There are few places better on The Suffolk Coast to enjoy the blue skies and sunshine than Orford, a small fishing village known for its bounty of excellent local food and peaceful atmosphere.
Check out our handy ‘know before you go’ guide to make your visit a huge success!
Arguably one of the prettiest villages on the Suffolk Coast, Orford is a true historical gem. From its castle, pretty cottages and welcoming pubs to the picturesque quay offering river cruises and the home of Pinney's delicious smoked fish and the Pump Street bakery, it’s an ideal place to while away a happy day or two.
Did you know?
Orford is the location of Orford Ness, a shingle spit linked to the mainland at Aldeburgh, stretching along the coast to Orford and divided from the mainland by the River Alde. The remoteness of Orford Ness has made it prime location for various ballistic tests and even atomic weapons research.
In the middle ages Orford was an important port and fishing village and still has an Medieval castle. Orford Castle was built by Henry II and was passed on to Richard I; an important structure with an unusual history, it is extremely well preserved and a great example of a revolutionary polygonal keep.
Orford castle is responsible for a strange legend; the tale of Orford’s wild man of the sea. The story goes that fishermen caught a man in their net and brought him to Orford castle to be kept a prisoner, during his time at the castle the man behaved very strangely, eating raw fish and seemingly unable to speak. He soon escaped and made his way back into the sea and the myth has survived through the years with figures of the wild man appearing locally, in the marketplace, church and the castle itself.
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