The Strangles
The Strangles at low tide
The Strangles
The Strangles gets its name due to the treacherous currents and jagged rocks that have wrecked many ships trying to navigate the rocky coastline of North Cornwall. This is not a safe beach for swimming unless the sea is completely calm without much surf. There is spectacular scenery both on the walk down and from the beach itself including a rock arch and the cliffs are covered with flowers from gorse and heather in early Autumn. On the path down and from the beach you may well see two peregrine falcons that nest on the cliffs near here. On windy days they often hang in the wind by the cliff edges.
There are actually two beaches. In Summer, Little Strand - the small beach around to the right (accessible only at low tide) is popular with Naturists.
It's about half a mile walk to the beaches. Despite winding its way down a huge cliff, the path is extremely well maintained and it's a surprisingly easy walk; even coming back up isn't too tiring. When you reach the beach at the bottom there is a rope to hold onto to climb down the rocks onto the beach. It looks worse than it is - the two pensioners in our group had no problem getting up or down, though we wouldn't recommend it for young children or anyone not steady on their feet.
Directions
Follow the B3263 through Boscastle up the hill on the other side and past 2 turnings on your left to Beeny. After these take the next left at a staggered crossroads. Follow the lane (passing a left turn to a farm and a right turn to another farm) and downhill to a the parking area where the road has been widened slightly. Take the footpath opposite the parking area signposted to The Strangles.
Walks to The Strangles
Crackington Haven to High Cliff (4.5 miles)
The walk starts by heading out onto the coast path at Crackington Haven and follows it to the headland at Cambeak passing Bray's Point and Tremoutha Haven. From Cambeak it continues past Little Strand and The Strangles to High Cliff and Voter Run where it climbs over the hill and drops down into a wooded valley. The route follows the river along the floor of the valley through woodland back to Crackington Haven.
High Cliff and The Strangles (2.8 miles)
The walks starts by heading out onto the coast path at Rusey Cliff. The route follows the coast path above Rusey Beach and along the top of High Cliff and behind the bizarre folded rock formations of Voter Run. The final stretch of coast path runs behind The Strangles where the walk turns inland to Trevigue. The route follows the lane back to the start of the walk.
