The lengthy (very) scorching days of summer season are giving method to cooler situations – excellent for taking a stroll alongside the dazzling white chalk cliffs at Beachy Head in Sussex or the colorful iron and alum-stained outcrops of Yorkshire’s shoreline.
Discover the winding estuaries of Essex or the Cumbrian coast, climb to Uley Bury’s Iron Age hillfort for a mindblowing prospect of the Vale of Severn, or journey out to the white sands and lonely shores of Iona in Scotland’s distant Hebrides.
Listed below are 15 tremendous, late-summer walks.
LOGAN ROCK, CORNWALL
The primary route in your strolling listing ought to be this stretch of the South West Coast Path, which bypasses the Minack Theatre
From Treen you cross fields, then take the South West Coast Path to achieve the Logan Rock on its headland, an enormous rocking stone on a slim level of steadiness.
Simply inland of Porthcurno seashore, the Museum Of World Communications tells how the tiny village turned the world’s largest cable station.
Past the Minack Theatre within the cliffs lies Porthchapel Seaside and St Levan’s Effectively, a spring amongst granite boulders. From right here it’s subject paths by way of Rospletha and Trendrennen Farm again to Treen.
Distance: 4 miles; cliff and subject paths.
Start line: Village automotive park, Treen, TR19 6LG.
Excellent pub: The Logan Rock Inn in Treen is right for a publish hike pint (theloganrockinn.co.uk).
HENGISTBURY HEAD, DORSET
Benefit from the view from Warren Hill of the footpath via Hengistbury Head seashore
The promontory of Hengistbury Head kinds the southerly jaw of Christchurch Harbour. Cross the dunes and the brackeny heath to Warren Hill, highest level of the Head, with great views to the Isle of Wight, Previous Harry Rock, Hurst Fort and the Purbeck downs.
Then descend steps to the lengthy sandy snout of Mudeford Spit. The most costly seashore huts within the UK line the sandbank – north of £200,000 a pop, for those who’re feeling flush.
Distance: 4 miles; simple.
Start line: Hengistbury Head Customer Centre automotive park, Southbourne, Bournemouth, BH6 4EW.
Excellent pub: Haven Home Inn on Mudeford Quay is a fantastic previous smugglers’ tavern (havenhouseinn.uk).
EAST DEAN, EAST SUSSEX
Belle Tout lighthouse and Beachy Head are the primary points of interest on this route
East Dean within the South Downs Nationwide Park is a wonderfully maintained flint-built village.
A southward path takes you thru fields to climb steeply to Belle Tout lighthouse. Splendid views of sheer white cliffs to the east and west accompany you over Beachy Head, Britain’s highest chalk cliff at 530ft.
A flowery undercliff path leads into Eastbourne, the place you’ll be able to stroll alongside the prom-prom-prom earlier than catching the homeward Bus 12 (13 on Sundays).
Distance: Six miles; quick, steep climb to Belle Tout lighthouse; well-marked paths.
Start line: East Dean village automotive park, BN20 0DL (that is one of the best approximate postcode).
Excellent pub: The Tiger Inn in East Dean has roaring fires and good ales (beachyhead.org.uk).
PENSHURST, KENT
Penshurst Place, with its orange rooftops and stone partitions, kicks off this subsequent stroll
Penshurst Place is a wonderful mishmash of constructing types from practically seven centuries of existence, a fantasy of towers, turrets, gables and arches.
From the weatherboarded and tile-hung Kent village you stroll a circuit by way of Salman’s Farm, Russell’s wooden, Yew Tree Wooden and Slider’s Barn, via beautiful, fastidiously maintained, well-wooded countryside.
Distance: 5 and a half miles; subject paths and lanes.
Start line: Penshurst Place parking subject, Penshurst, TN11 8DG.
Excellent pub: The old style, timber-beamed The Leicester Arms often wins pub awards (theleicesterarmspenshurst.co.uk).
ULEY AND NYMPSFIELD, COTSWOLDS
The countryside is expansive when strolling via Uley Bury, Gloucestershire
From Uley churchyard, you rise steeply up a grassy hill to the Iron Age hillfort of Uley Bury, Gloucestershire, then it’s a trek via the summer season woods alongside the Cotswold Manner.
Crossing to the village of Nympsfield, you plunge down via the bushes of Dingle Wooden to seek out the key valley of Owlpen with its Tudor manor home of lovely silvery stone.
After that you just stroll again alongside Fiery Lane to Uley and the welcoming Previous Crown.
