Walk to an island
Catch a boat to an island? You could, but it’s more fun to walk on water.
An adventure that fits inside a day.
THE SALTMARSHES OF the north Norfolk coast might seem an unlikely spot for a wild adventure, but Scolt Head Island offers it in spades. Thought to have been attached to the mainland just a few hundred years ago, and gradually moving west as the sands shift, the island is accessible at low tide to those prepared to get muddy, sandy and wet.
Setting off from the village of Burnham Overy Staithe you’ll soon be crossing creeks that are kneedeep in water before reaching the main channel that runs along the southern side of Scolt Head. You can wade across this before exploring the island’s dunes and the vast expanse of sand and shingle on its northern shore. It’s a wild and remote place, with two wardens’ huts the only buildings on the island. During the summer months the sun can make the pools and creeks surprisingly warm, so you might find yourself lingering if the temperatures soar.
The island’s a national nature reserve, and the variety of waders and terns you can spot here attracts birders from far and wide. Sandwich and little terns breed here in numbers regarded as internationally important (the western tip of the island is out-of-bounds between April and August to protect these nesting birds), and keep an eye out for common and Arctic terns, as well as curlew, ringed plover and grey plover.
Once you’ve explored Scolt Head you can either head back the way you came or catch one of the ferries that serve the island during daylight hours 90 minutes either side of high tide during the summer months (Tel: Peter Bickell: 07836 523396).
NOTE: It’s vitally important you only attempt to cross the channels and creeks at low tide, as they’re lethal when the water’s up, so make sure you check and re-check the tide times: www.bit.ly/scolthead. Get this right and you’re in for a magnificent day out.