Official Visitor Website
Back to Activities Activities

Herringfleet Hills

A walk through a mosaic of countryside from wet marshes to heathland, with lovely views across the Waveney valley. 3 miles (5km) approx. The link below will take you to a pdf of the route.

Description
Description

What’s it like?
Herringfleet Hills is an area of grass heath surrounded by bracken, low scrub and woodland. Herringfleet Marshes are managed as part of the Environmentally Sensitive Area government scheme which ensures they are grazed by cattle the traditional way. This has benefits for wildlife including marsh plants like water soldier and wading birds such as snipe, lapwings and redshanks. Dogs are welcome on a lead.

What wildlife lives there?
The area is good for reptiles such as grass snakes and common lizards. Listen out for song birds such as white throats, willow warblers and yellow hammers in spring and summer on the Herringfleet Hills.

What else is there to see?
There are fine views of the 100 year-old Somerleyton Swing Bridge from the moorings. It was designed to operate without the force and technology available today but relies on clever mechanical workings using relatively low forces and the laws of physics.
You can visit Herringfleet Church (on the B1074 towards Somerleyton, with parking). Somerleyton has a shop with post office and cafe.

Did you know?
Herringfleet Smock Mill, the only working smock mill in the Broads, is operated by Suffolk County Council on several open days through the year, when it is a sight to behold, with its sails dressed. It pumps 2000 gallons a minute in a stiff breeze. There’s a corrugated iron shed that used to house an old tractor which did the pumping job in the 1950s if there was no wind.