Cool Place of the Day: Dunwich, Suffolk
Every day, a new place to discover or explore in the UK, from coolplaces.co.uk
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Dunwich is probably the strangest and certainly the eeriest place on the Suffolk coast, a large port during the Middle Ages that has steadily been lost to the sea – indeed the whole of the medieval city now lies under water, the last bit of which toppled over the cliffs in 1919. It's said you can still hear the peal of bells from the church under the waves, and on a more humdrum note there are regular surveys and diver-assisted searches for the remains of what has tantalisingly become known as 'Britain's Atlantis'.
You can swim from the stony beach and look for yourself, or just park up at the sprawling, seashore car park and visit the excellent Flora Tea Room, a well-patronised fish and chip café that makes for a great stop on the lovely Suffolk Coast Path. There's a nice pub – The Ship - just a few yards from here, a museum just beyond which tells the story of the once-great port, while just inland and freely accessible from the main road are the ruins of a thirteenth-century Franciscan Priory and leper hospital, with a handful of impressive Norman architectural details.
Afterwards, either walk south towards Dunwich Heath and the stunning RSPB reserve Minsmere, or south to Walberswick, where more pubs, crabbing and the odd A-list film director await.
Martin Dunford is Publisher of Cool Places, a new website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk)
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments