Good beaches for dogs near Aldeburgh?

[PetraStrorm]

Taking dog to Aldeburgh in Suffolk in a couple of weeks. She's your typical delicate flower of a greyhound who refuses to step on anything remotely pebbly

I'm looking for sandy beaches for on or off-lead walks, as close to Aldeburgh as possible.

I'll be very grateful for any recommendations (or places to avoid) as I don't know the area at all.

Thank you!

Unless you want to go a long way up or down coast, you will struggle to find a beach that isn't shingle. However, there are some lovely heathlands and forests in the area. Try along the River Alde between Aldeburgh and Snape; the inland area between Aldeburgh and Thorpeness towards Aldringham; and for forests Tunstall and Rendlesham forests are a short drive away.

Thank you! I usually go to North Norfolk which has brilliant beaches, but got the chance to gatecrash a friend's holiday for a few days this time

Sounds like it'll be mostly inland walks, and strolls on the beach when dog is in bed.

Most of Suffolk beaches are pebbly.

Southwold is sandy but I'm not sure if dogs are allowed.

Parts of Walberswick are sandy

We had a week in Suffolk a while ago and a lot of the beaches are closed to dogs between May and October, so bear that in mind.

Had a lovely time though.

At the south end of Aldeburgh is Slaughden, where you can walk along the river estuary and still see the sea. Have a lovely time - Aldeburgh is one of my favourite places.

Right. You're on my local patch!

Walberswick beach is dog friendly all year round. Miles of sandy beach. The Parish Lantern gift shop and tea rooms is dog friendly and they have a gorgeous little courtyard out back where dogs are very welcome. Lovely lunches and cream teas and plenty of water bowls for dogs. The Bell and The Anchor are nice pubs and dog friendly. Drive right down to the beach car park and it's £3 to park all day.

If you walk up the side of the harbour there's a footbridge over the river which will take you on to the Southwold side. Or you can take the hand rowed ferry boat, which is a novelty in itself, and they take dogs over. Takes about a minute. At the top of the harbour is the Harbour Inn which is fabulous for lunches and dog friendly.

The harbour end of Southwold beach is dog friendly, as is the bit north of the pier. You can take dogs on to the pier, the restaurant has outside seating, but you can't take them on the beach as far along as the end of the beach huts. It's all sign posted though.

Dunwich beach is dog friendly but it's mostly shingle. Sizewell beach is fantastic for dog walking all year round, miles of beach and grassy dunes, if you don't mind the nuclear power station rumbling away behind you!

If there's anything else you need to know give me a shout.

Oh you said close to Aldeburgh. Walberswick is about half an hour away. Aldeburgh is mostly stones and groynes though so you'll need to travel a bit further up. I think Thorpeness has sandy bits, haven't been for a while.

Drive from Aldeburgh to Leiston, through Leiston and turn right down Lovers Lane. Go past household recycling centre. At a right hand bend where there is a small building on the left, turn left and follow track (think it is signed posted for Forest Walks) to car park from where you can walk through the forest, out to the beach (but stay on the sandy track behind the dunes to avoid the pebbly beach). Walk north towards Dunwich but turn inland just before you get to Minsmere RSPB reserve. Follow the track inland, where you come out on to the road turn right for a couple of hundred yards and visit the Eels Foot pub - good Adnams beer, Aspalls cider and foot. Walk back up the road past the track you came along, about half a mile further on turn left down a track, follow this track all the way back to the car park.

Wow! Some brilliant advice here - thank you also much! I would not have had a clue about these places!

(take your pick )

Thank you all so much. Bloody phone.

Oh you can take dogs round Dunwich Heath as well. There's a lovely tea rooms that is dog friendly and they usually have a jar of dog biscuits on the counter.

Have a lovely time! Let us know when you're here in case we think of anything else.

Dog friendly tea room at Thorpeness as well (the one on the beach side of the road, not the one by the Mere), but I dont think dogs can go on the beach at Thorpeness at this time of year.

Also, park at Sizewell beach carpark and you can walk along the track in front of the power station which is grassy/sandy) and there is a tea room there but not been in it.

Thanks for the tip about the other tea room in Thorpeness. I've only ever been to the one by the mere and had to get someone to hold the dog while I went in to order or grab me a cuppa while they were in there!

Usually in the one I have suggested there is a dog at almost every table, particularly indoors in the winter (when it is only really dog walkers braving the elements!) They provide water bowls and dog biscuits, my two Springers are regular customers...

I love dog friendly cafes!

Thanks rabbits, I'll have to try that one out at the weekend, when I'm next going up to Aldeburgh.

The tea room at Sizewell is very nice. Very basic and homely but lovely cakes and bacon rolls.

Thanks all - we had a brilliant time - some lovely walks, especially Aldeburgh to Thorpness on the coastal path, then back again through the woods (that one nearly finished DDog off )

She also had a huge run at the far end of Southwold beach which was empty when we got there.

Plus, all the walking meant we got loads of pub lunches and cafe stops where she'd happily sleep in the shade for an hour.

Will definitely go there again, I loved it.

Aww, so glad you had a nice time in our lovely Suffolk.