Bikesure_adrianflux

Radioactive Fish & Chips.

Grumpy

Grumpy

record breaker!!
Joined
Apr 24, 2006
Messages
2,161
Location
Peterborough
Bike
M1200R
Who fancies a run to the coast with a twist?!
I'm planning to visit Orford Ness on Saturday the 18th of august, with a fish & chip lunch to boot.
Oxford Ness was a top secret base run by the MOD....have a read of the link.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/orford-ness-national-nature-reserve

I'm planning a cross country run, starting in Brandon. The idea is to start with breakfast at Danniis Cafe for 9am, then heading off to Orford, aiming to arrive for about 12.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Resta...iner-Brandon_Suffolk_East_Anglia_England.html

Once there, hop on the ferry to The Ness, have a nose, then head back to Orford, we can then head to Aldbourgh for fish & Chips.

Who's game?!
 
There was a program on tv recently about Orford Ness which I found very interesting so have a good day James and be sure to take plenty of pics
Ho and enjoy the fish and chips.
 
Gutted that I missed a program about Orford ness! It's fascinated me since I was a kid, and I've never been!

Really looking forward to this. The first time we've had a boat trip on a club run as far as I know?
If you are a National trust member, you will get a discount on the boat ticket.

This replaces what would have been the August Sunday breakfast meet for what seems to have become the Norfolk/Suffolk section. (note that it's on a Saturday though..)

Looking forward to seeing some of the new crowd again.

Grumpy
Mr Gazza
 
Hi
Been across to the Ness many a time can be a bit resrictive..don't do this don't do that don't go there this bits closed etc & i don't like the way they let really important things like the fantastic look out tower collapse & the coastguard look out building has all but fallen down ..& as for the lighthouse don't get me started !!! managed decline they call it...right thats the rant out of the way...oh one final thing the walk to what was once the remains of the Cobra Mist aerials may well be closed but still interesting enough if you follow 'THE RULES' perhaps i just don't like being told what to do..after paying my money !!
 
Rules are for the guidance of wise men, and the obedience of fools.. :chuckle:
 
I preferred it when you could just nip across & have the place to yourself...
 
meet you there

I'm going to come along for the trip over to the Ness, I'll meet you there around 12.
If there is anyone else planning to come up from Ipswich way we could arrange to meet somewhere. Let me know

Dave
 
DaveR said:
I'm going to come along for the trip over to the Ness, I'll meet you there around 12.
If there is anyone else planning to come up from Ipswich way we could arrange to meet somewhere. Let me know

Dave
Click to expand...

Great, see you there :biggrin:

Grumpy
Gaza's
Gold star
DaveR
 
Going to have to cancel, got some problem with getting the bike to idle correctly, so its off to the menders Saturday...
 
Any more going to join us on Saturday, for this excellent and off centre run.... Weather is looking just right for a wander over the Ness.
 
Thanks to Grumpy for laying on this meet.
It was a very pleasant bimble to Brandon on empty roads, for breakfast at Dannii's Diner.
Grumpy found some nice roads down to Orford, including the fabulous b1116.
We met up with DaveR at Orford, who arrived literally seconds after us.

Orford is a very pleasant little village, which doesn't ask much of you, and we were soon on the boat over to the Ness.
It's a wild, mysterious and desolate place... And quite large too, which implies lots of walking in bike gear, carrying what can't be worn!
Sadly Grumpy had to return home before getting the opportunity to trudge over several acres of gravel, but Dave and I soldiered on.


The pagodas can be seen from the harbour. This is taken about half way between the village and the pagodas.

https://postimages.org/app
Once on the gravel spit, the Lighthouse stands out. Twisted metal is strewn about the entire site, together with concrete blocks and remnants of it's former use.
The lighthouse is soon to be claimed by the Sea. Erosion is very evident around the base.



Off to the North, the enormous and ominous "Cobra Mist" building, sitting near the semi-circle of massive aerials...Far too far to walk today though.
Also in the distance beyond Cobra Mist is Sizewell Nuclear Power station.


It's a bleak and desolate place on a vast scale.... Much like the Cold War itself!
Looking towards the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment's bizarre structures across acres of bomb pocked gravel.


This was as close as we could get to the pagodas, still nearly half a mile distant on full zoom, the foreground structure is about half way between us and the pagoda.

Smashing, if exhausting day out. Thanks again to Grumpy for coming up with this one, such a shame more didn't take this up.. maybe another go at it one day?

The Cherry on the cake was a glorious ride home up the virtually empty B1116 and stayed on B roads all the way to Norwich.
(note to self.. factor the B1116 into more ride outs.)
 
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Thanks guys for a cracking day out, and apologies i bunked off early.
The Ness is such a tranquil place with fascinating history surrounded by stunning scenery plus a rich variety of wild life.
I agree with you Gary, the B1116 is a good'n!
My ride home was quick and frustating! I was within 5 miles of home, when, I came across an accident which had closed the road. Ploice, fire brigade and ambulance in attendance, hopefully nobody seriously injured.
The up shot from my perspective was, due to local road works closing the next couple of roads heading towards Peterborough, my detour was 20 miles and 40 minutes!!
Maybe another run out to Orford in the near future?
 
Grumpy said:
Maybe another run out to Orford in the near future?
Click to expand...

Yep. We should go back and try to winkle out some more of those Suffolk members, there are quite a few in the Dipswitch area.
Impressed that there was still elbow room in Orford in peak season.

Forgot to thank Dave for guiding me to my turn off to Wickham market, where we met a long convoy of wobbly hardly dangerous riders getting lost. I only had to follow them to the A12 making lots of noise and not much go.. :chuckle:
 
That would be ' the trip out' it was on this w/e near Woodbridge ..I saw loads on the A14 on Friday I thought they were way out & groovy man.some real old skool bikes..if u go again to 'the ness' I'll join the run but can't bring myself to pay money to the national trust ..
 
The alternative is to visit the orfordness lighthouse trust website & go on one of their tours of the lighthouse which includes return(of course) trip across by boat walk to lighthouse on same paths as NT ,tour of lighthouse & climb stairs to the top (for the brave) with the fantastic views all for about £3
 
Was a really good trip over to Orford Ness, Gasa's pictures do sum up the place very well, a strange place with a deserted atmosphere, despite the smattering of people around.
Good to see Gasa & Grumpy again, would certainly do another trip there.
I'm glad you were able to negotiate the HD riders without too much trouble.

Dave
 
uncle duke said:
The alternative is to visit the orfordness lighthouse trust website & go on one of their tours of the lighthouse which includes return(of course) trip across by boat walk to lighthouse on same paths as NT ,tour of lighthouse & climb stairs to the top (for the brave) with the fantastic views all for about £3
Click to expand...

That's not a bad idea Uncle.

http://www.orfordnesslighthouse.co.uk/

We'll have to pull some fingers out if we're going to do it this year the only dates remaining are Sunday 16th sept and Sunday 7th oct. It say's you can't buy tickets in advance and yet also says that the last August date is fully booked... So not sure how that works?

Not sure if next year will be an option, having seen the erosion on the seaward side. I think one good tide would have it lying on the beach like a big stripy whale!!

The boat is £3.50 and sets sail at 1.30pm. So plenty of time for chips beforehand. (Cue Road Captain Grumpy.. )

If anyone is interested I will mail the trust and try to get a group booking. (for sept 16th.)
 
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