Green coastal walks

Green coastal walks

We\'ve found seven trails that not only deliver breathtaking coastal scenery but also organic cafés, wildlife and a solar-powered boat...

By Christopher Somerville

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Find over 100 routes, plus walking and wellbeing advice in our Go for a walk special

Best route for nesting seabirds

A circuit of Flamborough Head is the prelude to the birdwatcher\'s extension of this walk, a dizzying cliff-edge ramble into the squawking and shrieking heart of the RSPB\'s Bempton Cliffs seabird reserve.

Difficulty ● ●

Duration 11 miles

Route From Flamborough, go south over Beacon Hill to the coast path; then anticlockwise round Flamborough Head to North Landing and on to Bempton Cliffs. Back to North Cliff; footpath south into Flamborough.

How long? Allow around five hours, plus birdwatching time.

Green credentials Along these cliffs, intrepid professional egg gatherers, swinging in harnesses, once collected seabird eggs from the cliff faces by the sackful. Now the fulmars, kittiwakes, guillemots, puffins and razorbills nest under protection each spring - more than 200,000 at Bempton Cliffs alone (01262 851179, www.rspb.org.uk).

Look out for... the poignant memorial at Flamborough\'s village crossroads to the heroic crew of the fishing coble Two Brothers, who drowned in the early 1900s trying to rescue colleagues in distress.

Where to stay Crab Pot Cottage, 10 High Street, Flamborough (01262 850555, www.crabpotcottage.com). This cosy village-centre B&B features a shop selling toys and miniature models. Double B&B from £60.
How to get there East Yorkshire Bus Service runs services 502, 510 from Bridlington (01482 222222, www.eyms.co.uk) or the B1255 from Bridlington.
OS maps OS Explorer 301; Landranger 101. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service to see your chosen area online.
For more info Bridlington TIC (01262 673474, www.yorkshire.com).

Best for delicious organic snacks

Atmospheric Dartmouth (all quaysides and cobbles) waves you off along the cliffs for cormorant-crowned rocks and castle ruins, and an immaculately kept beach with great organic food in the Venus Café on Blackpool Sands.

Difficulty ● ●

Route Dartmouth; South West Coast Path to Redlap; to Mill Meadow Cove; from Stoke Fleming to Blackpool Sands. Return: back up to Redlap; on to Little Dartmouth, Week Cottage, Higher Week and Swannaton. Lane from A379 via Jawbone Barn back to Dartmouth.

How long? Four hours.

Green credentials On Blackpool Sands, Venus Café\'s menu is largely local and organic - Devon beef, vegetarian pies, fresh-caught fish or simple snacks. Kids have their own special Dolphin Box, complete with colouring sticks (01803 712648, www.venuscompany.co.uk).

Look out for... St Petrox Church below Dartmouth Castle, with its sailors\' memorials.

Where to stay Browns Hotel, 27-29 Victoria Road, Dartmouth (01803 832572, www.brownshoteldartmouth.co.uk). This town-centre boutique hotel has double B&B from £85.
How to get there Train to Dartmouth; A381/A3122 from Totnes or A379 and ferry from Torquay.
OS maps OS Explorer OL20; Landranger 202. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service to see your chosen area online.

For more info Dartmouth TIC (01803 834224, www.discoverdartmouth.com).

Best for a tiny carbon footprint

Bristol\'s Floating Harbour testifies to the engineering genius of Isambard Kingdom Brunel with his steamship SS Great Britain, the sluice system he designed and his Clifton Suspension Bridge. The kids (and you) will love exploring the Create Centre.

Difficulty ● ● ●

Duration 3 miles

Route From SS Great Britain, walk clockwise around Floating Harbour.

How long? Allow half a day with extra time to explore

Green credentials You can reduce your transport footprint by arriving at Floating Harbour by train or even water taxi, then after your walk you can cycle round (Bristol Bike Hire, Cumberland Basin, 0117 965 5192).

Look out for... the Create Centre in its former warehouse on Smeaton Road above Cumberland Basin (0117 925 0505, www.bristol.gov.uk/create), a powerhouse of hands-on green ideas, exploration and fun for children and adults.

Where to stay Hotel Du Vin, The Sugar House, Narrow Lewins Mead (0117 925 5577, www.hotelduvin.com). Very friendly, stylish, comfortable and central. Double dinner, B&B from £145. Ask for deals. Floating Harbour, Bristol, North Somerset

How to get there By rail to Bristol Temple Meads; water taxi to Floating Harbour and around (0117 927 3416, www.bristolferry.co.uk); 500 bus route (www.visitbristol.co.uk).

OS Maps OS Explorer 155; Landranger 172. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service to see your chosen area online.

For more info Bristol TIC (0906 711 2191 - calls cost 50p per minute, www.visitbristol.co.uk).

Best for eco-friendly camping

Walk all day along the North Norfolk coast, revelling in the birdlife of the lonely marshes; then let the Coasthopper bus return you to the green and cosy bunk barns and camping at friendly Deepdale Farm.

Difficulty ● ● ●

Duration 9 miles

Route From Deepdale Farm, follow the Norfolk Coast Path east along the marshes to Burnham Overy Staithe (four miles), Holkham (top, eight miles), Wells-next-the-Sea (ten miles) or Stiffkey (14 miles); return by the Coasthopper Bus (www.norfolk green.co.uk/timetables).

How long? As long as you like, depending how far you want to go. Allow about half an hour per mile.

