Where can I find a trail for a whole day walk along the shore?

Hi Marisa,

Thanks for your question about a full day of shore walking.  I have three for you to consider as follows:

The first is the Boughton River trail, which is a hiking trail that runs beside the Boughton River estuary. It's not technically a shore walk but it's beautiful and it goes along the water. It's 9 km return and it takes about 3 hours to walk the four interconnected loops. The start and finish are behind the firehall in Bridgetown. Below is a map. There are a couple of steep climbs and the trail is narrow. Take bug spray! 

The second is a walk along the Northside beach from North Lake to East Point lighthouse. This isn't a formal hiking trail but it's popular with locals. 

Access the beach at North Lake, and walk east all the way to the lighthouse.  Look for the gentle path to the on the right hand side about a kilometer from the lighthouse. Don't try this walk at high tide or if it's a very windy day. There is a stream crossing so plan to get your feet wet about half way along the walk. 

The walk is 9 km in length and you'll need to get a ride back to your starting point (or you can walk back along the road, another 8 km). There's a screenshot of this walk attached to this email. 

The third option is a walk around Boughton Island.  The walk is quite long (12 km) and it will take at least 3-4 hours to complete. Only tackle it if you are an experienced shore walker - there are lots of loose rocks in addition to the beach. You should also be aware of the tide - the walk should be done when the tide is low at the southern tip of Boughton Island.  A screen shot of this walk (in purple) is below. 

Have fun and be careful to plan for the tides and the weather. Don't attempt these shore walks if it's raining (slippery rocks).  

Happy trails!

Bryson Guptill