Snape Maltings, Iken and Orford.

I had planned Aldeburgh to be the last stop on my Norfolk and Suffolk coast road trip but when I got there I drove round without temptation to stop. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with Aldeburgh but with all the shops shut and the weather being flat I looked at the map and saw that Snape Maltings was nearby. I suppose it was inevitable that I was going to edge my way towards Orford - the home of Pump St Bakery which I’ve long wanted to visit.

Parking up at Snape Maltings I wasn't sure of a plan so when I spotted a couple bundling a very wet and happy cocker spaniel into the boot of a car I asked them for a walk to do and they sent me over the bridge and right along the marshes.

It started to warm and I shed a few layers of clothes while I was walking - the kind of dry, flat day that makes for taking photos of textures. I busied myself with the camera while Monty busied himself with finding areas of water to submerge himself into. We walked for a while until we got to the woodland and then I just sat and took in the view across the marshes before heading back to the van. Before moving off I couldn't resist a look in the shop and was glad I did - I came out with some beautiful homewares at a good price.

I’d seen a photo from Iken on a tourist leaflet so was intrigued as to what was there. Really all you could drive to was a church but I would imagine there are some beautiful walks sound here. Having walked myself out we took a short look around but driving in the van was a pleasure here - winding around the roads and being high enough to look over the hedges there was scenery that felt so unique to Iken.

Turning onto a busier road I finally found myself in my last destination - Orford. Keen to get back on the road before mid afternoon and keen to catch Pump Street Bakery before it closed at 1pm I parked up outside it and joined the queue. Most of the produce was gone but I did treat myself to a couple of bars of their famous sea salt and sourdough chocolate and devoured one while sitting at the foot of Orford Castle.

Getting comfortable, I turned the key in the ignition, chose a podcast and hit the road back to Brighton with noticeably more dropped shoulders. This first proper road trip in the van had been an absolute delight and I arrived in Brighton feeling truly energised and inspired by it all.