Escaping to the serenity of Suffolk with your canine companions? You’re in the perfect place for fun, exploration and adventure.

Are you and your furry friend looking for a helping hand planning some scenic Suffolk routes? We can help. Stretch all four legs in style with our walkies recommendations.

The best places & routes for dog walks in Suffolk

Suffolk delivers that unbeatable, magical combination of coast and country — just perfect for canine capers. Explore Gunton Warren’s sprawling, historic beach or escape to the sun-dappled shady glades of Corton Woods. Perhaps you’ll choose a day by Oulton Broads, or bound along Kessingland’s famous dog-friendly sands?

1. Gunton Warren Nature Reserve— a historic, nature-rich coastal adventure

Treat yourself (and your furry pal) to stunning natural beauty at the Gunton Warren Nature Reserve.

A combination of foothills and beach, it’s the perfect location to take your four-legged friend for a long walk on the beach. Enjoy a nice sunset with the sand beneath your feet as you mosey on down the sands, the sounds of birds and waves creating a nice, at-one-with-nature ambience.

Immerse yourself in history as you walk past old military bunkers, or reconnect with nature amongst the numerous rare and unique wildlife and vegetation, protected by the internationally unique geography of Gunton Warren.

We can guarantee that first-time visitors will be taken aback at how restful and peaceful a place Gunton Warren is, especially given its proximity to the hustle and bustle of Lowestoft’s busy coast.

A place where all manner of creatures, from lizards to butterflies to your trusted furry sidekick can be at one with unspoiled surroundings. Take in the ocean air, stretch your legs and get away from it all!

2. Kessingland beach — the ultimate, secluded pro-pup coastal adventure

Feeling like truly leaving the hustle and bustle behind Suffolk? Head down to the Kessingland’s heritage coastline for an unforgettable reprieve and characterful beach day out.

Considerably less crowded than the coastal hotspot of Lowestoft to the north, the shores at Kessingland is also considered the most dog friendly beach in the area, with four-legged friends welcome by the waves all year long.

Leave the lead at home and let your pup roam free at this gorgeous coastal enclave with relaxed regulations. With great facilities and a large expanse of space, there’s room for the whole family to come and enjoy this beautiful British beach. Why not pack a picnic and stay a while to soak up a Suffolk sunset?

Backed by low cliffs, Kessingland’s sand and shingle beach offers plenty of opportunity for play, relaxation and afternoon ambling.

Of course, no day at the beach would be complete without a tasty treat — grab some paper-wrapped fish and chips at Beach Fish & Chip Shop or The Village Fryer, or perhaps a cup of tea and slice of cake at The Waterfront.

3. Carlton Marshes — the southern gateway to the Broads National Park

Carlton Marshes is a perfect day getaway for you and your pooch. There’s an immense variety of geography and the waterside trails that provide for simply stunning sojourns into the Waveney Valley.

Located just a few miles from the Suffolk coast, this unique mix of wetlands, dykes, meadows, fens and grazing lands combine to create an incredibly unique and well-managed area, filled with an abundance of natural wildlife and vegetation.

With cattle grazing away peacefully amongst the meadows, you’ll get a true sense of being in the wild. Included in the variety of flora and fauna that call Carlton Marshes home are over twenty-eight species of dragonfly, southern marsh orchid, hobby, ragged-robin, marsh harrier, and the delicate and elusive water soldier and frogbit plants.

With all of this and more, Carlton Marshes serves as a perfect destination for you and your pup to come out, stretch your legs, and get back to nature — all only minutes away from the amenities and lodging of the Suffolk coast!

4. Aldeburgh beach — for a characterful coastal Suffolk village (and ‘The Scallop’!)

Aldeburgh perhaps perfectly epitomises the rural charm of Suffolk. Whilst the main beach has dog restrictions during the summer months, the wide, expansive beach north of Wentworth Hotel stretching up to Thorpeness is completely pup friendly all year round. The dog-friendly areas — which includes the iconic Scallop — are very well signposted, so you needn’t worry.

After you’ve got your fix of refreshing sea breeze, we’d always recommend a stroll exploring the independent shops, eateries and taverns in Aldeburgh, the home and inspiration of renowned composer, conductor and pianist Benjamin Britten.

5. Bonds Meadow— a lovely escape for you and your pooch in Lowestoft

Just leave everything behind at Bonds Meadow, even if just for a short adventure with your furry friend! You’ll find this small-but-spectacular shared space — seven acres of mixed wood and grassland — right at the heart of Lowestoft and the Oulton Broad.

Kindly maintained by volunteers as a community project, it’s only minutes from the coast. You’ll feel miles away from the stress of it all in an delightful wooded area brimming with birds, bugs, butterflies and a wide variety of bushes and birch trees.

Perfect for a nice walk with man’s best friend, Bonds Meadow features a multitude of walking paths for you to traverse, truly making the most of the area. Be sure to make this one of your go-to walkies routes if you’re in the area.

6. Corton Woods— a secluded, wildlife-rich adventure for your furry friend

This gem of a nature reserve is one of the best kept secrets in Suffolk! Located just across the road from Gunton Warren, Corton Woods Nature Reserve is a beautiful, wooded preserve with a number of footpaths to walk along. Surround yourself with oak, ash, and sycamore trees, bounded by holly and hazel plants alongside the path.

Your pup will be fascinated by the abundance of nature and wildlife, but make sure to keep them on leash and on the pathway! Along the way you might encounter muntjacs, rabbits, foxes, and many more. Not only that, for the particularly observant, you might just find some wooden versions of even more fantastical creatures, including a dragon.

This walk is almost entirely flat, so it should be a breeze for you and your canine companion. If, however, you do get tired, there are a number of benches throughout for you to take a rest. Peaceful, reflective ponds and meadows await you at the Corton Woods.

Stay a while in Suffolk…

This gorgeous region has no shortage of stunning shores, rolling countryside and nature-rich reserves to explore with your pal. This was by no means an exhaustive list — just a rundown of a few particular favourites!

For those of you who can’t bear to leave, it might be worth considering holiday home ownership in Suffolk at our stunning dog-friendly holiday park, Azure Seas! We’re right on the doorstep of Corton beach, Corton Woods and Gunton Warren — so you’ll have the perfect backdrop for morning walkies.

If you’re just up for a getaway instead, head to our lovely Waxham Sands Holiday Park — just up the road in Norfolk. You’ll be able to pitch up your tent or bring your tourer and be mere moments from the glorious coast of Suffolk.

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