Location and the Beach
A lovely beach, great to run around, and in and out of the pools. Recognised by the locals as a naturist beach and due to the high cliff behind, not too overlooked from the top footpath.
Directions
From Bare Britain: drive south out of Crackington Haven (heading to Trevigue, which is signposted on the right as you leave Crackington Haven village). After a mile there is a National Trust parking space on the left, about 150 metres after passing the Trevigue 18th Century Farmhouse, which is well signposted as such. Take the footpath that starts opposite the parking area (there's only one) and after a few minutes (about 250 metres on foot) you will end up at the top of the cliffs above The Strangles, the viewpoint in the attached picture.
We recommend wearing boots or shoes with a good tread on. Most certainly not sandals. A walking pole or walking stick is also a good idea.
Plan your trip, ideally to arrive on the beach when the tide is going out. You can buy Tide Tables in the local shops.
When you get down to the Main beach, turn right, and walk pass a projecting rocky point, which you can climb over if the tide comes in, to the naturist section which is called Little Strand.
Access to the beach and Naturism
The sea is not safe to swim in, due to strong currents, but when the tide is out the beach is lovely and sandy, and where the sand has been scoured out around large rocky outcrops, there are deep pools around the base of the rock outcrops. These pools get quite warm if the sun is out.
Beware, mobile phones do not work on the beach - no signal !
Yes this is a wonderful beach, even the trek down (harder still back up) is lovely, though only for the fit and mobile. Other websites suggest that bit of beach to the north of The Strangles - called Little Strand - is the CO part. You still get to it the same way as above. The only problem is that part gets cut off with the tide, making it somewhat inconvenient. I have seen others (and been) naked on the main Strangles part with no problem and suggest that the whole side to the right of the steps be used as CO through custom and practice.
Further details of Little Strand beach can be found on the Severn Vale Swimming Club website at www.severnvalesc.org under the "General Interest" heading. Here you will find an article containing a description of the beach and a guide to the way down from a local car parking area - complete with photographs. There is also access to a continually up-dated tide table for the area.
Last update: 03 May 20