Felixstowe Ferry - A 10 minute Drive From The Port Of Felixstowe To View A Different World.

Felixstowe Ferry

To the north of Felixstowe is the tiny fishing village of Felixstowe Ferry. Set at the mouth of the river Deben, the village has a timeless atmosphere with its collection of residences, shacks and houseboats, alongside a pub, church, fresh fish for sale, boatyard and sailing club.

Walking along the sea wall at Felixstowe Ferry you can see Bawdsey Manor across the river. Built in the 1880's, it was sold to the Air Ministry in 1936 becoming a secret WWII facility and where Sir Robert Watson-Watt developed radar. You will also come across two of Felixstowe’s Martello Towers built between 1805 and 1812 to repel a possible invasion by Napoleon's forces

There are many interesting walks along this stretch of the coast and it’s an ideal spot for birdwatching. One of the routes you can do follows along the estuary of the river Deben and beside the King's Fleet, a peaceful stream that takes its name from the fleet of ships assembled here by Edward III to sail to France to claim the crown in 1338. The King's Fleet is no longer navigable but back in the 13th C. it was regularly used by trading ships.

A foot and bicycle ferry runs between Felixstowe Ferry and Bawdsey from the 1 May to 30 September. Weather permitting. Please visit the website for full timings and fares. 01394 282173/07709 411511. www.felixstoweboats.co.uk

This beautiful village at the mouth of the river Deben is an idyllic place to while away the hours.

Felixstowe Ferry is a tiny cluster of houses, just north of the Edwardian seaside town of Felixstowe, where local fishermen sell their daily catch straight from the quayside and visitors come to wander along the banks of the tidal estuary.

Once a strategic port and trading centre (Edward III assembled his fleet here before sailing to France) the hamlet now offers a slice of serenity away from the hustle and bustle of the UK’s largest container port, a few miles away.

The Ferry café, a quirky, 50s-inspired eaterie has been serving fish and chips and dressed crab to hungry diners since 1946 from its seaside location.

COOL PLACE OF THE DAY: FELIXSTOWE FERRY, SUFFOLK

No we don't mean the sea crossing to Zeebrugge, or the vast container port at the other end of town, but a quaint old riverside hamlet, made up of a couple of Martello towers, a pub and a handful of houses that buts up against the end of the river Deben's estuary, a couple of miles north of Felixstowe proper.

It’s this area's most appealing corner, no question, although the seaside resort of Felixstowe, just to the south, is a much nicer place than you might think (with a sandy beach and a handful of seafront bars and cafés). And there is indeed a crossing over the river – a foot ferry to Bawdsey on the other side, a back-of-beyond sort of place but famous for the contribution its radar station made during the Second World War.

You can eat in Felixstowe Ferry’s pub – the excellent Ferry Boat Inn, which fronts on to the village green – or choose between a couple of good cafés: the Ferry Café, which does decent fish and chips, or Winkles, right by the jetty. Or just buy some fresh fish or seafood at Springtide Fish and take it home with you to cook.

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John Barber a lifetime spent at Felixstowe FerryJohn Barber