It’s time to relish Suffolk’s North Sea sandy shoreline and novel beach hotels.”
As we venture onto Aldeburgh beach, a gentle North Sea breeze blows, and we tread across the pebbles towards Maggi Hambling’s 13ft high steel Scallop shell. The sculpture, honoring the composer Benjamin Britten, who resided and created works in this coastal Suffolk town, will commemorate its 20th anniversary this year. Although the artwork sparked controversy upon its unveiling, it now seems like an intrinsic part of the seascape, much like the grounded fishing boats and piles of lobster traps.
The sun emerges from behind a bank of clouds at the opportune moment, casting a golden glow on everything. While the Scallop is frequently used as a climbing structure or windbreak during the summer months, as intended by Hambling, we only have the company of seagulls as we leisurely circumnavigate the sculpture, with the afternoon sun’s soft light reflecting off its rippled surface.
We depart from the Maltings and traverse the marshes towards Iken’s small settlement, where the ancient St Botolph church appears to float on the marshland like a ship. As we journey along the boardwalk, surrounded by rustling reeds and the calls of curlews and other wading birds inhabiting the muddy creeks, it’s clear why Britten found this terrain so stimulating. Unfortunately, the Red House, the residence he shared with his partner Peter Pears, is closed during our visit (though it has since reopened), which is the only drawback to our early-season vacation – and an excellent reason to return soon.
Three newly inaugurated seaside hotels.
During the early 1900s, Pendine Sands’ seven-mile-long beach was a popular destination for motor racing, with several attempts made to break world records. The Caban, a newly established family-oriented beachfront establishment, features 14 rooms and an ocean-view restaurant. Located next to the Museum of Land Speed, which is set to launch in early summer.
