A 6 mile walk to a sandy beach In our region there are large areas of farmland without signed paths. The right to roam allows you can explore a lot of this, but it does mean walking across open fields using cattle tracks and those made by tractors. None of these are maintained and sometimes you need to work out another route to avoid deep mud, etc. This can make for an interesting walk. You need to be quite fit for this walk as there are 2 streams that need to be jumped over unless you don’t mind getting your boots wet! There is roughly one route across fields following the line of the coast, but as mentioned above alternatives sometimes are need. The beach we are aiming for is accessible at all heights of tide. At low tide this lovely sandy beach is good for naked sunbathing and swimming (the water is cold). It also has fantastic rock formations and caves. If you are unable to walk it the beach is still accessible at low tide by driving the 3 miles to an adjacent beach and walk along the sand to this beach. For the start point you will need to be dressed. Turning right out of the gate and head up the road for about 200m to the lane with a phone box. Follow the lane towards the farm, if the gate is padlocked no one is working on the farm so once over the gate you can undress. If it’s unlocked I tend to stay dressed until passed the farm buildings. After the buildings you will see a gate in corner of the field on the right. From there you will see gates ahead of in each field along the way. Throughout this walk you are following the coastline. To access the beach cross the drystone wall (do stay away from the cliff edge) and follow it until you reach the grass covered slope which lead to the rocky outcrops sloping down to the beach. The cliffs are made of 400 million year old rock formations folded into huge S shaped patterns with some interesting caves to explore too, but be careful as the rocks can be very slippery. At low tide you have about 400m of sandy beach, but at any other time it is completely cut off except by the route you arrived so you will be unlucky not to have it to yourself. At low tide it is sometimes used by dog walkers and holiday makers, but even in the height of Summer not many used it. I have been naked on the beach with guests and people walking by made no complaint. If you would prefer to not be seen there are lots of rocky outcrops to shelter you. Going home you can do an alternative route - once up and passed the row of cliffs the land drops down to the pebble shore. Following the shore for 2 miles you will see a path up the side of the rising ground this leads you back to the farm. Once the farm buildings are in view it’s time to get dressed.

Dramatic coastline

Twisted rock formations

Arriving at the beach

Natural outdoor shower

Map of the area