Holiday rentals in Walberswick

The Suffolk seaside village of Walberswick is filled with Georgian architecture, whitewashed fishermen’s cottages, sandy beaches lined with dunes and waving sea grasses, and protected marshlands populated by otters. Once a vital port and fishing centre, Walberswick remains a popular crabbing spot. It’s also a popular holiday destination — the coast is especially bustling during the warmer months.

The area’s quiet beauty has lured many famous painters and artists over the centuries, and you can find some Walberswick seaside scenes hanging in the Tate. Inland, find even more natural beauty in the wooded Walberswick Nature Reserve, where there are plenty of trails to explore.

The town centre boasts a number of options for spending your time away from the waves and woodlands. Here you’ll find local craft shops, tea rooms, and award-winning pubs as well as seaside stalls selling fresh-caught crab. For a taste of medieval times, explore the picturesque 15th-century ruins of St. Andrews stone church.

Although it usually rains about eight days a month here, weather in Walberswick is fairly mild and enjoyable all year long. Summers are glorious, and the beaches are buzzing, but be sure to bring a light jacket for the cooler evenings. In nearby Southwold, a big music festival in July brings a diverse slate of well-known alternative artists and buzzy indie bands to Henham Park. In August, the village holds its annual festival with food and events at the town hall as well as a dog show.

Walberswick Beach

Just a short walk from the middle of the village is a wild and windswept beach with a mix of sand and stones. Walberswick Beach makes for a great picnic or sunbathing spot. You can swim here, although you’ll want to pay attention to the tide and the size of the waves. The wind can get quite blustery here — which also makes it a great spot for surfers and sea kayakers. There’s a mobile ice cream stall during the warmer months, and views of Southwold Lighthouse in the distance.

Walberswick Nature Reserve

This 1,200-hectare protected area contains varied habitats like woodland, salt marshland, heath, and grasslands that are vital for a variety of birds and flora. There are plenty of walks to explore here, depending on how long you’d like to be out for. Follow the boardwalk out to the shingle beach, where you can spot sea anemone in small tidepools. The paths in the reserve will take you all the way to Dunwich, where you can spend a few hours exploring ruins from its prosperous medieval past.

Southwold

From the town centre, you can take a small ferry or walk over the River Blyth to spend a day in the pretty town of Southwold. Southwold is surrounded by water on three sides, and you’ll be able to walk up the working local lighthouse for panoramic views of it all. You can also spend a day in one of the brightly coloured beach huts, walk along the restored Victorian pier, or shop around for souvenirs.