Ramsholt

Friends with dogs recommended the walks around Ramsholt to us. Unsure of what we would find we headed off on a breezy spring day armed as usual with wellies, poo-bags and treats. And here at Ramsholt wellies are definitely the order of the day. The main walk from the Ramsholt Arms runs a small ridge footpath along the coast and has the river on one side with a large expanse of river mudflats; and on the other, a low-lying water meadow filled with reed beds and rivulets. The opportunities for muddy dogs are endless and on our previous trips, we always returned with two rather wet and sorry smelling hounds. However, from the smiles on their faces you could see they were "as happy as Larry". The coastal path ends in a small wooded copse and there you can about face and return to the pub, providing a good off lead walk of about 30 minutes length. Other footpaths lead away from the pub and back up the hill and to the beautiful All Saints church. The church has a round tower, a feature of churches in Suffolk and dates from the 13 th Century. The churchyard is maintained as a haven for wildlife and has a great view down to the Deben and across the countryside. At the top of the hill, the surrounding land is mainly agricultural, with fields of peas, potatoes and grain intersected by well-signed footpaths. There are a few signs advising the dog walker of livestock and the need to keep dogs on a lead, but on our visits, we have only rarely seen any animals at pasture. Resolving to visit Ramsholt in summer, and thereby hoping to come home with less mucky hounds, we had to laugh when on our latest trip, Malli managed to find the only cowpat in town. Heading home, we took advantage of the small jetty at the quay to wash the dogs in the Deben before taking some refreshment in the garden of the Ramsholt Arms; quite the perfect end to a perfect Suffolk day.