North Cove, Beccles

Located in the market town of Beccles in Suffolk's Waveney district, the small village of North Cove may be found on the main road leading from Beccles to the seaside town of Lowestoft in the east. The village and town are part of an area known as the Broads, which refer to a network of generally navigable water bodies such as rivers and lakes in the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk. They are also the inland part of the area known as the Sunrise Coast, a stretch of coastline in Suffolk, East Anglia, which is popular with tourists. Beccles and North Cove lie approximately 16 miles southeast of Norwich, 33 miles from Ipswich to the northeast and about 100 miles from London via the A12, A145 Bythburgh and A146 roads. The town is also served by a small airport in the southeast and by the Beccles railway station which lies along the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk rail line.

Beccles has developed significantly over the years and today, the thriving market town boasts modern amenities and conveniences such as large supermarkets, shopping centres and business premises in the recently built Newgate retail area. However, the town continues to retain its old world charm and this is apparent in the architecture - narrow streets, quaint Georgian buildings and unique small shops still dot the landscape. There is no lack of activities to partake in in the town, from a round of golf on the course at Beccles Common or an open air dip in the Beccles Lido. Take a stroll down Northgate to the River Waveney at the town's picturesque quay, where in the summer, annual events such as the Beccles Carnival in July, Duck Race in September and Harvest Moon Free Music Festival in August are staged. The quay is also where the Marsh Trail begins, which is a series of three nature trails of differing lengths. River trips and boat rides are also available for visitors and locals alike. The town prides itself on its strong sense of community spirit and in 2008, became one of only five towns in Suffolk County to achieve the status of Fairtrade town, which means that the Town Council and several businesses here retail and promote products guaranteeing fair prices to developing world producers.

The town of just under 10,000 residents is also a popular boating centre along the broads and is abundant in natural beauty. The village of North Cove in particular is an oasis of serenity and is a site of diverse ecological interest. There is no lack of things to do and see for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers since the village consists of several connected wetland habitats that lie within the River Waveney's valley. These habitats include wet woodlands, grazing marshes and pools, each with their own characteristic plants and animals, such as ragged-robin, yellow rattle, marsh fern, bog pimpernel and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage in the marshlands and birds such as siskins, warblers and redpolls in the mature woodland. North Cove, which lies just two miles east of the town centre of Beccles, also features the five-acre Hall gardens, which houses trees that have been growing since 1760. The Norman church in the village, St. Botolph, is home to several 14th century paintings.