It was when we’d passed Iken Cliffs and were making our way along the snaking boardwalk that a shard of orange light cut across the landscape lighting up the church and the trees o’er yonder. It was a real moment and as much as I love time on my own once I was glad I was sharing.
We got back to Snape Maltings just in time to pick up some treats from the shop - Earl Grey tea and some biscuits to enjoy at our AirBNB while we reflected on the wonderful afternoon we had just had (and of course how tried our legs felt).