Report contributed by Bess (the IOG rov(er)ing reporter); additional reporting by Lily, Big Poppy and Little Poppy; pictures by Alan and Lou.
I was overjoyed when I learnt we were walking from the Marsh Barn Café at Hollesley Bay. We would be walking in an area of outstanding natural beauty and it would be a lovely walk with great scenery and good company. But most importantly, there would be free dog biscuits at the Marsh Barn Café for me, Lily, and the two Poppies at the end of the walk.
We walked from the Hollesley Marshes Car Park. It was lovely to see the expression of joy on the walkers faces when we joined the Suffolk Coastal Path and they saw the water flowing into the River Ore from Hollesley Bay. Although, to be frank, I wished they would have spent less time gawping and more time walking so we could get to the dog biscuits.
We headed northwards on the coastal path, then looped through Boyton Hall Farm before rejoining the Suffolk Coastal Path. The group photograph was taken there.
We then walked southwards along the Suffolk Coastal path with lovely views towards Shingle Street and over the marshes. The January weather was stunning as you can see from the photographs.
The walk was just under five miles and largely mud free. Mud-free walks are highly desirable as this means there is no need to clean paws and we can get to the free biscuits much more quickly. There is also a much better chance of being able to get on laps for a cuddle.
The Marsh Barn Café is really nice and has a good range of very reasonably priced food. We had a really enjoyable time there. The staff are very friendly and helpful. When I wasn’t on a lap, I helped the café staff clean the crumbs off the floor. The seventeen walkers are really nice but they aren’t the tidiest eaters.
Overall, a great walk with good weather and excellent company. And super dog biscuits! Please can we have many more walks from this café?