Somerleyton & Herringfleet Marshes

Herringfleet Marshes stretch from St Olaves to Somerleyton and are overlooked by Herringfleet Hills, part of the Somerleyton Estate. Recently the hills have been classed as open country as defined under the CRoW Act. Together with the Broads Authority the estate has opened up the area to walkers and provided a car park and way marked paths to Herringfleet Smock Mill.

Herringfleet Smock Mill is of wooden construction and was built to drain the marshes. The sails can be moved into the wind by hand using the tail pole and winch. The scoop wheel housed outside the mill would pass the water from the dyke and empty it into the river. This was later replaced by a steam driven pump and now an electric pump provides drainage for the surrounding marshes.

Somerleyton Staithe has ample moorings for a good number of boats, the tide flows fast here so care is needed. The attractive village with it's thatched cottages, village green and pond is a short walk from the staithe. The red bricked Dukes Head is nearby and serves food sourced locally including Suffolk ales.

Further afield but well worth a visit is Somerleyton Hall and Gardens. The gardens include a Yew hedge maze that will interest children of all ages.

The railway crosses here over the swing bridge which will open unless two red flags are displayed. Headroom at average high water is 7 ft with a rise and fall of the tide of 18 inches.

Somerleyton Swing Bridge looking downstream.