Distance: Six miles; average; quick steep climb to Uley Bury.
Start line: Previous Crown Inn, Uley, Dursley, GL11 5SN.
Excellent pub: The Previous Crown Inn presents hearty dishes, plus actual ale and cider (oldcrownuley.co.uk).
MISTLEY TO HARWICH, ESSEX
Take a look at Dovercourt Seaside and the lighthouse in Harwich, Essex
Mistley is a working port on the estuary of John Constable’s River Stour in Essex. There’s a pair of placing neo-classical towers designed by Robert Adam for an incredible riverside church, now vanished.
The Essex Manner follows the river seaward underneath enormous bird-haunted skies to Wrabness. Then you definitely proceed on around the lengthy curve of Copperas Bay and throughout to the south shore path into the breezy, salty previous port of Harwich.
Distance: Six miles to Wrabness station, 13 miles to Harwich City station; comply with the well-marked Essex Manner.
Start line: Mistley station, CO11 1HH.
Excellent pub: The Alma Inn within the centre of Harwich is a neighborhood establishment (almaharwich.co.uk).
STIFFKEY TO WELLS, NORTH NORFOLK
Multi-coloured seashore huts line the shoreline at low tide on the North Norfolk coast at Wells-next-the-Sea
Stiffkey is certainly one of a string of pleasant flint and brick villages alongside the coast of North Norfolk whose entry to the ocean has been steadily choked off by the expansion of salt marshes on its seaward flank.
Birdwatchers are in for a deal with (don’t overlook your binoculars) strolling alongside the marsh edge to Wells-next-the-Sea, a full of life small city with an extended channel that brings boats to the marina from the ocean a mile to the north. Return by Coasthopper Bus.
Distance: 4 miles; simple; comply with North Norfolk Coast Path.
Start line: Stiffkey Saltmarshes automotive park, The Greenway, Stiffkey, NR23 1QE.
Excellent pub: In Wells-next-the-Sea, the Globe Inn has a Georgian exterior and heat fashionable inside (theglobeatwells.co.uk).
NEW QUAY TO ABERAERON, WALES
Aberaeron is a city in Ceredigion, Wales adorned with vibrant properties
As you look again from the curve of New Quay Bay, you get a basic view of the previous ship-building city unfold out alongside its inexperienced hummock of a hill.
Stroll the sandy strand previous the far headland to seek out the steps that climb to the clifftops. The Wales Coast Path leads via steep pastures and butterfly-haunted woods to the previous port of Aberaeron in all its Georgian class.
Distance: Six and a half miles; average; comply with the Wales Coast Path.
Start line: Church Street automotive park, New Quay, Ceredigion, SA45 9PB.
Excellent pub: The Harbourmaster Lodge has an outstanding bar by the harbour’s edge in Aberaeron (harbour-master.com).
MILLERS DALE, PEAK DISTRICT
Cease to benefit from the surroundings at Monsal Dale in Derbyshire, seen from Monsal Head
A powerful flowery stroll on limestone that encapsulates summer season within the White Peak. Steeply up out of Millers Dale and on to Lydgate Farm and slim Excessive Dale – that includes small blue butterflies flickering amid girl’s bedstraw once I went – then to Brushfield.
Comply with Priestcliffe and Millers Dale as much as the previous lead mine workings of Priestcliffe Lees nature reserve and its aromatic orchids and silver-washed fritillaries. Proceed down into Millers Dale and take the homeward Monsal Path railway path previous historic volcanic magma and large previous lime kilns.
Distance: 5 miles; one steep climb on steps; subject paths and previous railway path.
Start line: Millers Dale automotive park, Wormhill, Buxton, SK17 8SN.
Excellent pub: The cosy Church Inn within the village of Chelmorton, 5 miles south of Wormhill, is definitely worth the detour (thechurchinn.co.uk).
SANDSEND TO STAITHES, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Sandsend to Staithes is without doubt one of the UK’s finest coastal strolling routes (Pictured: Runswick Bay)
This is without doubt one of the finest coastal walks in Britain, filled with curiosity from Sandsend’s huge crescent of sand to Kettleness the place the rugged cliffs are stained with minerals – alum, jet, iron, potash, all extracted in instances previous. The views are magnificent, with the charming homes of Runswick Bay and Staithes stacked excessive in clefts within the coast.
Distance: Eight miles alongside the King Charles III England Coast Path with plenty of ups and downs.
Start line: Sandsend automotive park, close to Whitby, YO21 3TG.
