Halesworth to Southwold via Holton
The start of a short cycling break in Suffolk
(Photos/words © urban75, May 2007)

We decided to escape the madness of Brixton for a few days and enjoy a short holiday break in the coastal town of Southwold. Here's some photos from our trip.


After the demise of the charming narrow gauge Southwold Railway in 1929, Southwold is now nine miles from the nearest train station, Halesworth.

After an uneventful (and, annoyingly, buffet-free) two and a quarter hour train journey from London Liverpool Street, we arrived at Halesworth station.

You can see our natty Dahon folding wheels o'steel outside the station building, which now serves as a local museum.


We took a quick look inside the Halesworth & District Museum (admission free).



It's only a small museum, but well worth a visit. Be sure to check out the demonstration of the station's old swivelling platforms! (see the restored platforms here).




On our way to Southwold, we took a small diversion into the pretty village of Holton.

The name is Anglo-Saxon meaning, 'village in a hollow' and there's evidence of human habitation in the area since neolithic times.


In the background you can see the fully restored Post Mill, which saw its sails working again in 1996.


There's just two shops and a pub in the village (to the right in the photo). The biggest employer in the area is the awful Bernard Matthews turkey factory farming complex.


Billboards for the East Anglian Game and Country Fair, where you can see such compelling attractions as The Quack Pack (Meirion Owen's Sheep Dog & Duck Display), Dancing Dogs With Willow Kelly (As Seen At Crufts), Ye Old Redtail Falconry Display With Ray & Wendy Aliker and a Long Netting Display With Brian Brinded.




We took a little diversion down a country track by the junction of the B1123 and A145 and came across the impressive gate house.


As far as we could see, the impressive arch just led to an empty field, with the expected grand house nowhere in sight.


Building detail.


Heading back to the main road.




On the way to Southwold.


Beware of Rumble Strips!


Coming closer to Southwold we could see the iconic beach huts in the distance.