The coast path that wraps around Greyling Bay runs for a little over 60 kilometres, from the shingle beyond the Saltings to the cliffs north of Fenwick Point. Most of it is waymarked, much of it is reachable by tram or ferry, and at this time of year, with the summer crowds gone, it can feel almost private.
For the gentlest start, take Line 1 to its terminus and follow the flat, surfaced promenade from Harbourside to the old lifeboat slip: 3 kilometres, step-free and lined with benches. Slightly longer, the boardwalk loop through the Saltings marsh covers 5 kilometres from the ferry stop, with a bird hide halfway round where curlews gather at high tide.
Climbing towards the cliffs
Things get steeper on the third walk, the 7-kilometre circuit from Kestrel Park out to Gannet Steps, where 140 stone steps drop to a sheltered cove. The fourth, a 9-kilometre route from Fenwick Point back to the city, follows the cliff top almost the whole way, with views across the bay to Old Quay. Catch the morning ferry out and walk home.
For something more demanding, the fifth walk heads north from the lighthouse along the High Cliffs to the hamlet of Skerry End: 13 kilometres with several sharp climbs and no cafe until the end. The sixth is the full day, 22 kilometres from the Saltings to Fenwick Point, best attempted with an early start and the last ferry timetable in your pocket.
The path is at its best in the quiet months, but the weather turns faster than people expect up on the headland.
Duncan Ferrier, a coastal ranger with the city council, advises walkers on the cliff sections to stay behind the fence lines, where erosion after last winter's storms has left some edges overhanging. He also suggests checking tide times before the Saltings loop, as the lower boardwalk can flood on the biggest spring tides.
Whichever route you choose, carry water and a waterproof. Cafes along the coast trim their hours in the quieter season, and several close entirely once the clocks change.
Route maps for all six walks are available free from the Central Library and the tourist office on Old Quay. Dogs are welcome on every route, but must be on leads through the marsh, where ground-nesting birds are protected.