Autumn Ambles in Suffolk

Birdwatching can be very rewarding during the autumn and winter and a series of walks is scheduled at the RSPB Minsmere nature reserve on the Suffolk's coast. What can visitors expect to see at this time of year? Ian Barthorpe, Marketing and Publicity Officer at Minsmere and a keen birdwatcher himself, explains:

 “The main highlights of our Magic of Minsmere walks are huge flocks of colourful ducks on the Scrape; tits, finches and thrushes in the woods/scrub; bearded tits and marsh harriers in the reedbed, and superb coastal and wetland scenery. Winter is also a great time to see otters and bitterns. Our guided walks don’t usually visit the reedbed hides, but it’s worth heading out to these hides after your walk in search of these usually shy creatures. If you stay till dusk you may see marsh harriers, Bewick’s swans or up to 50,000 starlings coming in to roost.”

A murmuration of starlings is a wonderful thing to behold and worth staying on for. Warm up in between stints of birdwatching with a tasty choice of cakes, snacks and soups in the on-site cafe.

There are two Magic of Minsmere walks. The mid-week walks start at 9.30am and take place on Tuesdays (9 and 16 Oct) and last for three hours. The weekend walks start at 9.15 am (7, 13, 21 & 27 Oct) and last for a few hours. Walks cost £11.25 or £9 for RSPB members, plus normal entry fees. Children are £5.60 or £4.50 for members.

Explore more of the Suffolk Coast this autumn.

 If you want to indulge in some time travel, and fancy an evening stroll around one of England's finest medieval villages, then consider joining the Lavenham by Lantern Light walk on Saturday, 3rd Nov and 7 other dates that month.

Costumed guides will lead the way, lanterns lit, and regale visitors with stories of Christmases past. The walk ends with hot drinks and home-made cakes in the Lavenham Guildhall.

Discover some of the prettiest medieval villages in the whole of the UK.

On the 6th November, join a Photo Walk at Gainsborough's House around this pleasant market town and birthplace of artist Thomas Gainsborough. The day is spent with a group of up to ten photographers in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Spend the morning exploring the venue with professional photographer, Lucy Kayne, as your guide. In the afternoon, participants spend some time reviewing their work, before picking their favourites and sharing them with the rest of the group. It's amazing how one subject can look so different through ten different pairs of eyes!

Whilst in town, explore Gainsborough’s House, birthplace and resident for part of his live, now a lovely museum with a large and important collection of his work.

Ghost Walks take place in the elegant market town of Bury St Edmunds, from Halloween until the end of March. Murder, executions, plague, witchcraft and sightings of ghostly figures, the Bury St Edmunds Tour Guides take you on a spooky tour around this haunted town.

Starting at Moyse’s Hall, learn of the story of the Red Barn Murderer – William Corder, who trial, conviction and execution brought thousands to the town, followed by spectral goings on at the Market Cross and then to the Nutshell pub to hear the stories of witches, mummified cats and local folklore.

Wind your way around the darkened streets hearing stories of screaming skulls, mysterious ‘monk’ like figures, burnings and hangings, and more, finishing up in the dark and deserted Great Churchyard, where the guides recall the stories from the Abbey and the famous Grey Lady.

The Bury St Edmunds Ghostly and Macabre Tour starts on Halloween (Wednesday Oct 31) and then every Friday evening from 2 November to 29 Mar 2019, excluding 23 Nov. The 90-minute tour costs £6 per person and starts from outside Marks and Spencer on Cornhill at 6.30pm. The only caveat - you have to be 14 years or over to attend this spooky spooktacular!

Find out more by contacting the Tourist Information Centre on 01284 764667 and don't forget to read our article on ten things we love about Bury St Edmunds.