8 Wild Ruins by the Sea

Britain’s coastline is full of picturesque crumbling castles, follies and relics – you just need to know where to find them. Below, Dave Hamilton, the author of Wild Ruins reveals some of the best.

 

Scroll down to see the beautiful photo gallery and a special offer on the book.

 

The romantic ruin of Greyfriars Friary lies just to the south east of the quaint Suffolk village of Dunwich. By the 13th century much of the town, including eight churches, had fallen into the sea. So, due to fears of further coastal erosion, the priory was moved to its present home. The remaining walls, gatehouse and cloister buildings of this are just one of the pulls to this serene and tranquil coastline. Much of the area to the south of the ruin, including the stunning heather-topped cliffs, is managed by the National Trust. It has maintained three walks in order to take in the area’s flora and fauna, where you will have a chance to see hen harriers and warblers, along with rare coastal flora. 

 

The island of Inchcolm is home to seals, seabirds and the ruins of a 13th-century abbey. It is situated in the Firth of Forth so a journey to the island is an adventure in itself. Along the way you stand a good chance of seeing puffins, porpoises and seals, along with occasional visits from dolphins who may swim alongside your boat. The island was once home to a hermit and has been inhabited for hundreds of years. The present abbey was established in 1235. 

 

Tide Mills is a derelict coastal village in East Sussex, abandoned in the 1930s. Along with the foundations of the old hospital and scattered windswept coastal remains of homes, the ruins of the old tidal mill that gives the area its name can still be seen. It would have utilised water coming in from the sea through a sluice gate to a mill pond, and as the sea retreated the three mill wheels turned. 

 

Not far from the White Cliffs of Dover, the Abbot’s Cliff sound mirror is a fantastic example of eccentric technology. Before the advent of radar, large ‘sound mirrors’ were constructed on the shores of north-east and southern Britain to warn of approaching enemy planes. There are also sound mirrors at Denge, on Romney Marsh near Dungeness, 20 miles to the west. The Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership (01797 367934) holds annual tours but they are off-limits for the rest of the year. 

 

There are some ruins that really make you wonder why more hasn’t been made of them. The grand ruin of Bromholm Priory is one such building. Standing abandoned in a farmer’s field not far from the Norfolk coast, Broomholm Priory is a tragic would-be tourist attraction. Its two abandoned gatehouses are easily as impressive as some of the better-known priories in East Anglia, if not the rest of England. 

 

The two imposing gatehouse towers, a large curtain wall and the keep of Dunstanburgh Castle show what a formidable sight this castle must have been in its day. It is built on a remote headland on the coast, and you can climb up its stairs for wonderful views out to sea and along the picturesque coastline. Its drama was not lost on the Romantic artists, and Turner came here to paint the scene. The castle is reached on a pleasant walk from the nearby village of Craster, and on the way you’ll be rewarded with dramatic views of the magnificent ruin. 

 

This rocket-shaped medieval building stands on one of the highest points of the Isle of Wight. The walk up to it can be a strenuous one but the views from this hilltop are simply amazing. The story goes that a local landowner, Walter de Godeton, was forced to build the oratory as a penance for stealing wine destined for a French monastery.

 

A visit to Dunscaith Castle (Dun Sgathaich in Gaelic) feels adventurous. The road leading down to the ruin is treacherous – it is single track with blind bends, and drops down to the loch. At times it feels like driving along a roller-coaster and as such cycling to the castle is advisable! You cross a rocky beach, to arrive at the ruin, entered via a tumbledown bridge with less than a foot of walkway to negotiate. The grassy interior feels safer and the views across to the islet of Eilean Ruairidh and the mountains of the Strathaird peninsula make it all worthwhile. 

 

Wild Ruins: The Explorer’s Guide to Britain’s Lost Castles, Follies, Relics and Remains by Dave Hamilton (£16.99, WildThingsPublishing) is available from all good bookshops. COAST readers can buy the book for the special price of £11.99, with free UK delivery, by ordering the book through wildthingspublishing.com and entering 'Coast' as their coupon code.