Green credentials At eco-friendly Deepdale Farm, solar panels deliver hot water and underfloor heating. There\'s tree-planting, Countryside Stewardship walks and much more to do.

Look out for... unrivalled birdwatching all along the coast - waders and songbirds from spring to autumn, tens of thousands of geese and sea ducks in winter. Don\'t forget to pack your binoculars!

Where to stay Deepdale Farm, Burnham Deepdale (01485 210256, www.deepdalefarm.co.uk). Cost per night: Backpackers Hostel from £9.50pp; tipis from £40 (sleeps two); camping (no caravans) from £4.50pp; Granary Group Hostel from £144 (sleeps 18). From Burnham Deepdale along the Coast Path, Norfolk For eco-friendly camping

How to get there The Coasthopper Bus (www.norfolkgreen.co.uk/timetables) or the A149 from King\'s Lynn or Cromer.

OS maps OS Explorer 250 and 251; Landranger 132. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service to see your chosen area online.

For more info Burnham Deepdale TIC (01485 210256, www.deepdalefarm.co.uk).

Best for organic produce

Shore paths lead you from Aberaeron with its beautiful Regency buildings to the beach at Aberarth, then inland through hilly country to The National Trust estate and organic farm at Llanerchaeron.

Difficulty ● ● ●

Duration 7 miles

Route From Aberaeron Harbour, take the coast path east to Aberarth. Go uphill to Maesyreglwys church; lanes to Llanerchaeron; the railway footpath back to Aberaeron.

How long? Four hours, plus time at Llanerchaeron.

Green credentials Apart from restoring the lovely 18th-century John Nash house at Llanerchaeron, The National Trust runs Home Farm (www.nationaltrust.org.uk) as a working organic farm. The shop sells pork, beef and lamb from the estate, and veg and herbs from the walled garden.

Look out for... the great view from up on the hill beside Maesyreglwys church, taking in the coast, river, valley and hills.

Where to stay Harbourmaster Hotel, Aberaeron (01545 570755, www.harbour-master.com). Right on the quay. Double B&B from £110; double dinner, B&B, from £160. Aberaeron, Aberarth and Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion

How to get there Arriva/First X40 Bus Service (www.arrivabus.co.uk) or the A487 from Carmarthen or Aberystwyth.

OS maps OS Explorer 198; Landranger 146. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service to see your chosen area online.

For more info Aberaeron TIC (01545 570602, www.visitaberaeron.co.uk).

Best for solar-charged travel

This circuit of the shoreline and cornfields of Chichester Harbour is packed with wild birds. Views are wide and breezy, there\'s a stunning beach halfway round and a solarpowered boat for a post-walk treat.

Difficulty ● ● ●

Duration 11 miles

Route From West Itchenor, walk three-and-a-half miles to East Head; along West Wittering Beach for one-and-a-half miles; up Jolliffe Road past Webb\'s Farm over Elms Lane, then B2179; by Redlands and Sheepwash Lane to Itchenor.

How long? Four hours

Green credentials Preview your walk, or savour it in retrospect, on a boat trip from Itchenor jetty on Chichester Harbour Conservancy\'s solar powered boat Solar Heritage. She also sails from Emsworth, as does Victorian oyster smack Terror (01243 513275, www.conservancy.co.uk).

Look out for... West Wittering\'s superb three mile-long Blue Flag beach, the best one in Sussex (www.westwitteringbeach.co.uk).

Where to stay Nunnington Farm Camping Site, West Wittering (01243 514013, www.camping-in-sussex.com); from £16. Clean, friendly and family orientated - dogs welcome, too. Chichester Harbour, West Sussex

How to get there A27, A286 towards the Witterings; signs to Itchenor. Bus 52, 53 Chichester-Witterings (www.stagecoachbus.com/south); 150
from Selsey to Itchenor (www.compass-travel.co.uk).

OS Maps OS Explorer 120; Landranger 197. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service to see your chosen area online.

For more info Chichester TIC (01243 775888, www.visitchichester.org).

Best for flourishing nature

This wonderful round walk to Caerlaverock Castle finishes in a hide at Caerlaverock Wildfowl & Wetland Trust. Once seen, the massed flight of the barnacle geese at dusk is never forgotten.

Difficulty ● ● ●

Duration 6 miles

Route From the WWT Centre, take the road to the shore; along floodbank for a mile; inland through Castle Wood to the castle; up Ward Law Hill; back down, then on to WWT Centre via Blackshaw.

How long? Allow three hours plus bird-watching time.

Green credentials Barnacle geese were hunted almost to extinction on the Solway merses, or marshes, by the mid-20th century; since then, the establishment of Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve (www.nnr-scotland.org.uk) and Caerlaverock Wildfowl & Wetland Trust (www.wwt.org.uk/gallery/117/caerlaverock.html) has seen numbers boom.

Look out for...Caerlaverock Castle (01387 770244, www.historic-scotland.gov.uk), a triangular stronghold of the Maxwells. Grim and fascinating, with a bloody history. Inside the castle walls stands the picturesque ruin of a 17th-century gentleman\'s residence.

Where to stay Cavens, Kirkbean (01387 880234, www.cavens.com) - a classy country-house hotel. Double B&B from £150. Caerlaverock, Dumfries

How to get there Bus 371 (www.stagecoachbus.com) from Dumfries. B725, off A75 Carlisle-Dumfries road.

OS Maps APS OS Explorer 314; Landranger 84 and 85. Click here for the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map Service to see your chosen area online.

For more info Dumfries TIC (01387 253862, www.visitdumfriesandgalloway.co.uk).