This single road is virtually all that is left of the once important port of Dunwich, to the north of Sizewell, the rest having been washed away by the sea over the last 1000 years.

This has been a gradual process. In the 11th century the sea built up the beach deposits forming a bay in which the important mediaeval harbour developed. During a series of storms over the next few centuries the sea then removed the material to expose the quay and sea shore to the full effects of the action of longshore drift.

To the right, the present marshes fill the remains of the bay. This area is very low lying and still floods when the shingle beach gets breached by the sea. A few fishing boats are still active and can be seen beached above the high tide mark. There is a small museum with artefacts from the town but most objects remain buried in the sands and gravels up to a km out to sea.

Dunwich is one of Suffolk's tourist 'honeypots' causing considerable problems with traffic, parking and trampling during the summer season. The tourists provide an income for some as they visit the fish and chip shop and the pub.

The sandy cliffs are being eroded very quickly as they are so soft and are protected by only a narrow beach. Unlike Southwold, this stretch of coastline has no hard sea defences as the cost of these would exceed the value of the land being protected.