A Coastal Path and a bit of Coffee: Milford on Sea to Barton on Sea
Difficulty Level:
Easy
My Time: 00:35:55 HRC* (Pace: 06:17/km or 10:07/mi)
In the quiet coastal villages of Milford on Sea and Barton on
Sea, in Hampshire, are two quaint coffee shops, conveniently connected by a cliff-top
coastal trail.
Starting at the Needles Eye Cafe in Milford on Sea, you head
due west, along the paved coastal pathway which meanders gently along the cliff
tops, with the stunning sights of the English Channel on your left, the Isle of
Wight over your left shoulder. The first few hundred metres are dead flat, with
a little drop as you pass the white walled housing complex on your right.
As you start to climb the hill, passing the
multi-million-quid luxury beach homes and storm-ravaged beach huts, you start to gain elevation and you'll see Bournemouth in the distance on a good day.Carry on along the paved walkway until it abruptly comes to
an end and turns into a dirt path , careful not to crash into the bushes on the
left as you squeeze past them. The path that carves through the countryside
over the cliff tops is tricky, so keep an eye on the changing terrain, and try
not to fall off the where the storms of February 2013 annihilated the coastline
and washed away huge portions of the cliffs.
Follow the path as it gently falls and rises, passing the golf course and starts to descend into a gorse-lined path, keeping left as the path forks a couple of times. You'll start rising up a gentle but tricky hill straight after the gorse forest - be careful here as this is a prime spot to roll your ankle if you're not paying attention, but if you keep to the left or the right of the grassy area you'll minimise the risk of any injuries.
The final section of this route is a flat stretch of Marine Drive East to the Beachcomber Cafe, where this route either ends, or starts again. If the weather is nice, why not take a moment to sit
outside and enjoy a warm drink in the sun and soak up some of the South Coast's
finest rays. before turning back and doing it all over again!
End Point: Beachcomber Cafe, Barton On Sea, Hampshire
End Point: Beachcomber Cafe, Barton On Sea, Hampshire
Terrain: a
mixture of paved walkways, worn-down paths, and grassy hills.
The Highs: the
calmness in the middle, the coffee at the end.
The Lows: the tricky ascent immediately after the gorse forest.
Hints: best times to run this are early morning or around sunset, when the walkways are less populated and the sunlight turns the scenery into a photograph.
Alternatives:
if this is too short, turn around and try it again. If you're looking for even more of a challenge, start at Barton on Sea, run over to Milford on Sea, throw in the Hurst Spit route, then head back to Barton on Sea!
Conclusion: A scenic coastal trail with it's fair share of challenges and rewards.
*HRC = Heart Rate Control. Run at a slow pace to improve aerobic capacity.
*HRC = Heart Rate Control. Run at a slow pace to improve aerobic capacity.
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