| The Peter Scott Walk (between Sutton Bridge and West Lynn - UK) |
| The earth banks above containing the dates relate to when further fresh water flats were claimed from The Wash and turned into rich arable land. Which in turn increased the area of the Fens. The banks were an attempt to stop the sea reclaiming the land again. |
| Near right: Peter Scott's Lighthouse at Sutton Bridge when he lived there. A very remote and lonely place (We are grateful to Lady Philippa Scott for permission to use this picture). Far right: The same Lighthouse today from the Nene, now painted white and surrounded by trees. Still a remote and lonely place. (The East Bank Car park is to the right - Not in picture) |
| At high tide, the pilot boat will head out into the Wash from Sutton Bridge, and shepherd the larger ocean going vessels along the twisting 'Wisbech Channel' from 'Lynn Deeps, by a mud flat called 'Outer Westmark Knock', and by 'Crabs Hole', and along the River Nene (which is not the original river as the original runs about a mile to the east, and is silted up so it is now no more than a shallow impression, or a drainage ditch). If a larger vessel needs to go on to Wisbech, then the swing bridge is opened at Sutton Bridge that allows the busy A17 (Boston to Kings Lynn Road) to cross the river. |
| In the foreground are the Marsh and Mudflats on Sutton Bridge side of The Wash (The dark shapes are Canada Geese) |
SUTTON BRIDGE AND THE PETER SCOTT WALK The East Bank Car Park can be accessed along the East Bank of the Nene from Sutton Bridge ending at Peter Scott's Lighthouse, which is a good place to start from. Then walk by the Light House along the bank of the River Nene for about a quarter of a mile and you will get to The Wash proper. Ahead of you is the tidal marsh (Breast Sand). About a mile out to sea can be seen an Artificial Island (image below) that was a trial run for the large project which was planned called the 'Wash Barrier', which would have stretched from Skegness to Hunstanton. (Now no longer considered). To the right can be seen disused warships that were used for bombing practice by the RAF and USAF. On a clear day the Norfolk Coast above Kings Lynn can be seen, which includes Sandringham. The Cliffs at Hunstanton can also be seen, with their limestone atop the sandstone. The 'Sea Wall' (Earth bank) that you will be standing on was built when land was last reclaimed. The 'Sea Walls' behind you relate to earlier reclaimings when the lighthouse was at the edge of 'The Wash'. The Arable land behind you when looking out into 'The Wash' is known as 'Terrington Marsh' (Wingland). Click here to see readable sign describing the island |
Right: If you are feeling really ambitious, you can walk the ten miles towards West Lynn (Kings Lynn) where you will see the signs to the right. This route takes you along the outfall of the Great Ouse. |
| Go to: Main Page / Fenland Intrigue / River Nene / River Ouse / River Witham / River Welland |
WORD OF WARNING FOR WASH WALKERS. What looks like flat grass mudflats can hide creeks of soft mud and water sometimes many feet deep, where people sink and become stuck. (Note the normal high water mark which is just below the grass). Being able to swim is very little help when the feet and legs sink into several feet of soft mud. Think swamp, and stay clear. |
| The Peter Scott walk also puts a background to the whole area in the south east corner The Wash |
It is probably best to view this page together with the Ouse page |
| It is probably best to view this page together with the Nene page |
| < Holbeach Marsh |
| The PETER SCOTT WALK ALONG THE FORESHORE IN THE SOUTH EAST CORNER OF THE WASH |
| Below is Hunstanton many miles away across The Wash from Sutton Bridge (Note white chalk cliffs and lighthouse) |
| Norfolk > Broads > |
| See Road Map of the area covered by the above map |
| The artificial island at low tide which was a trial for the Wash Barrier (Described above) |
| Container boat waiting in the Lynn Deeps for the tide and a Pilot Boat. |