Chill out picnic spots in Suffolk / East Anglia?

[cazmatt]

As new Cali owners, we're still getting into the swing of things, we've nearly got the camping bit sussed (I even managed to swivel the seats in one go once) - but one of the joys of the Cali seems to be just finding a remote spot during the day, parking up and chilling out for a while (and letting the dogs have a run around, off lead ideally).

Does anyone know of any such places in / around Suffolk and the coast? (as we may head there this weekend)

Or a good way to find these places when visiting a new area?

I naively thought its the sort of thing you'd spot "on the way" to places but the reality of that seems to be A-road lay-bys. If we knew a way to find these places it would open up day tripping (we live in Hertfordshire so any ideas from there also welcome) - or maybe its the sort of thing you build up knowledge of over years of travelling the UK - we're only 2 months in to Cali life! Having searched the forum I cant see anything on the Suffolk area (although a similar Hampshire thread has resulted in several bookmarked locations )

 

[vmaxkiddy]

As new Cali owners, we're still getting into the swing of things, we've nearly got the camping bit sussed (I even managed to swivel the seats in one go once) - but one of the joys of the Cali seems to be just finding a remote spot during the day, parking up and chilling out for a while (and letting the dogs have a run around, off lead ideally).

Does anyone know of any such places in / around Suffolk and the coast? (as we may head there this weekend)

Or a good way to find these places when visiting a new area?

I naively thought its the sort of thing you'd spot "on the way" to places but the reality of that seems to be A-road lay-bys. If we knew a way to find these places it would open up day tripping (we live in Hertfordshire so any ideas from there also welcome) - or maybe its the sort of thing you build up knowledge of over years of travelling the UK - we're only 2 months in to Cali life! Having searched the forum I cant see anything on the Suffolk area (although a similar Hampshire thread has resulted in several bookmarked locations )

You could try East lane, IP12 3AP, or Shingle Street, they're both on the same road from Woodbridge to Bawdsey. They used to be very quiet places, I used to beach fish from them. I've not been for a few years though.

 

[Moakesy]

but one of the joys of the Cali seems to be just finding a remote spot during the day, parking up and chilling out for a while (and letting the dogs have a run around, off lead ideally).

Know exactly what you mean. I see some of the images on the 'pictures of your van' thread and I look on with envy. I also assumed we'd just find them en-route, but never really have.

Also live in Herts, and whilst there are some pretty places, they are either very narrow country lanes where you can't park, or more of a main A road and pretty but noisy.

Maybe I should try and get deliberately lost a bit more, think the downside of sat-nav living is it's all a bit too efficient to get where you want to go.

 

[Barbara]

Rendlesham Forest is worth a visit. You need to pay to park if you go to the center but there are lay-bys on the edge as well.
https://www.forestry.gov.uk/rendlesham

If you want somewhere to stay near A12/A14 junction Ipswich I can recommend Tom Cat Farm
http://tomcatfarm.co.uk/tom_cat_farm_site.html

 

[Billywizz]

The eels foot pub in Eastbridge has a very small quiet campsite the do good meals and ales, lots of places to walk nearby, Sizewell, Dunwich give it a google

 

[cazmatt]

Thanks everyone! We went to Rendlesham, and Shingle beach, thanks for the suggestions! And we stayed at Green Haven camping - we have been there before and it's a wonderful, quiet, small site.

@Moakesy I actually had good results searching google for "picnic sites" - for some reason I had been fixated by looking for places that were dog friendly rather than thinking simple picnic. But if you look through picnic sites then focus on the larger / rural / simple sites - typically council or forestry commission run etc - I think that might be a trick. I found rendlesham coming up in the suffolk picnic sites as well as recommended here.

Love this forum - so helpful

 

[gvick]

Try cliff house campsite at Minsmere it’s close to Dunwich southwold and the Crown pub at Westleton great coastal walks and nature reserve - it’s our favourite spot