Out of the box - Tick off Britain's best five coastal walksAugust 2011 This is our regular OUT OF THE BOX feature where we give suggestions on different things to try. If you have tried something unusual or different, tell us all about it - and send in a photograph as well if you can – so that we can share your experiences with others. Email: outofthebox@laterlife.com
At our age, walking is something most of us do either simply as an excellent way of helping to keep fit or because we love it. For maps and more details click on the walk name. This is an unusual walk in that you either have the choice to walk from Par to Charlestown and return via the ‘Hoppa’ buses or main road or chose to trace your steps back along the coastal path. Either way, it is most enjoyable and informative. Begin at Par, a celtic word meaning ‘harbour’ or ‘cove’, and pass the railway line and golf course heading for Carlyon Bay, home to Cornish Leisure World. First glimpses of Charlestown Harbour can be obtained from Appletree Point, where it is believed that at one time white monks had cultivated an apple orchard.
The former fishing village of Aberporth has beautiful beaches and breath-taking walking routes. You can see rock pools at low tides and bottlenose dolphins, sunfish and basking sharks can be spotted in the area too. Begin at Tresaith where there’s a lovely sandy beach, and head along the cliff-top path. Look out for stonechat, meadow pipits, and perhaps the rare chough. During the summer, gatekeeper butterflies are often seen along the coast path, especially in those areas protected by blackthorn scrub. The path will continue for about 1.5 miles until you reach Aberporth.
Plockton is a National Trust for Scotland conservation village, located in the northwest Highlands. It’s a nature-lover’s paradise, with stretches of sea, a magnificent loch, mountains and glens. Life here was once based on fishing and crofting but there’s a huge art influence now, with artists and photographers visiting regularly. Begin this walk either by taking the train from Inverness to Plockton and begin from the railway station or by taking a car and parking on Bank Street and starting from the village itself. Walk up the hill out of Plockton, past the open air church, and further up the hill turn left onto a footpath which is signposted 'Footpath to Duncraig Castle'. The path takes you alongside Loch Carron and the breathtaking views (see adjacent picture) across to Applecross begin to emerge from here. The route then runs adjacent to the railway line and then underneath it. When you reach a junction shortly after this, follow the signpost reading 'Duncraig Castle'.
Beautiful Lulworth Cove is part of The Jurassic Coast, which spans 95 miles across Devon and Dorset. Rocks and fossils over 185 million years old have been found here and the cove itself was formed approximately 10,000 years ago. Begin at Lulworth Cove and pass St Oswalds Bay and Durdle Door. The stunning chalk cliffs mean there are one or two steep climbs throughout the route, but the views are well worth it- especially atop White Nothe, with Ringstead bay below. After White Nothe cliff, the path becomes a bit gentler and passes through Osmington Mills, before ending in Weymouth. Bear in mind, travelling back to where you parked your car at Lulworth Cove isn’t always easy because of limited bus routes; some people arrange a lift with friends or even park a car at the other end before they start.
This exhilarating walk takes you on a tour of the Stackpole Estate National Nature, set amid the Pembrokeshire National Park. Discover an unusual combination of sand dunes, beaches and cliff top coastline, with woodland and lily ponds just inland. Stackpole is one of the few places in Britain where choughs live. Begin at Bosherston car park. Walk down to the lakeside and turn left, following paths over two causeways and a low stone bridge (the ‘Grassy Bridge’). Follow the path towards Broad Haven beach. Here you can add 1ml on to your walk and explore the secluded Mere Pool Valley, perhaps the best ‘hot spot’ on the estate for butterflies,dragonflies and wild flowers. Otherwise strike left up to the cliff top route. Continue skirting around the coast path. Look out for choughs,before reaching guillemot and razorbill colonies on Stackpole Head. On a clear day spot Lundy Island on the horizon. Keep in touch with everything happening in Laterlife Today! Subscribe to our free monthly email newsletters for the latest articles, offers and events. You can unsubscribe at any time should you want to. Bookmark This Share on Facebook Receive more like this |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Back to Laterlife Today |
Visit our Pre-retirement Courses section here on laterlife or our dedicated Retirement Courses site |