The Suffolk coast is one of the UK’s best-kept secrets. It is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with its dramatic shingle beaches, sweeping paths and areas of outstanding natural beauty. If you love falling asleep to the sound of the waves and waking up to the salty sea air, camping on a beach in Suffolk is an unforgettable experience.
But not all coastal destinations are the same. Dunwich, Kessingland and Shingle Street all have their own unique charms but one destination always comes out on top. Walberswick is the jewel in the crown of Suffolk beach camping.
The Rivals
It is worth looking at what the rest of the county has to offer to get a real sense of what is so special about Walberswick.
Dunwich: The Old Neighbour
A little further along the coast is Dunwich, a place of dark romance and history. Once a bustling mediaeval port, swallowed by the sea, it has a moody pebble beach backed by dramatic cliffs and deep forest. Camping near Dunwich provides excellent access to the RSPB Minsmere nature reserve. But Dunwich can be a lonely place and its beach lacks the soft, inviting textures of the north. It’s beautiful, but can be a little bleak when the wind from the North Sea gets up.
Kessingland: The Vast Expanse
Further north near Lowestoft is Kessingland, with a huge sand and shingle beach. The beach is so wide that it is rarely crowded. There are commercial holiday parks nearby so it is very easy for families who want swimming pools and arcade rooms to get there. The flip side? Kessingland is not intimate or traditional. It’s less an authentic, peaceful coastal getaway and more of a commercialised resort town.
Shingle Street: The Wild And The Remote
Shingle Street, at the mouth of the River Ore, is for the ultimate minimalist. It is a surreal, windswept expanse of pure shingle with few facilities. It is ideal for a few hours of peace and quiet or a wild camping experience for seasoned survivalists, but totally impractical for a nice, multi-day camping holiday. There are no public toilets, no shops and nowhere to hide from the elements.
Why Walberswick Wins The Crown
Let us now consider Walberswick. Just across the River Blyth from the popular seaside resort of Southwold, Walberswick offers the perfect marriage of wild coastal beauty and cosy village convenience. Here’s why it beats its neighbours.
The Perfect Beach Landscape
It’s not like the hard, unforgiving stones of Shingle Street or the steep pebble shelves of Dunwich; Walberswick has a lovely mixture of sand and shingle. The beach is protected by rolling sand dunes with grass and feels enclosed, private and inviting. The dunes provide excellent natural shelter from the coastal breezes and make perfect little hollows to sit back with a book or enjoy an evening barbecue near your campsite.
The Classic Village Appeal
Camping at Kessingland places you in the heart of modern development. Camping at Walberswick is like stepping into a living postcard. The pretty flint cottages, the ancient church, the artistic heritage of more than a century make the village full of charm. Not only do you camp on a beach, but you can become part of a classic English coastal community during your stay.
Crabbing And Estuary Living At Its Best
If you’re camping with the family or just enjoying local pastimes, Walberswick has what no other Suffolk beaches can match: it is the undisputed crabbing capital of the region. The harbour is lined with wooden bridges and tidal mudflats, which are famous for catching shore crabs. It offers hours of easy, wholesome entertainment just a short walk from your campsite. The surrounding marshes and reedbeds are full of birdlife and morning walks are a delight for nature lovers.
Excellent Local Amenities
One of the big challenges of beach camping is finding the right balance between getting away from it all and having access to a good meal. Walberswick is the master of this contradiction.
Shingle Street leaves you high and dry without even a drop of milk. Walberswick has some great local pubs such as The Anchor and The Bell Inn. You can not rely totally on your camp stove after a day of walking the coast or relaxing on the beach. You can pop into a centuries-old pub, sit by a roaring fire or in a sunny beer garden and enjoy locally sourced seafood and a pint of Suffolk-brewed Adnams ale. There is also a lovely village shop and local tea rooms for your morning requirements.
Southwold Foot Ferry: Dual Destinations
Camping in Walberswick has the advantage of being very close to Southwold. In summer months, a traditional hand-prowed foot ferry crosses the River Blyth. For a small fee, you can hop across the river to explore Southwold’s famous pier, colourful beach huts and bustling high street.
So if you base yourself in Walberswick, you get a ‘two for one’ holiday. At night you can enjoy the peaceful, uncrowded, natural camping environment of Walberswick, with the option of easy access to the vibrant attractions of Southwold by day.
The Verdict
Every beach camping spot along the Suffolk coast has something to boast about, whether it’s the raw wilderness of Shingle Street, the deep history of Dunwich or the sheer size of Kessingland. It has the romance of wild camping but none of the discomfort and is the undisputed champion of the Suffolk coast. So pack your tent, grab your crabbing line and experience the magic of Walberswick for yourself.