Dunwich Beach and Overnight Parking.

scotjimland said:
do you know what the small bridge was built for ?
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I don’t know, I suspect it may have been for driving sheep across, you will have noticed the gate on the opposite side you can almost imagine a track by looking at the tree line but that may have been my imagination. Don’t know if you have taken the walk and track that runs parallel with the Dunwich forest that goes to Walberswick it is elevated above the Dunwich river. It comes out by the mobile homes and camping (I think it is a private or residential site. Turn left and your up by the green. It quite a nice walk.
 
MattR said:
Are you doing it this year?
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I have it pencilled into the diary.
But since the pandemic I've not been commuting 12 miles a day, 5 days a week.
So i think it would be a real struggle, but I'd still be up for it, even if I bailed half way
 
Brains said:
I have it pencilled into the diary.
But since the pandemic I've not been commuting 12 miles a day, 5 days a week.
So i think it would be a real struggle, but I'd still be up for it, even if I bailed half way
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Time to train for it. See you at the start? :)
 
Coolcats said:
I suspect it may have been for driving sheep across,
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I thought it may be something like that.. but a lot of work for a sheep bridge .. and quite and it's narrow not walled .. so sheep or cattle could have fallen off. .. puzzling..

must dig deeper ..

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MattR said:
Time to train for it. See you at the start? :)
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Just looking at my Strava report for the ride
Last time I did it was 2018!
10hrs ride time,
12+hrs door to door time.
So I was never fast, even when I was a regular cycle commuter.

But I'll see you at the start, and maybe at the end!
 
Brains said:
Just looking at my Strava report for the ride
Last time I did it was 2018!
10hrs ride time,
12+hrs door to door time.
So I was never fast, even when I was a regular cycle commuter.

But I'll see you at the start, and maybe at the end!
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I last did it in 2019. I'll be great to meet at the start... I won't be hanging around the beach for long after sun rise though. What time are you likely to set off?
 
Brains said:
I have it pencilled into the diary.
But since the pandemic I've not been commuting 12 miles a day, 5 days a week.
So i think it would be a real struggle, but I'd still be up for it, even if I bailed half way
Click to expand...
Time to get the E-Bike out, Peddle Assist should help a bit, after all its the taking part that helps, so they say.(y);)
LES
 
MattR said:
I last did it in 2019. I'll be great to meet at the start... I won't be hanging around the beach for long after sun rise though. What time are you likely to set off?
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About 7pm
The majority go at 8pm and it can be hard to move until after the M25 due to the sheer number of cyclists
It means the road bike speed monsters overtake me between 9 and 10pm

I think I'd be getting in breakfast at the Flora tea rooms and maybe a pint at the Ship, and then heading for the motorhome which would hopefully be parked 2 miles up the coast somewhere
 
Brains said:
About 7pm
The majority go at 8pm and it can be hard to move until after the M25 due to the sheer number of cyclists
It means the road bike speed monsters overtake me between 9 and 10pm

I think I'd be getting in breakfast at the Flora tea rooms and maybe a pint at the Ship, and then heading for the motorhome which would hopefully be parked 2 miles up the coast somewhere
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I'll be at London Fields before 7pm and probably leave soon after 8pm ... aiming to get to Dunwich for 5AM and allow for 1.5 hrs of breaks on the way. I'll be parked further away and will eat after a snooze :)

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To save e looking it up, where in London does the cycle event start?,how many miles is it? what was the purpose of starting off at 7PM, was it the obvious, it causes traffic problems? I have never heard of an overnight cycle race before, so its interesting to hear about this.
As for Parking up on The Suffolk Coast, I think from searching on Google, that the pay by phone app, pay & display arrangement, with a clear no overnight parking sign, at Sellafield may have put pay to anyone overnighting there nowadays, same as Dunwich Beach Car Park, but at least you have the option of the Church Car Park for a fiver.(y)

I have in the recent past Googled Aldeburgh, and just South a bit to Slaughden before The Sailing Club, noticed a MH or two parked up, handy for a spot of Beach Fishing & Fish & Chip Supper I thought. Have any of you tried parking there recently? it looks OK, but you guys will know best.(y)
Thanks.
LES
 
