TRY THE TRUST’S SEASIDE TREASURES
Now marvel at the stunning coastal beauty spots under the watchful care of Europe’s largest heritage charity
THE National Trust cares for more than 780 miles of coastline in England,Wales and Northern Ireland, from spectacular headlands to expansive beaches and splendid wildlife reserves.Whether you want to clamber on rocks or build sandcastles, or just want to experience nature, soak in the stunning beauty of our coastal landscape and breathe in sea air, there is something for everyone along our amazing coast.
Just remember to keep dogs on leads, be sensible with barbecues, steer clear of ground nesting birds and look up ways you can help the National Trust when you visit the coast at this time of year. Here are just a few of the very special places looked after by the National Trust:
CWM IVY, NORTH GOWER, WALES
THE marsh at Cwm Ivy on the Gower peninsula was a small parcel of land that had been claimed from the sea and used as farmland since the 17th Century, protected by a sea defence which, over the centuries, had increased in size and strength.
By November 2013 the sea wall was deteriorating as heavy rain welled the inland stream and a sluice gate designed to drain the marsh could not remove the water fast enough.The pressure of water forced a small hole under the wall, allowing sea water into the freshwater marsh and, in August 2014, the summer storms finally caused the wall to fail. The Trust’s Shifting Shores report had already concluded we can no longer build our way out of trouble on the coast so the decision was made not to fix sea defences and Cwm Ivy freshwater marsh has become a saltmarsh rich in flora and fauna.
LINDISFARNE CASTLE AND HOLY ISLAND, NORTHUMBERLAND
KNOWN as the castle that’s not a castle on an island that’s not really an island, the former priory was converted by famed architect Sir Edwin Lutyens into a private holiday home for Edward Hudson, founder of Country Life magazine.
Lindisfarne is regarded as one of the most important centres of early English Christianity, having been settled by Irish monks in AD 635.The monastery became the centre of a major saint’s cult celebrating its bishop Cuthbert.Travel across the causeway at low tide to discover this magical place for yourself. For 2022, a new soundscape installation by artist Paul Rooney blends the past with the future, with nature at its core.
Song (After Nature) is an immersive soundscape interwoven with individual pieces of nature writing. Pre-booking is advised, and you should check the tide timetable for safe crossing times.
COMPTON BAY, ISLE OF WIGHT
SOME people call the Isle ofWight “Dinosaur Island” because it has the richest source of dinosaur remains in Europe.The best place to go looking for fossils on ‘Dinosaur Island’ is in Compton Bay.Around 125 million years ago this part of the coast was a series of muddy lagoons, and dinosaurs roamed far and wide.They left their footprints and, sometimes, when they died, their bones became fossilised.
When the sea water and strong waves erode the soft cliffs around Compton Bay, remains of dinosaurs that have been trapped for those millions of years suddenly fall down on to the beach. So far, more than 20 different species of dinosaur have been found there, and some of them have been found nowhere else in the world.
WOOLACOMBE, CORNWALL
STRETCHING from the rocky headland of Baggy Point at Croyde to the rugged heights of the Tors of Ilfracombe you can find some of North Devon’s most beautiful coastline.
Climb or coasteer on Baggy Point’s impressive cliffs; swim and surf in the shadow of dramatic hills at the popular three-mile stretch ofWoolacombe Beach; scramble up the stegosaurus’s back of Morte Point’s wild headland and spot seals basking in small coves; or take your pick of beautiful beaches to relax, unwind and play on. Wander along the SouthWest Coast Path, discover small inlets, outcrops and jagged slate cliffs and connect with theVictorian past as you enjoy the Torrs walk above Ilfracombe, created for the enjoyment of 19th Century tourists.
PORTH MEUDWY, NORTH WALES
PORTH Meudwy is a small cove on the tip of the Llyn Peninsula that was once the embarkation point for pilgrims making the journey to nearby Bardsey Island. It was said that three pilgrimages to Bardsey equalled one to Rome.
