Coastal classics From the Wild Pacific Trail in Canada to the Lycian Way in Turkey, picks accessible hikes with a sea view.

Alex Fisher

Anarrow path winds its way through dense gorse bushes; the air is thick with the coconut scent from their yellow blooms.

Cliffs rise to my left, where fulmars and kittiwakes swirl above my head as they scan the sea for food. To my right, ocean spray glitters in the sunshine and the steady sound of waves crashing on the sandy beach is punctuated by gulls’ cries.

Then I see them: dark bodies rising from the sea, leaping into the air then landing with a splash. The bottlenose dolphins of the Moray Firth are the largest of their species, and at four metres long they are awe-inspiring.

There is nothing quite like coastal walking for lifting the spirit.

As a child, my family went on holiday to ever-more remote islands around Britain, where walking the coastal paths was always an integral part of the trip.

These experiences shaped who I am, and what I love, today. As an editor of British magazine Coast for the past five years, I’ve been lucky enough to constantly renew my passion for exploring the shoreline. Once, as darkness began to fall on a walk along Thailand’s sandy coast, the sea lit up. Each gentle wave glowed blue with phosphorescence.

Another time, I was confronted by a large octopus as I took a cooling dip along the Catalonian coast. As tides recede, new worlds are revealed in myriad rock pools or on sands peppered with wading birds and the coiled casts of sea worms. There’s always something new to see, a fresh wonder around the next headland.

But the benefits of coastal walking are not just aesthetic. There is scientific proof that a sea view can also reduce your heart rate and improve your mood. Recent studies by psychologist Lewis Elliott have drawn a direct link between coastal walking and good mental health.

Britain, for example, has paid homage to all this with the creation of coastal paths. When completed in 2020, the England Coast Path will be the longest managed and way-marked coastal path in the world.

There is easy coastal walking to be had all around the world. The following selection offers everything from rugged rocks and towering cliffs to warm waters and golden sands that would soothe any soul. Dust off those walking boots and give it a go.

New Zealand Abel Tasman Coast Track

Named after the Dutch explorer who anchored off New Zealand in 1642, this 60-kilometre path has golden, sandy beaches, abundant wildlife, natural rock pools for swimming, and a 47m-long suspension bridge.

Australia Moray Coastal Trail

This relatively quiet corner of Scotland offers long sandy beaches, crystal-clear sea and a resident pod of around 200 bottlenose dolphins. When I visited last year I saw them from the coastal trail on many occasions and a pod of orcas was reported just 14km out to sea. Also expect to see kittiwakes.

Wales Stackpole Estate, Pembrokeshire

This gentle and stunning section of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path offers sandy beaches, including world-famous Barafundle Bay, on a National Trust estate. There are great places to stop for a spot of lunch, such as The Stackpole Inn, where you can also stay.

Gower Coast Path

Expect to enjoy vast, sandy beaches with excellent surf as well as dramatic cliffs in the country’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Well-maintained pathways follow outcrops of rocks into pretty villages. There are great cafes en route with log fires in the winter. Finish in Mumbles, Welsh home to Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Ireland and Northern Ireland Wild Atlantic Way, Donegal

At 600m high, the Slieve League Cliffs (Sliabh Liag) are among the tallest marine cliffs in Europe. Along what was a pilgrims’ route 1000 years ago, the scenery is dramatic and breathtaking. Expect medium-level walking, due to steep hills. You might even bump into actor Sarah Jessica Parker, who has a home on the coast here.

The Causeway Coastal Walk

The basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway World Heritage Site are among the iconic sights of Northern Ireland, and are a highlight. You are also likely to see puffins, kittiwakes and guillemots that nest in the area around May and June. Enjoy dramatic landscapes where dense forests meet rugged coastline. Spot settings from Game of Thrones, such as Portstewart Strand.

Spain and Portugal La Gomera, Canary Islands

One of the most tranquil of the Canary Islands, relatively unspoilt La Gomera is a great place to see dolphins and whales from the shore. Stay in the beautiful coastal town of Valle Gran Rey, once a hippie destination where travellers seeking the road less travelled would sleep in the caves overlooking the sea. Expect mediumlevel walks.