Have you completed our #wildsummer challenges yet? Here, Daniel Start reveals the best places to wild swim into sea caves and under sea arches:
Baggy Point Caves, North Devon
A long tunnel, empty at low tide or you can swim through at high tide. Take care if there is swell. Park in the NT car park (EX33 1PA) at the end of Moor Lane, signed Baggy Point north from Croyde. Continue through the gate up the track for 15 minutes. Pass houses and a whalebone sculpture. Look out for the interesting little natural harbour with carved slipway and iron rings on the left. 300m further, take the faint path left to the rock outcrop. The caves are below to the left.
20 mins, 51.1394, -4.2550
Durdle Door, West Lulworth, Dorset
A huge, ancient sea arch on dramatic Purbeck coastline. There is a long steep, shingle beach (undertow in surf conditions) with caves in the cliffs.
Signed West Lulworth from A352, then 5 miles. Park in the huge Lulworth visitor centre car park and follow signs up hill (30 mins). For a shorter approach, park at Durdle Door Holiday Park (BH20 5PU, 01929 400200, turn right before West Lulworth and continue up hill). There is a wooded tent only section here – the only one near the beach for miles. For tranquility, arrive evening or morning, or continue west on coast path 500m to Scratchy Bottom to descend to a quieter section of beach. Or continue west on beach to Bat Hole sea arch.
20 mins, 50.6217, -2.2767
Winspit, Worth Matravers, Dorset
A rocky limestone lagoon under cliffs with low jumps to the left. Huge old quarry caverns.
Follow signs to Worth Matravers via Langton Matravers (B3069 between Corfe or Swanage). Park at quirky a Square and Compass (BH19 3LF, 01929 439229). Walk into village, past green, and turn left (Winspit Road, blue-painted cottages) and continue down valley to sea (1 mile), descending by waterfall to Winspit rocks and lagoon.
20 mins, 50.5843, -2.0332
Bow Fiddle Arch, Portknockie
Dramatic slanted rock with an arch on the edge of a small town. Caves in nearby bay.
East of Elgin, A98. Follow road through town down to the seafront, turn right and park by church hall (AB56 4NN, bottom of Admiralty St). Follow track down past sheds to shore 300m, to arch. Preacher cave 200m to the left, below Patrol Road.
5 mins, 57.7072, -2.8489
Cathedral Cave, North Landing
A popular white chalk cove with high tide sand, low tide pebbles. Giant Cathedral Cave on the right.
From Flamborough follow signs to North Landing (1 mile). Park by café (YO15 1BJ). There are plenty of rock pools and caves to explore on the left but the largest cave is on the right, after first inlet (50m) beyond the arch. The narrow cave entrance leads to a major cavern with access to sea. Strong tidal races offshore, so stay close if you swim.
5 mins, 54.1300, -0.1055
Daniel Start is the author of the Hidden Beaches (£16.99, www.wildthingspublishing.com).