Today it still serves as the departure point for visiting the island and as a small port for local fishermen, who make their living catching crab and lobster around Aberdaron. In summer the fishing boats are joined for
the annual regatta by traditional sailing boats built using designs unique to the Llyn. Either side of the cove the spectacular Llyn Coastal Path winds its way along the tops of the coastal cliffs, offering amazing views in every direction and the chance to see a wealth of seabirds, choughs, dolphins, seals and colourful heathland plants.Access to Porth Meudwy is on foot from Aberdaron, where a car park is available at Porth y Swnt.
ST BEES FOG HORN STATION, WHITEHAVEN
JUST five miles from the Lake District
National Park, the Whitehaven coastline stretches south from the 18th Century harbour of Whitehaven towards the sandstone cliffs of St Bees Head.
England’s first under-sea coalmine, Whitehaven had the deepest mines in the world by the 1730s and the area has a wealth of mining heritage. For wildlife lovers, the best time to visit is May to July when the thin spoil-tip soils grow a colourful carpet of wild flowers.At the RSPB reserves on St Bees Head, puffins, guillemots and razorbills join thousands of seabirds nesting on the tall sea cliffs.At North Head is a
majestic lighthouse, and nearby is a Daleklike building. For many years the Fog Horn Station on St Bees Head provided an audible warning to ships when fog closed in and sea spray obscured the lighthouse. Now the fog horn is silent but the building remains, with the speakers and machinery still in place.
RAVENSCAR, YORKSHIRE
ENJOY breathtaking views, the remains of industrial endeavours and secret smuggling and a wildlife sanctuary strung out along the Cleveland Way National Trail between Scarborough andWhitby.Visit the Old
Coastguard Station in Robin Hood’s Bay village and the RavenscarVisitor Centre at the gateway to the Yorkshire Coast to discover more about activities, events, nature, local history, coastal geology and the story of
The Town That Never Was. Ravenscar – or Peak, as it was known until 1897 – was a hotbed of industry, and duringVictorian times there were big plans for the village to become a tourist resort to rival Scarborough and Whitby, until the firm responsible went bankrupt. Today parts of the unfinished village remain – eerily quiet streets in which nobody has ever lived.
DOWNHILL DEMESNE, COUNTY LONDONDERRY
EXPLORING the striking 18th Century mansion of the eccentric Earl Bishop, which now lies in ruins, it is easy to see why he chose this stunningly beautiful spot on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast.
Set in a wide open field overlooking Downhill Beach and Castlerock, Downhill Demesne feels like it is on top of the world overlooking the ocean.
A fire in 1851 resulted in the destruction of most of the main house except for an east wing. It was rebuilt between 1873 and 1876 but fell into disrepair again after the Second WorldWar.The NationalTrust acquired the house in 1980 and undertook work to make the site safe for the public to explore the roofless rooms as well as the Mussenden Temple, the Earl Bishop’s library, seen in Game Of Thrones.
THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER, KENT
PERHAPS Britain’s most famous stretch of coastline, the high chalk cliffs look out on to the English Channel, giving far-reaching views towards the French coast.
The best way to see the cliffs is to take a walk along the coastal path towards South Foreland Lighthouse.
You’ll get a great view of the cliffs and also see the chalk grassland that’s home to so many unusual plants and insects like the chalkhill blue butterfly and the pyramidal orchid. The cliffs have a special place in our national history, having been used for defence in bothWorldWars and long before, when Britain was threatened with invasion. You can see reminders of this past at Fan Bay Deep Shelter, a complex of Second WorldWar tunnels hidden within the chalk.
BRANCASTER ESTATE, NORFOLK.
BRANCASTER Beach, with its wide expanse of golden sands, is perfect for summer sandcastles or winter wanders. Even on the busiest of days there is room to find your own space and get lost in its tranquil calm.
Visit Branodunum, an intriguing Scheduled Ancient Monument. Once the home of the Roman army, it is now a grassy meadow, home to skylarks and a huge assortment of insects.
From a distance you can view the shipwreck of the steamship SS Vina, built in 1894 and used from 1944 by the RAF for target practice. But do not attempt to cross the fast-flowing channel to reach it.The tide can be dangerous.
Walk along the Norfolk Coast Path and explore the stunning coastline, taking in the panoramic views of the saltmarsh across to Brancaster Staithe, Sheringham Park and West Runton along the way.
For more information on any National Trust site, visit nationaltrust.org.uk