VISIT
DUNWICH
Once the largest city on the East Coast, most of Dunwich now lies in ruins at the bottom of a hungry sea. Visit what remains of Dunwich village to learn of its once glorious history at the museum and Greyfriar’s Abbey where only one single grave remains, teetering on the cliff edge. You can also visit the historic Ship Inn, enjoy beach walks and admire this crumbling coastline. A mile or so down the coast from the village is Dunwich Heath, home of the coastguard cottages, perched on the clifftop with stunning views. A perfect place to retreat to for a long coastal walk, or through its vast heathland for all sorts of wildlife discoveries.
Must-do’s
To get the most out of your visit to Dunwich, we’ve selected some of the most popular things to do whilst you’re there.
VISIT DUNWICH HEATH
A beautiful National Trust reserve
Explore a number of footpaths leading you through a myriad of habitats and discover the birds and animals that call Dunwich Heath home. Open daily from dawn to dusk and the visitor facilities are open all summer and weekends in the winter months. Food and drink available from the Coastguard Cottages.
ENJOY A BEACH WALK
Great for discovering nature
A stony beach with a sandy shoreline, at low tide Dunwich beach is easy to walk. North takes you to Walberswick and south to the National Trust Coastguard Cottages, Minsmere Bird reserve and Sizewell. From the village there are several footpaths which take you up onto the clifftops, through shaded woodlands that loop you back around to explore the Greyfriars abbey remains.
VISIT DUNWICH MUSEUM
Discover the lost city of Dunwich
Take a trip to this quaint little museum which tells the tale of how the great medieval port of Dunwich turned into a tiny coastal village. With 12 churches lost beneath the waves, remains of a medieval abbey and skeletons that keep falling out of the crumbling cliffs, an intriguing voyage of discovery awaits.
DINING OUT
This tiny coastal village offers only a small selection of eateries. The pub, The Ship Inn, is a cosy country pub with a fantastic garden offering hot meals, snacks and local ales every day of the week. There are also a few tearooms in the village including Flora Tearooms down by the seafront, Dingle Hill Tearooms a slight walk inland. There is also National Trust’s Coastguard Cottages down at Dulwich Heath serving snacks and lunches every day of the week.
