Whilst popular with visitors, the area remains totally unspoiled, boasting stunning views across the estuary and acres of reed-beds. The surrounding marshland is home to a vast variety of wildlife and birds.
Snape offers some wonderful walks - along the south bank of the river towards Iken, or the north bank to Snape Warren, and if you have a few hours spare, onwards to Aldeburgh along the Sailor’s path. Most of the walks start from Snape Maltings where there is a visitors centre with free maps and free parking!
You will often see groups of keen cyclist enjoying the quiet lanes and relatively flat terrain. The Suffolk Coastal Cycle Route passes through Snape on its way from Felixstowe to Dunwich, taking in the market towns of Framlingham and Woodbridge. The full tour is 88 miles but you can take a shortcut to make a day trip.
Probably the best way to enjoy this tranquil spot is from the river; Iken Canoe have canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards for hire by the hour between May and mid-September. A small pleasure cruiser makes short trips from Snape Maltings to Iken during the spring and summer months, subject to the tide. A timetable and tickets are available from the visitors centre.
Snape is known best for its Maltings, home of Aldeburgh Music and the world class concert hall. Hosting festivals throughout the year, the venue attracts visitors and performers from all over the world. Since 1965 the old Victorian Maltings has been gradually redeveloped to provide a thriving visitors centre with a rich cultural vein and a full and varied calendar of events all year round. The site is also home to a fine selection of retail outlets, restaurants, cafes, galleries and a variety of local arts and crafts.
With the coastal town of Aldeburgh just 5 miles east and the village of Orford, with its Norman Castle, 5 miles south, why not stay in one of our holiday cottages and explore this inspirational and peaceful stretch of Suffolk’s Heritage Coast?