TinaLes said:
To save e looking it up, where in London does the cycle event start?,how many miles is it? what was the purpose of starting off at 7PM, was it the obvious, it causes traffic problems? I have never heard of an overnight cycle race before, so its interesting to hear about this.
As for Parking up on The Suffolk Coast, I think from searching on Google, that the pay by phone app, pay & display arrangement, with a clear no overnight parking sign, at Sellafield may have put pay to anyone overnighting there nowadays, same as Dunwich Beach Car Park, but at least you have the option of the Church Car Park for a fiver.(y)

I have in the recent past Googled Aldeburgh, and just South a bit to Slaughden before The Sailing Club, noticed a MH or two parked up, handy for a spot of Beach Fishing & Fish & Chip Supper I thought. Have any of you tried parking there recently? it looks OK, but you guys will know best.(y)
Thanks.
LES
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People set off from around 5pm through to around 11pm. Approx 2500 cyclists heading to the beach. Great fun. I like to arrive for sun rise. Others get there ASAP and turn back to London and some get there when they can, ideally before mid morning.
 
MattR said:
I'll be at London Fields before 7pm and probably leave soon after 8pm ... aiming to get to Dunwich for 5AM and allow for 1.5 hrs of breaks on the way. I'll be parked further away and will eat after a snooze :)
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I always 'aim' for dawn at 5am
Never made it, not even once!

I know my realistic 'door to door' (including stoppage) time is about 12 hours
 
MattR said:
People set off from around 5pm through to around 11pm. Approx 2500 cyclists heading to the beach. Great fun. I like to arrive for sun rise. Others get there ASAP and turn back to London and some get there when they can, ideally before mid morning.
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The bulk of the people seem to leave around 8pm'ish
I think you will find it's a lot more than 2,500 cyclists, as i know Southwark Cyclists sold over 2,000 return tickets on their coach run a few years back.
There are a number of other Cycle Clubs that also sell return tickets.

(Greater Anglia Trains, to help in transportation ban all cycles on the return route that day!!)

Info here
Tickets for the return coaches will go on sale in May here
 
Brains said:
I always 'aim' for dawn at 5am
Never made it, not even once!

I know my realistic 'door to door' (including stoppage) time is about 12 hours
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This will be my 5th DD... I missed dawn by an hour on the first run but the others have been better as I haven't ridden with pub crawlers again...

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Brains said:
The bulk of the people seem to leave around 8pm'ish
I think you will find it's a lot more than 2,500 cyclists, as i know Southwark Cyclists sold over 2,000 return tickets on their coach run a few years back.
There are a number of other Cycle Clubs that also sell return tickets.

(Greater Anglia Trains, to help in transportation ban all cycles on the return route that day!!)

Info here
Tickets for the return coaches will go on sale in May here
Click to expand...

I believe that the last few years, post covid haven't been so busy... I hope it gets back up to pre covid numbers soon as it is more fun with more riders
 
TinaLes said:
To save e looking it up, where in London does the cycle event start?,how many miles is it? what was the purpose of starting off at 7PM, was it the obvious, it causes traffic problems? I have never heard of an overnight cycle race before, so its interesting to hear about this.
As for Parking up on The Suffolk Coast, I think from searching on Google, that the pay by phone app, pay & display arrangement, with a clear no overnight parking sign, at Sellafield may have put pay to anyone overnighting there nowadays, same as Dunwich Beach Car Park, but at least you have the option of the Church Car Park for a fiver.(y)

I have in the recent past Googled Aldeburgh, and just South a bit to Slaughden before The Sailing Club, noticed a MH or two parked up, handy for a spot of Beach Fishing & Fish & Chip Supper I thought. Have any of you tried parking there recently? it looks OK, but you guys will know best.(y)
Thanks.
LES
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Starting at 7-8pm is good, as it's just getting dusk.
It means you clear the M25 before it gets dark.

The distance is 112 miles officially, but I always seem to be about 120 miles including the ride to the start and the ride home from the coach drop off at the end.

As It's London, there are cycle path all the way out as far as Epping, however they struggle to cope with the volume of cyclists.
London car drivers are used to being in the minority, so don't really notice the volume of cyclists much.

