Walking England’s Varied Coastline

WALKING ENGLAND’S VARIED COASTLINE
By Glynn Burrows

ON BIG BLEND RADIO: Glynn Burrows, owner of Norfolk Tours UK, discusses the various coastal walking paths of England. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on PodBean.

The thing which surprises many of my visitors is the changes in scenery over very short distances in the UK. As an example, we could walk along a beautiful sandy beach in Norfolk before breakfast, have lunch in a pub in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, and then do mountaineering and have our evening meal in Snowdonia (Wales) all in one day!

We are so small, as a country, that the whole of the UK would actually fit inside the state of Texas and there would be nearly 175,000 square miles left over.

The fact that we are able to visit such diverse scenery and habitat, makes the UK a perfect destination for those who love to be close to nature.

I will have a look at just a few walks on the South and East coast, to give you an idea of what is available and the first one starts close to home for me, at Hopton on Sea on the East coast.

The destination is Sea Palling, and the distance is 21 miles. The path goes through some contrasting scenery, from shady trees, sand dunes, and beaches, with even some little villages and the opportunity to stray off the route to enjoy a pint in a local pub. The route also goes by Great Yarmouth, a very bustling seaside resort, with a good selection of museums and entertainment, but perhaps, a place best left for another day.

A little further along from Great Yarmouth, is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) at Winterton, so a great opportunity for all lovers of nature to immerse themselves in their passion.

The Norfolk coast has something for everyone, with sandy expanses, shingle beaches, mudflats, salt marshes, cliffs, and hundreds of little tidal inlets.

Our next walk is in the South of the country, and it involves mainly urban landscapes. Starting at Gosport, we soon get to the Browndown SSSI and the Gilder Lagoon SSSI, where there are five species of very rare mollusks and large numbers of wading birds. The mudflats and salt marshes, along with the shingle beaches mean that there is a very wide range of wildlife to be seen, and the small islands in the harbour, one of which is managed by the RSPB, make for some interesting opportunities.

The full stretch of the walk is actually nearly thirty miles, but it can be cut short and the final part, into Portsmouth, can be taken by car. Portsmouth is a must on anyone’s agenda, as the historic Dockyards with The Victory and The Mary Rose (see my other article) is a real treat. Portsea Island is also well worth a visit, together with Portchester Castle and the many other interesting sites within the area.

Our next area has to have some of the most spectacular coastlines in the South of England. Cornwall is the setting of the brilliant TV series “Poldark.” The rocky cliffs and sandy coves make for some difficult walking but also pay off by giving you some breathtaking views.

I’ll look at a few walks in this area, starting with a short two-mile circular route taking in Porth Mear, along to Park Head, and then enjoy views over Bedruthen Steps. This walk takes in spectacular scenery and the opportunity to see many coastal birds and even the chance to do some pool dipping in the rock pools.

The next walk is again a short one, under three miles, and yet another one with spectacular views and opportunities for birders and photographers. The route goes from West Wheal Owles and includes Botallack Headland, where you will see some amazing remains of industrial archaeology. Here are the old engine houses from the mining which went on all around this area and there are several museums and interpretation boards so you will be able to learn all about the lives of the people who lived there.

The next walk is a little longer, as it takes in a little of the town of Penzance and goes along to coast to Marazion and St Michael’s Mount. It is around six miles and includes some lovely sandy beaches, a sculpture garden, and a tidal island with a castle on it.

The most interesting part of the walk to me is St Michael’s Mount because it is a tidal island, like Le Mont St Michel in France. I first visited Le Mont St Michel in 1972 and fell in love with it, but I have not yet visited St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall. This one has a castle on the top, but it was originally a priory and has a beautiful, terraced garden. The island is a must for anyone visiting the area.

Looking at the rest of the country, the coastline, according to the Ordinance Survey, is around 11,000 miles, but, if you walked it in relatively straight lines and didn’t go into every creek and inlet and took a few shortcuts across promontories, it would actually be around 2,000 miles. If any of you would like to walk around the coast of the mainland, please do in touch. What a story that would make!

Glynn Burrows is the owner of Norfolk Tours in England where he provides customized, private tours and also helps his clients trace their English family history. If you are thinking about taking a vacation to England, visit www.Norfolk-Tours.co.uk.

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