From the well-trodden Wales Coast Path to Scotland’s hidden beaches, and new stretches of the England Coast Path being opened every month, there’s something for everyone to look forward to on a summer walk by the sea.

Of course, coastal walking is a very safe activity most of the time, but according to our friends at the RNLI, slips and falls from walking and running are the biggest cause of death on our coastline. So, keep in mind these safety considerations when heading to coast.

7 tips for staying safe on the coast

No one goes to the coast expecting to get rescued, so we’ve teamed up with Tim Doran from the RNLI Water Safety Team to share our top seven tips on how to stay safe while enjoying a coastal walk:

1. Be wary of all edges around the sea and waterside. Slips and falls happen in all locations; it is not just high cliff edges that are a risk.
2. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back.
3. Take care when walking in dark and slippery conditions.
4. Always carry a mobile phone. If you find yourself in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
5. Check the weather and tide times. Getting cut off by the tide is a common cause of lifeboat launches.
6. If you do fancy a dip in the sea on your walk, always swim at a lifeguarded beach.
7. If you get into trouble in the water, remember Float to Live. Lean back and use your arms and legs to stay afloat. Control your breathing, then call for help or swim to safety.

And if you ever see someone in a coastal emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Navigating coastal features

A trip to the coast is not just an opportunity for fresh sea breeze and wide open views. There are also unique features on our coastlines which you may not find anywhere else. So alongside our top tips for staying safe, we wanted to do a deep dive on how to navigate coastal features safely.

River mouths, estuaries and the tides

Before attempting to walk across any coastal river near the river mouth, do check for signs warning of any dangers. Even if you can’t see any warning signs, carefully consider whether it’s safe for everyone you are walking with to cross there. Around England and Wales, you can find marked routes which can help you find safe crossings over coastal rivers by looking for the signs directing you to the England or Wales coast path.

Some UK rivers also form mudflats and saltmarshes at the river mouth, where deposits of silt and clay gather to form a very soft, muddy surface around the coastline. These nature-rich habitats can stretch for miles and look deceptively safe to walk on. One of largest examples of these areas in the UK is the Wash, between Lincolnshire and Norfolk, where the flat, even mud is very quickly covered on a rising tide.

Cliff edges and coves

While cliffs can seem like permanent, timeless structures, the coastline around Great Britain is constantly changing. Cliff edges can be much more fragile than they look. Where the sea crashes into the lower part of a cliff, a process called coastal erosion can remove the foundations below the clifftop, leading to dangerous overhangs and unstable cliff edges. When these dramatic cliff falls occur, huge amounts cliff edge can simply slide away and crash into the sea.

From the top of the cliffs, there are often very few natural signs of this danger. If you’re visiting an unfamiliar coastline, it’s best to be safe and stay well back from the edge.

When walking along the bottom of the cliffs, along the coast, leave some distance between your walking route and the cliff edge too, so that if any lose rocks do fall, you are out of the way.

Always check the tides before walking at the base of cliffs, exploring coves and relaxing on secluded beaches. If you need to walk back along the shore to get back to the path, make sure you have plenty of time to complete your route before the tide starts to come in.

And remember, if you get in trouble at the coast, or see someone else who is in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. For more information on the Coastguard, how to stay safe in an emergency and on the coast, visit their website.