seaside day out, 2 hours from south east essex?????

[chilistrucker]

Help please.
providing the weather is ok, I'd like to take the mrs out for the day tomorrow.
ideally somewhere within a 2-2&1/2 hour drive of basildon, essex.
thinking a seaside type town would be nice, she likes abit of shopping, kind of antique and funky household furnishing type places. She also likes gardens and gardening. I'm happy to mooch around anywhere, and would be up for finding somewhere really nice along the way for dinner.
so, does anyone know of a suitable seaside town, harbour town or similar that may fit these requirements?
Any thoughts, ideas appreciated.

[g3org3y]

I remember from my time based in Canterbury that Whitstable was a pleasant (albeit fairly small) seaside town. Might be worth a look (about an hour from Basildon).

[Jaguar steve]

Suffolk. A12 will be a nightmare though.

Try Walberswick for arty shops and galleries and Snape Maltings for more of the same. Both nice drives through gentle countyside. Fish and chips at Aldebourough or Dunwich. Anywhere you go on the Suffolk coast there's pebbly/shingle beaches for a walk.

Frinton has nice beaches and shops but will be rammed. High tides this weekend on the east coast are early to mid afternoon depending whereabouts you end up so beach space will be at a premium.

[chilistrucker]

Thanks. Funny as in my own head I'd thought of whitstable/herne bay as I'd worked there years ago.
also, suffolk was a thought from regular work related drives to lowestoft, as I seemed to pass many possible interesting places along the way.
will google some of these now, ta

[LaserTam]

How about Rye, Sussex? Nice little town for a wander around. Camber sands is just down the road, which is great for a walk.

Or Canvey?

[Blib]

Jaguar steve said:

Suffolk. A12 will be a nightmare though.

Try Walberswick for arty shops and galleries and Snape Maltings for more of the same. Both nice drives through gentle countyside. Fish and chips at Aldebourough or Dunwich. Anywhere you go on the Suffolk coast there's pebbly/shingle beaches for a walk.

A good call. I'd add Southwold to that list, for the pier.

[chilistrucker]

Ha, ha, canvey. Nothing like a night out in the monaco :0
Southwold was a thought, as 1 of the guys I work with lives there, and says its a lovely place. Apparently the fish and chips are particularly good? Luckily the mrs is just as happy with fish n chips, as I am with a nice restaurant.

[Blib]

As mentioned above. For fish and chips, Aldebrough is the place to go. It's only twenty minutes down the road from Southwold.

[chilistrucker]

Thanks all for the ideas
Havn't told the mrs yet where we are going but think our route will be Snape maltings, Aldeburgh, Walberswick and finish in Southwold
Not worried about beach space, more about mooching along the pathways and towns. We have all the timein the world, so if the a12 is busy, happy to use the old roads, through south woodham, Bicknacre, Maldon, Tiptree, Colchester, Ardleigh, Brantham, and Woodbridge
Hopefully a nice day ahead, fish and chips for lunch and finish up with dinner in or around southwold maybe
Just wish I still had the old m5 for the drive.
next year maybe

[kowalski655]

Another advantage of Southwold is Adnam's brewery

(Get the missus to drive )

[2222]

Sssaaaaaaffffff end.

With that on the doorstep, you don't need to travel far at all

[2222]

Sssaaaaaaffffff end.

With that on the doorstep, you don't need to travel far at all

[chilistrucker]

2222 said:

Sssaaaaaaffffff end.

With that on the doorstep, you don't need to travel far at all

true, but we fancied a change from cockles n whelks guv

Mmm, adnams. I'll drive up, the mrs can drive home

[southendpier]

chilistrucker said:

true, but we fancied a change from cockles n whelks guv

heathen.

[Jaguar steve]

chilistrucker said:

Ha, ha, canvey. Nothing like a night out in the monaco :0
Southwold was a thought, as 1 of the guys I work with lives there, and says its a lovely place. Apparently the fish and chips are particularly good? Luckily the mrs is just as happy with fish n chips, as I am with a nice restaurant.

Not eaten in Southwold but Aldebrough very good. Turn right into Aldeburough high street and the chippy is about half a mile down on the left. You'll able to identify it by the long que out the door. Sit on the beach and enjoy.

Dunwich has a shack in the car park almost on the beach. Fish and chips good there too.

The whole of the Suffolk AONB coast is lovely and really worth more than just one day out IMO

[chilistrucker]

Thanks Steve
We are going there for fish and chips for lunch and then find somewhere in Southwold, or maybe even Ipswich in the evening for dinner

[Blib]

If the queue's too long, the fish shop has a satellite establishment, across the road and at the far end of the high street, looking to the right from outside the main shop.

[Jaguar steve]

chilistrucker said:

Thanks Steve
We are going there for fish and chips for lunch and then find somewhere in Southwold, or maybe even Ipswich in the evening for dinner

Nicer drive up through the villages and forests from Woodbridge rather than staying on the A12

Butt and Oyster pub @ Pin Mill near Ipswich has to be visited. Good food, Adnam's beers and river views.

Love Suffolk - you will too

[chilistrucker]

Well we had a cracking day.
took the scenic ŕoute up through all the smaller towns and villages, and only used the a14/a12 from Ipswich upto Woodbridge, where we hung a right and headed for Snape.


had a good nose round Snape maltings, really liked it, plenty to see and do and bought some nice jams, chutneys and sauces, (should I join the w.i?)

[chilistrucker]

oh yeah, had 1 of these before leaving Snape
Then went onto Aldeburgh, loved it. Mind you if today was anything to go by, would avoid it in the height of summer.
Found the chippy, and igs huge queue :0
So took Blibs advice and went too the 1 at the far end of the high street, by the pub
still a big old queue, but most definitely worth the wait.