Snape

We start at Snape, a small village on the River Alde, and follow a route along the top of Snape Marshes (a combination of marsh, reedbed and wet woodland with lots of freshwater dykes) to reach the Sailor's Path (a beautiful route walked by sailors for hundreds of years between Snape Maltings and Aldeburgh).  We then cut down through Snape Warren Nature Reserve (an area of heathland, grassland and scrub) to reach the River Alde and walk up to Snape Bridge; there are excellent views all the way as we reach the bridge and cross over to vist Snape Maltings.

Snape was originally a busy port; the site was purchased by the Victorian entrepeneur Newson Garrett who converted it to a maltings and used the River Alde to transport barley across Britain and into Europe on Thames barges - in 1854 he began malting at Snape, and was soon shipping malt, rather than barley, to breweries.  Malting ceased in 1965, however, and the site was purchased by a local farmer who leased the largest Malthouse to Benjamin Britten, who had the vision to see the building and the beautiful setting as a possible site for the rapidly growing Aldeburgh Music Festival.  From 1971 - 2014, the other buildings were converted to shops, galleries and accommodation and new buildings were developed to create a centre for music.  The complete site is now part of a music, arts and heritage charity - Britten Pears Arts. 

We have a good look round Snape Maltings - it is well worth a visitRead more