It may have seemed a strange candidate for the BBC's 2004 Restoration programme. A concrete bunker on the shores of the Deben Estuary overlooking a quiet shingle beach on the East coast of Suffolk; perhaps not exactly everyone’s idea of architectural interest. But what Bawdsey Radar Station lacks in design finesse is more than made up for by its historical importance and indeed impact on the eventual outcome of World War II.

While today occupants of what is now known as Blythview tend to be holiday visitors enjoying the pool facilities, the beauty of the Blyth valley and the beach at Southwold there was a time when these buildings served a very different purpose and those that occupied them had very little satisfaction from their surroundings

England’s ancient Poor Laws brought violent reaction from some of our forefathers.

Constable Country is something of a gourmet's delight with some excellent pubs offering really good food.

It being a reasonable sunny Sunday, we decided to have a walk along the Stour Valley from Flatford Mill and then find a good pub for lunch.

We don't go in for booking and simply drove through Nayland until we reached the river. The Anchor Inn stands in an attractive position right beside the bridge.

A Walk around Orford.

Without doubt a really delightful and fascinating village, Orford has retained almost all its historic charm, despite its failing fortunes over the centuries and some not terribly attractive house building over the last twenty years.

If you enjoy country walks, far away from busy roads, where you are likely to see a good variety of birds as well as breathtaking landscapes and some pretty exciting industrial history then may I recommend the path tracing the old Blyth Navigation which links Walberswick and Southwold on the Suffolk coast with Halesworth, an extremely attractive Suffolk market town.

Laura Scamponi reports on the award-winning, groundbreaking Latitude Festival at Henham Park Estate in Southwold

If you count music/literature/film/comedy/art loving festival goers of all ages among your family members and friends then you may well already be familiar with the groundbreaking Latitude Festival, returning to the historic Henham Park Estate in Southwold this July for the third year running.

Christmas 2007 is now over and yes, despite all my fears, it was a good Christmas. We spent time with family and friends, no one argued, the turkey was delicious and the cat wasn't sick! What more could I ask for?

Well........, it sounds terribly indulgent I know, but actually I could do with a quiet and peaceful holiday away from everyone. Long walks, bracing sea air, not too much to eat and somewhere cosy where I can curl up and read all those wonderful books I was given for Christmas.

A single row of assorted cottages stands sentinel against the ravages of the North Sea whose wild and wondrous waves crash relentlessly against the shifting shingle bank. Here the Alde and Ore estuary reaches the sea, its eastern bank a narrow shingle spit running northwards past Orford to Aldeburgh.

Full of character and interest both to the holidaymaker and the historian, Southwold is one of the most popular resorts on the East coast. But be warned you won't find much in the way of candyfloss or ‘'kiss me quick'’ hats. Perhaps it is its virtual island status - Southwold is surrounded by creeks, marshes and reed beds and flanked to the south by the Blyth estuary - but to enter Southwold is to enter a seaside resort reminiscent of the 1920s.

The quiet understated elegance of its Georgian houses, its 100 foot lighthouse towering above the Sole Bay Inn, its