Excellent pub: The menu on the characterful Cod And Lobster in Staithes displays its identify (codandlobster.co.uk).
HAWTHORN DENE AND HIVE, COUNTY DURHAM
Hawthorn Hive and Hive Level in County Durham ought to be added to your strolling bucket listing
The steep valley of Hawthorn Dene cuts all the way down to the ocean from the village of Hawthorn in County Durham. The dene is an outstanding nature reserve. Stroll alongside its slim pathways within the half-light beneath sycamores and ashes, searching for treecreepers and noticed flycatchers. On the foot of the dene is the seashore of Hawthorn Hive, as soon as foul with coal mine waste, now cleaned by the ocean.
Distance: Three miles; average; surfaced pathway across the high; steep steps into the dene.
Start line: Hawthorn Dene Nature Reserve, Hawthorn Village, SR7 8SH.
Excellent pub: The Stapylton Steakhouse in Hawthorn is a well-liked village pub (stapylton-steakhouse.co.uk).
AINSDALE TO FORMBY, MERSEYSIDE
For sandy dunes, head to the little-known Sefton Coast
The Sefton Coast is certainly one of Britain’s ‘nice unknowns’ – an unlimited run of lovely sands that span the coasts of Merseyside and Lancashire. Formby additionally has one of many final remaining refuges for purple squirrels.
From Ainsdale Station comply with Shore Street to Ainsdale Discovery Centre. Proceed alongside the Dune Path to achieve a seashore of immense sands. Go south for 3 miles then flip up Lifeboat Street and Kirklake Street to Formby Station.
Distance: 9 and a half miles alongside dunes, seashores and lanes.
Start line: Ainsdale Station, Southport, PR8 2RF.
Excellent pub: The Railway in Formby is near the station for a drink and a few meals earlier than returning (emberinns.co.uk).
RAVENGLASS, LAKE DISTRICT
The Ravenglass miniature steam railway is the primary vacationer attraction on this stroll
Ravenglass lies on the foot of the western Lake District mountains on the shore of dunes via which the Esk, Mite and Irt rivers snake into the Irish Sea.
From the village with its miniature steam railway – recognized affectionately as La’al Ratty – you head south previous the stays of a Roman tub home to the widening estuary of the Esk. Subsequent, you comply with the King Charles III England Coast Path again alongside the shore, with the evocative hoot of the steam engines beckoning you onwards to Ravenglass.
Distance: Three and a half miles, simple, however test tides (thebeachguide.co.uk); the seashore path is liable to flooding on excessive tides of seven-plus metres.
Start line: Ravenglass automotive park, CA18 1SQ.
Excellent pub: The Ratty Arms by Ravenglass Station is pleasant, with ales and sandwiches (therattyarms.uk).
ANSTRUTHER TO CRAIL, FIFE
Additional afield, check out the route from Anstruther to Crail in Fife, Scotland
Duck into Anstruther’s wonderful Scottish Fisheries Museum, then take the grassy shore path (Fife Coastal Path/blue arrows) that passes the farmhouse of Caiplie, simply above the shore with its walled backyard and shelter bushes.
Proceed previous the Coves, a promontory of rock with flowing traces like a melting Dali panorama. Move the deserted homes at The Pans earlier than reaching Crail, its white-faced homes with crow-stepped gables beneath gray and purple roofs huddled spherical a tiny harbour.
Distance: 4 miles; simple.
Start line: Anstruther Harbour, Anstruther, KY10 3AB.
Excellent pub: The Shoregate in Crail presents natural beers, native whiskies, plus venison and sea trout dishes (theshoregate.com).
IONA, INNER HEBRIDES
In the meantime, within the Interior Hebrides, walkers can take pleasure in this crowd-free Iona route
On Iona you’ll be able to escape the Interior Hebrides crowds by placing out westwards to the creamy sands of Camas Cuil an t-Saimh, then south over bathroom and heather to Port na Curaich, the ‘harbour of the currach’, the place in 563AD the Irish monk St Columba landed his small boat.
Again on the Abbey, head for the white sands of the north shore, then up Iona’s ‘mountain’, the rocky pimple of Dun I, for an impressive overview.
Distance: Eight miles; average with island roads and hill tracks (some unmarked).
Start line: Isle of Iona jetty, PA76 7SJ.
Excellent pub: The inviting Keel Row is a brief stroll from the ferry jetty (thekeelrowmull.co.uk).
Christopher Somerville is the creator of greater than 40 journey books and two poetry collections. His most up-to-date mountain climbing ebook is Strolling The Bones Of Britain.
