© M Alexander - Be Natural B&B 2022
Walk 2 - Back Bay
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.
Dramatic coastline
Twisted rock formations
Arriving at the beach
Natural outdoor
shower
A 6 mile walk to a sandy beach
Map of the area
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.