Waveney Valley Walks: Beccles and Geldeston

Walk Length: 7 mile circular walk.

Getting Started

There is parking available at the start of the walk at Beccles Quay at Fen Lane car park, NR34 9BB. Beccles Station, NR34 9QU, is also a short walking distance from the starting point, with services from Lowestoft and Ipswich, this is a sustainable way to explore this historical market town and gateway to the broads.

The Route

Beccles, once a busy Saxon fishing port, is a thriving modern community still very much in touch with its history with a well preserved square, narrow streets, and fine Georgian buildings. This walk begins at the edge of town at Beccles Quay, TM 4237 9116, then heads over the old bridge and follows the footpath alongside the River Waveney through the marshes to the charming village of Geldeston before returning to Beccles along the Angles Way.

The majority of the walk is flat with one steep incline. There is a mixture of walking terrain, including some roads, quiet lanes and river bank, which can be slightly uneven in parts. It will also pass across pasture and marsh which can be muddy at certain times of the year, so please dress accordingly and follow the countryside code. There are refreshments and facilities available at the Wherry Inn and the Lock Inn in Geldeston and there are numerous shops, cafes and pubs in Beccles Town.

As a shorter alternative to this walk, why not try the shorter 4 mile Beccles Marsh Trail, encompassing the Beccles Marshes to the north of the quay.

For more of the Waveney Valley Walks, the full leaflet can be downloaded on the Discover Suffolk website.