Regular coast contributor Christopher Somerville shares his top five coastal winter walks, whatever the weather
Hartland Point, North Devon
OS Explorer 126
From Hartland Quay follow the coast north along tall cliffs of dark sandstone, high above the sea with its rocks and reefs. From the lighthouse at Hartland Point there’s sheltered walking south in high-banked Devon lanes, before the spectacular waterfall at Speke’s Mill Mouth and a return to Hartland Quay up that black, dramatic coast. For more details, see southwestcoastpath.org.uk.
Dungeness, Kent
OS Explorer 125
Europe’s largest shingle beach is drenched in atmosphere, strange, full of character, and especially moody in winter. Here are black tarred fishermen’s huts, a ghostly power station, seabirds galore, and millions of flint pebbles.
Aberdaron, Llŷn Peninsula, North Wales
OS Explorer 253
Walk a windy circuit of the cliffs at the outermost tip of northwest Wales in truly lonely country, looking down on the furious tide race between the mainland and the spray-shrouded hump of Bardsey Island.
Aberlady Bay, East Lothian, Scotland
OS Explorer 351
Catch the train from Edinburgh to Longniddry, and stroll the sands of Aberlady Bay. Take binoculars to marvel at thousands of pink-footed geese in long gabbling lines across the sky.
Bray to Greystones, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
OS of Ireland Discovery 56
The DART railway from Dublin deposits you at Bray; where there’s a great cliff walkway high above tunnels, trains, wild waves and superb coastal scenery, to Greystones and its cosy pubs and cafés.
For more walks, try Christopher's top four coastal walks in the UK. Plus, keep an eye out for our winter walking series in the magazine, which will run until February 2016.
For more walks, try Christopher's top four coastal walks in the UK. Plus, keep an eye out for our winter walking series in the magazine, which will run until February 2016.
