Northern Coastal Cliffs

(S/E) From the car park, take footpath S9 and cross a stile. Go right and then left along a field edge with a hedge on your left. Go over a stile into a copse leading to a bridge over a stream.

(1) Here go right to follow the stream bank. Cross a stile into a copse and follow the path to another stile. Follow the waymarked grass path right and then left. Go over a stile into wood­land and follow the path which meanders to a track S27. Go left passing Pigeon Coo and then tum right onto the Hamstead Trail S28.

(2) Pass Creek Farm and the creek on the right. At a 6 bar metal gate continue on the foot­path.

(3) At the creek, turn left onto S3, part of the coastal path and Hamstead Trail, on a grassy path following the edge of the creek on boardwalks and over a stile. Follow the footpath signs and walk along a field edge. Then cross a stile in the hedge and continue half right across a field to a hedge gap and stile. Cross the board­walk to a fenced path and down steps to the beach at Hamstead Foreshore.

(4) Follow the coastal path left along the beach onto a grass path passing a memorial. Then a gravel track leads to Hamstead Farm with a stile by a 5 bar white gate.

(5) Go through farm buildings following the track and then continue on the coastal path towards Yarmouth (6). Go across a field, a stile and another field to reach a small squeeze gap by a metal gate. Go over a field and after a stile follow the path left passing a telegraph post. Then leave the coastal path and follow path S4.

(6) Follow the track and at a black wooden house, continue straight ahead on an unmarked path with a hedge on the right. At a kissing gate in the corner of the field, go into woodland. Follow the main path which winds through the wood. Go through a series of kissing gates and the path widens to reach a track. Go left passing Ningwood Common and, at a junction, turn right past houses and turn left onto S9 towards Ningwood.

(7) Go through the copse and over a stile into a field. Follow the path half left across a field to a stile by a 6 bar metal gate. Go through a hedge gap with a stile. Go straight across the field. At the bottom of the field, cross the stream and footbridge. Return through woodland to a stile into a field with a hedge on the right. Follow the hedge to the corner and turn right to a stile. Go left to the car park. (S/E)

Landscape: Cliffs of gravel and clay that are unstable due to the action of the sea affecting the underlying geologic. There is a Jack of development in these areas and access can be made along the coastal path.
Start: Public car park (free) at the recycling center next to the Horse and Groom pub (a Walker Friendly Pub) at Ningwood.
Access Information: Level footpaths that can be very wet and muddy. Also along many well surfaced tracks.
Refreshments: Horse and Groom pub
Toilets: Patrons of the pub.