As some probably know, the idea for a Regional Walk was hatched when 3 families, (Read, Harris and Welham) met one winter weekend for dinner in 1997.
Originally the plan was to walk from Bawdsey to Lowestoft, at that time the whole of the “official” Suffolk Coastal Walk, but by the time this was completed in 1999, Suffolk County Council had added the Orwell and Stour estuary section, ending at the Essex border. This was completed by us in 2002.
 With some interest in the event maintained, it was decided to attempt to devise a way of walking from Lowestoft to join the Norfolk Coast Path that ends at Hunstanton, and this was started in 2003.

Summary of Stages
1998 Camped at Blaxhall Village Hall
17-19 April
Saturday: walked from Bawdsey along beach, then along banks of rivers Ore and Butley, through Tunstall Forest to Iken, then Snape Maltings.
Sunday: walked down coast from Thorpeness then across country, back to Snape Maltings.
Weekend total distance 23 miles

1999 Camped at Wyncroft Farm Wenhaston
16-18 April
Saturday: walked from Thorpeness along beach to Covehithe.
Sunday: walked from Covehithe to Lowestoft (Royal Plain).
Weekend total distance 22 miles

2000 Camped at Hallowtree Scout Camp Ipswich
7-9 April
Saturday: walked from Felixstowe Ferry along seafront at Felixstowe, behind docks, along waterside to Levington then by road to site.
Sunday: walked from site across Orwell Bridge to Pin Mill.
Weekend total distance 19 miles

2001 No meet  (Foot and Mouth)

2002 Camped at Village Hall Harkstead
19-21 April
Saturday: walked from site, across peninsular to Pin Mill then around Shotley point to Site.
Sunday: walked from site to Cattawade (Essex Border).
Weekend total distance 19 miles

2003 Camped at Church Farm, Burgh Castle
11-13 April
Saturday: walked from Lowestoft Coastguard Stn, along the sea front and beach to Corton, inland and along the coast road to Hopton, through the holiday park to beach and then to Gorleston.
Sunday: walked from Burgh Castle, along Breydon Water, under Breydon Bridge, across Haven Bridge along banks of Bure and then to beach, south of racecourse and on to Caister.
Weekend total distance 16 miles

2004 Camped at Waxham Sands Holiday Park Waxham
2-4 April
Saturday: walked from Caister along beach to Sea Palling.
Sunday: walked from Sea Palling along beach to Happisburgh.
Weekend total distance 16 miles

2005 Camped at Peacock Hall, Paston
8-10 April
Saturday: walked from Happisburgh to Mundesley along beach then inland along Paston Way, to Overstrand.
Sunday: walked from Weybourne back to Overstrand, along cliffs.
Weekend total distance 22.5 miles

2006 Camped at Sheringham High School
31 March – 2 April
Saturday: walked from Lady Ann Drive, Holkham to Cley on Norfolk Coastal path.
Sunday: walked from Cley to Weybourne again on N.C. path.
Weekend total distance 18.5 miles

Total to date 156 miles

Lastly, I’m still trying to document the numbers of walkers completing each section. We kept records for the Suffolk section but they appear to have gone missing, and we haven’t kept records for the later sections. I request any of you to contact me, with a list of sections completed. Probably the best route is mail@read-colville.fsnet.co.uk, quoting “Regional Walk”.

John Read
28th February 2007

From 2008 onwards, East Essex DA will be taking up the mantle of organising the Regional Walk. Dates are to be confirmed, but the walk will be starting fom Manningtree and will head South.