Orford is a village on the Suffolk coast. It has a fine mediaeval castle, built to dominate the River Ore, and a Grade I listed parish church, St Bartholomew's.

Understand

Orford Ness Map

Orford is a small coastal town within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The town is separated from the sea by a 10-mile-long shingle spit known as Orford Ness, the town being mid-way along the spit. The spit is connected to the mainland ay Aldeburgh and the River Alde flows along the coastline between the mainland and the shingle spit. The town is the only means of access to the Orford Ness nature reserve.

Get in

By road

The town is 9 miles E of the main A12 road running Ipswich to Lowestoft, connected via quiet B roads.

By train

The town is not on the rail network. The nearest station is

• 1 Wickham Market Train Station, Station Rd, Campsea Ashe IP13 0PT (10 miles NW of Orford). On the East Suffolk line (Ipswich to Lowestoft), station managed by and services operated by Greater Anglia. (updated Jun 2017)

By ferry

Butley ferry is an ancient foot ferry to the south of Orford. It runs on weekends and bank holidays from end of April to end of September 11AM-4PM. Call ahead to check it is running, or book for parties travelling on week days: 07913 672499

• Adults £2.00
• Children £1.50
• Bicycle £1.50

By bicycle

The town in on Regional Cycle Route 41 which connects to National Cycle Route 51 (Colchester to Oxford) at Felixstowe (and then the National Cycle Network) and to National Cycle Route 1 (Shetland Islands to Dover) at Bruisyard 15 miles NW of the town.

Get around

The town is small enough to see on foot.

See

Orford Castle

Church of St Bartholomew

• 1 Orford Castle, Castle Hill, IP12 2ND, ☏ +44 1394 450472. Adults £7.30; children £4.40; concessions £6.60. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Orford Ness Nature Reserve (access by National Trust ferry Octavia from Orford Quay Apr-Oct). No bikes or dogs. Take your own food & drink. Note that Orfordness Lighthouse was dismantled in July 2020. Completed in 1792, it was inactive and stood on a fast-eroding shingle spit; it couldn't be relocated or reinforced against the sea. It's hoped to place some of the structure as a memento on firm ground somewhere nearby. Adult £10; child £5 (including ferry). (updated Jun 2017)
• Havergate Island nature reserve (via ferry boat from Orford quay on selected Saturdays). 

Do

• Walk along the sea walls
• Take the ferry to the bird reserve (depending on weather)
• Visit the church
• Try and spot where the ancient harbour used to be
• 1 River Trips, Orford Marine Services, Orford Quay, IP12 2NU, ☏ +44 7900 230579 (mobile), regardlessrivertrips@hotmail.com. Adults £10; children £5. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Tunstall Forest (OS grid ref: TM382559), ☏ +44 300 067 4965, alice.greenacre@forestry.gsi.gov.uk. Dawn-dusk. Parking: off of the B1069 Tunstall to Snape rd. Viking Trail 10-mile red grade mountain bike trail. Forrestry harvesting operations take place so check before visiting. (updated Apr 2024)
• 3 Rendlesham Forest, IP12 3NF (OS grid ref: TM354484), ☏ +44 300 067 4965, alice.greenacre@forestry.gsi.gov.uk. Walking trails, bike paths, picnic area, children's play area. Parking £3.50/day. (updated Apr 2024)

Buy

• Smoked fish
• 1 Pinney's of Orford (Fish Shop), The Old Warehouse, Quay St, Orford IP12 2NU, ☏ +44 1394 459183, info@pinneysoforford.co.uk. M-F 10AM-4:30PM, Sa 9AM-4:30PM, Su 10AM-4PM. (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 Orford General Store, Front St, Orford IP12 2LN, ☏ +44 1394 450204, info@orfordgeneralstore.com. M-Sa 8:30AM-5:30PM, Su 10AM-4PM. (updated Jun 2017)

Eat

Orford is famous for its smoked fish, and there is a small smoke house selling it.

• 1 Butley Orford Oysterage (Restaurant), Market Hill, Orford IP12 2LH, ☏ +44 1394 450277, info@butleyorfordoysterage.co.uk. Seasonal variations. In the town centre. It offers oysters, smoked and fresh fish. (updated Jun 2017)

Drink

It has a few pubs.

• 1 The Kings Head Inn (Pub & Food), Front St, Orford IP12 2LW, ☏ +44 1394 450271, thekingsheadorford@gmail.com. Pub: M-Th noon-3PM & 5:30-11PM, F Sa noon-11:30PM, Su noon-10:30PM; Food: M-Sa noon-2:30PM & 6-9PM, Su noon-3PM. Dating back to the 16th century, the King's Head Inn adheres to a unique tradition of serving beer straight from the casks of the tap room rather than from a bar (updated Jun 2017)
• 2 The Jolly Sailor (Pub, Restaurant & Rooms), Quay St, Orford IP12 2NU, ☏ +44 1394 450243, info@jollysailororford.co.uk. Pub: M-F noon-3PM & 6-11PM, Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10:30PM; food: M-F noon-2:30PM & 6-8:30PM, Sa noon-2:30PM & 6-8:30PM, Su noon-2:30PM & 6-8:30PM. (updated Jun 2017)

Sleep

• 1 The Crown and Castle, Market Hill IP12 2LJ, ☏ +44 1394 450205. Upscale modern restaurant with rooms. No children under 8. B&B double £140. (updated Jun 2020)
• 2 Ashanwell B&B, 1 Potkins Lane, Orford IP12 2SS, ☏ +44 1394 450882, katharina_willan@ashanwell.com. (updated Jun 2017)

Connect

As of Sept 2022, Orford and its main approach road have 4G from EE but no signal from other carriers. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

• Woodbridge and Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon archaeological site
• Aldeburgh
• Felixstowe
• Ipswich