We all arrived safely and settled into our newly decorated and very spacious rooms at The Ship Inn, Dunwich.

Dunwich is a village with a ruined priory and an interesting history.

It was once the seat of kings, then was important enough to be represented by 2 members of Parliament. However much of it long ago disappeared under the encroaching sea.

We took advantage of the good weather and went out for a short stroll along the beach before supper at the inn.

We all ate at the same table and most of us had enormous portions of fish and chips - which were very tasty.

After supper some women sat around the table and chatted - but most were fairly tired and soon went to bed.

Today some of us got up a little early and went for a short stroll in the local woods behind the inn before breakfast.

We saw and heard lots of garden birds as well as the more exotic green woodpecker.

We also saw a really beautiful fox as it crossed our path - he was probably after one of the hundreds of rabbits in the nearby fields...

After breakfast - a good choice of cereals, cooked breakfasts, fresh juices, yoghurts and really tasty, granary, toast etc - we set out southwards towards Minsmere (a National Nature Reserve which is famous for its reedbeds, lagoons and birdlife).

On the way we just had to stop and admire the flowers of Alexanders - a large coastal plant which was really common in Grey Friars Wood - as well as various fungii.

We also admired the remains of the Friary on our way out of the village.

A little further on we reached Dunwich Heath - famous for the Dartford Warbler and adder (which we didn't see!).

The smell of coconut from the bright yellow gorse flowers was wonderful.

Then a welcome elevenses break in a sheltered spot in the heath.

Sometime later we came across some unusual, elegant, sculptures being constructed in the heath - they looked a little like shark fins but were supposed to represent waves.

We had lunch outside on some picnic tables and then walked on to where we had a good view of Minsmere from Dunwich 'cliffs'.

We got blown to bits - and also had good views of the wild sea below.

We reached a public bird hide just inland from the coast - after passing an otter run marked with spraint.

We enjoyed seeing so many water birds from the hide (including lots of avocets, black-tailed godwits and marsh harriers).

Then a much deserved tea break in the RSPB tearooms after which we caught our Coast Link bus back to Dunwich for another evening meal at the pub.

Another early morning stroll in the woods before breakfast and then we set off northwards towards Walberswick.

Before leaving Dunwich we admired all the blackthorn flowers in the hedgerow - which were especially beautiful seen through a lens!!

Today we walked a little inland, parallel to the sea so that we mostly escaped the lashing sea wind.

On the way we could see greylag geese in the fields overlooking the marshes.

In the other direction marsh harriers gliding over the reedbeds - fantastic - as well as a pair of cock pheasants having a fight!

A little later we took a detour to go much deeper into the marshes - where Ruth spotted some fresh otter spraint.

Once seen (and smelt) never forgotten! and we subsequently found loads more otter signs - including some runs into the marshes.

Also very special was the sudden 'ping' of some bearded tits (incredibly rare - only about 350 pairs in the UK), seen briefly fluttering over the reeds.

Then we found some shelter in the woods for lunch - where we admired the 'pyjama pants' of Yorkshire Fog through the lens - and where we heard the distant 'foghorn' boom of the bittern (an even rarer bird - only about 55 pairs in the UK).

After lunch we strolled through more woods and fields - listening to some skylark - and admiring some recently cut stacks of reedbeds - as well as a pheasant feather.

We reached the River Blyth and walked beside it towards Walberswick.

There were lots of moored boats, then we reached the 'manual' ferry - a rowing boat rowed by a very strong woman and costing 80p per adult.

Finally we reached one of the most important destinations of the walk - the tea shop - for a much deserved cup of tea and cake.....

We still had an hour before our bus was due to pick us up at 4.30pm so some of us did a bit of shopping, some crossed the river on the rowing boat and others walked in the dunes towards the sea.

At the mouth of the river were some remains of a past 'pier' structure which the sea had moulded the wooden struts into lots of different, fascinating shapes.

One of them looked like the head of some sort of ancient beastie - maybe a wolf.

Our last supper together - and, once again, some women had huge plates of fish and chips - and where we all raised our glasses to a great trip in Suffolk!

After supper some of us ventured out for a night walk with some bat detectors.

We did hear a few echolocations of some brown long-eared and pipistrelle bats. But, unfortunately it was windy and drizzly so most bats were probably not coming out for a feed...

After breakfast we went for a walk towards Dunwich Heath - crossing a wet alder woodland with lots of sedges on the way where we listened out for marsh tits ...

Later on we saw some Dartford Warblers flitting over the heath (very exciting) - and spent a pleasant lunch listening to the song of the stonechat.

The wind had finally dropped and the sun came out as we strolled through Dunwich Forest back to the Ship Inn - admiring the spring primroses on the way.

Then it was time for a sad farewell. The end