As for overnight parking around Dunwich, I'll be looking into it, but it will need to be outside Dunwich as it's by far the busiest day of the year for the locals.
(And they all make a killing selling food, the Flora tea Rooms must employ at least 20-30 staff on the day, back in 2018 they served over 1,500 full English breakfasts in about 8 hrs, kicking off at 4am!)
The Ship pub opens at 3am!
 
112+ miles in the saddle is a very long time, especially for even a keen amateur, those padded cycling shorts will be much needed and no doubt appreciated along with the gloves.
Have a great time guys, I hope the weather is kind for you, let us know how it all goes afterwards, its twice the length of The London to Brighton run, but I have never heard of it before now, I must look in the history of its origins etc.
I know there is a fair few keen cyclists on Fun, hopefully you can all tie up, and make it a Fun event also.

Still considering the parking at just South of Aldeburgh, looks OK for a night, maybe two, for a bit of Sea Fishing.
LES
 
Coolcats

a bit more information about the bridge

found this on an 1864 OS map..

in Greyfriers Wood it shows a Saw Mill with a mill pond .. !

this would explain the deep ditch or mill lade, which would have channelled water down from the Dunwich River, so the bridge would have been needed to cross the water

OS Map

Screenshot 2024-04-07 at 16.16.57.png
 
TinaLes said:
112+ miles in the saddle is a very long time, especially for even a keen amateur, those padded cycling shorts will be much needed and no doubt appreciated along with the gloves.
Have a great time guys, I hope the weather is kind for you, let us know how it all goes afterwards, its twice the length of The London to Brighton run, but I have never heard of it before now, I must look in the history of its origins etc.
I know there is a fair few keen cyclists on Fun, hopefully you can all tie up, and make it a Fun event also.

Still considering the parking at just South of Aldeburgh, looks OK for a night, maybe two, for a bit of Sea Fishing.
LES
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Legend has it that some cycle couriers were sitting in a pub after work one Friday, discussing what they could do to enjoy the nice weather .... one of them suggested that they go to the beach .... they did and the event was repeated and grew ... and faded and grew again...

I tend to end up doing around 200km including cycling to transport pickup points, to the park, the event itself and on to where I spend a few hours sleeping... Cyclists need to be able to support themselves (no broom wagon etc) but there are lots of places that open up for the night to provide opportunities to buy food and drink.

It really helps to cycle with folk who are of a similar fitness level and are able to cycle at the pace you aim for and have the same objective(s)... my first dun Run was with a friend I had cycled with a lot and we were unexepectedly joined by some of his work mates and their friends ... they were slower than I was and it was frustrating to be plodding along when we had long stretches of quiet roads and a gentle tail wind giving perfect cycling conditios. We also stopped too often at pubs and arrived at the beach much later than planned. It isn't a race but it is worth ensuring that your objectives are clear so the risks of falling out with folk, especially at 3am, are reduced.


Cycle | Dunwich Dynamo 2025 | London to Dunwich

The Dynwich Dynamo 2025 is a 112 mile ride from London to Dunwich in Suffolk - and the best bit - it's an overnight ride! Starting from Pub on the Park, Martello Street, London Fields, Hackney, London E8 the ride weaves it's way through London to the quiet country lanes in Suffolk.
www.dunwichdynamo.co.uk www.dunwichdynamo.co.uk
en.m.wikipedia.org

Dunwich Dynamo - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org en.m.wikipedia.org
 
scotjimland said:
Dunwich beach on the Suffolk coast.

Large Free car park with a cafe and toilets .. really nice place, beach and walking on the cliff footpath, but it's daytime parking only .

For overnight parking, you can park in the Dunwich Church Car Park with a donation of £5 .. honesty box

It's near the Ship Pub, a small Museum and the ruined Greyfriers Friary worth the short walk, and on the way, you can also see the Last Grave of a graveyard and church that were lost to the sea..

Google Map

Search For Sites Location

A few photos to give some idea what it's like.



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Church Car Park..
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I love Dunwich and the surrounding area. I never knew that there was a carpark at the church. I'll look out for it the next time I'm there. Thanks for the info.
 

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