The beach is mainly shingle and wide in places , allowing fishing boats to draw up onto the beach above the high tide , but it narrows at the neck of Orford Ness . The shingle bank allows access to the Ness from the north , passing a Martello tower and two yacht clubs at the site of the former village of Slaughden . Aldeburgh was flooded during the North Sea flood of 1953 and its flood defences were then strengthened . The beach received a Blue Flag rural beach award in 2005
North Sea flood of 1953
North Sea flood of 1953
Aldeburgh