Aldeburgh sea wall

The sea wall at Aldeburgh is one of those walks that feels properly authentic - no gift shop, no visitor centre, just you and the North Sea doing what it does best. You're facing the shingle beach head-on, with the town's flint houses backing you up and a promenade that's been battered by winter storms more times than anyone can count. The wall itself isn't particularly high or dramatic, but that's rather the point. It's a working defence, not a spectacle.

Walking it gives you a real sense of why people live here despite the relentless coastal erosion. The view stretches for miles, and on a clear day you can pick out the landscape of Sizewell's nuclear power station inland from Leiston - a bit grim, but genuinely East Anglia. The shingle shifts constantly, so it's never quite the same walk twice, which beats a polished tourist trail every time.

This works best for couples or serious walkers rather than families with small children - the shingle can be rough underfoot and there's not much to break up a walk if someone gets tired. Allow an hour minimum, longer if you fancy exploring Aldeburgh's high street afterwards. Go when it's windy if you want drama; go at sunset if you want something softer. It's free, unsupervised, and properly wild. Beach View Holiday Park sits just 3.6 miles inland, making this an excellent evening stroll after a day at the caravan.