The TOP 10 ACTIVITIES viewed on Coast Radar during April were:

(1) Go Ape Edinburgh – high wire forest adventure, Edinburgh

Go Ape Edinburgh, giant obstacle courses up in the trees using ladders, walkways, bridges and tunnels made of wood, rope and super-strong wire, and top it all off with the country’s best zip lines

We then kit people out with harnesses, pulleys and karabiners, give them a 30 minute safety briefing and training and let them loose into the forest canopy, free to swing through the trees. Of course, instructors are always on hand, regularly patrolling the forests (not in monkey suits unfortunately!)

The result is spectacular. The Go Ape experience gets the adrenalin pumping, gets people out of their comfort zones and above all (no pun intended), it’s just great fun.

Click here for more information!

(2) Royal Sovereign Lighthouse, Eastbourne

This lighthouse was completed in 1971 and replaced a light vessel which had marked the Royal Sovereign Shoal since 1875. It is of concrete construction and was built in two sections on the beach at Newhaven. The base and vertical pillar section were floated into position and sunk on to a levelled area of the sea bed and the upper cabin section and superstructure were then floated over the pillar section. The pillar had an inner telescopic section which, when attached to the cabin, was jacked up 13 metres and locked into position. The underside of the cabin is well above the maximum wave height and the navigation light is 28 metres above sea level.

http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/royal_sovereign.html

(3) Climping and West Beach circular walk, Littlehampton

This is a undeveloped, and largely undiscovered, section of West Sussex. Arun District Council has a guided walk of 4.5 miles perfect if you are in the area and want to get away from it all for a couple of hours. Alternetively grab an OS explorer series 121 – Arundel and Pulborough map and just plan your own route. This part of the coast has two points of parking, Climping Beach and Littlehampton West Beach, but the guided walk starts at the West Beach. This is a great place for wildlife: – Oystercatchers – Mermaid’s Purse – Sea Kayle – Yellow Horned-Poppy – Ringed Plover – Common Lizards

(4) Nab Tower Lighthouse, Southhampton

This light is responsible for guiding ships of all sizes and nationalities into the deep water channel for Portsmouth and Southampton. The story of its strange origin goes back half a century. In the early part of 1918 attacks by German U-boats on our merchant fleet caused the Admiralty so much anxiety that it was decided to take strong, if unorthodox, counter measures and a startling plan was drawn up by “backroom” scientists. This was to sink a line of eight fort like towers (each costing £1 million) across the straits and to link them with steel boom nets, with the idea of closing the English Channel to enemy ships. About 3,000 civilian workmen were brought to a quiet backwater at Shoreham and work began almost at once on two of these towers – each 40 feet in diameter with latticed steel work surrounding the 90 foot cylindrical steel tower and built on a hollow 80 foot thick concrete base designed to be flooded and sunk in about 20 fathoms. The vast honey combed concrete base was shaped with pointed bows and stern for easy towing.

One tower was completed when the war finished in November, and the other half finished giant was broken up for scrap. After much thought it was decided to use the solitary “white elephant” to replace the old Nab Light Vessel by sinking it at the eastern end of the Spithead approaches, also serving as an invaluable naval defence post, if required.

http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/nab_tower.html

(5) Anvil Point Lighthouse, Swanage

Built from local stone, Anvil Point Lighthouse was completed in 1881 and opened by Neville Chamberlain’s father, then Minister of Transport.

The light is positioned to give a waypoint for vessels on passage along the English Channel coast. To the west it gives a clear line from Portland Bill and to the east guides vessels away from the Christchurch Ledge and leads them into the Solent.

Lighthouse has a visitor centre.

http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/anvil_point.html

(6) Start Point Lighthouse, Start Point

Start Point is one of the most exposed peninsulas on the English Coast, running sharply almost a mile into the sea on the South side of Start Bay near Dartmouth. The Lighthouse, sited at the very end of the headland, has guided vessels in passage along the English Channel for over 150 years.

Lighthouse has a visitor centre.

http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/start_point.html

(7) Skipsea Castle, Beverley

Skipsea Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle, dating from before 1086.

Click here for more details on the English Heritage website

(8) Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary, Huttoft

The Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary is a non-profit making organisation, existing purely on donations by members of the public and fund-raising efforts by our helpers. Many of the donkeys at the sanctuary have been rescued from cruelty, the Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary enables them to live comfortably and to ensure they enjoy the rest of their lives.

For more information and opening times visit the website.

(9) UK Bike Park (MTB Freeride Club), Blandford Froum

UkBikepark is a rider built Mountain bike nonprofit club modeled on the North American style bike park. We manage a mountain bike riding area on leased Forestry Commission land.

catering to riders of all abilities. Boasting seven downhill courses, National standard 4x Track, North shore trail, a massive wooden start platform, The Dakine Ladder Ally (sponsored freeride trail) plus a host of dirt jumps and other features there’s almost too much to ride in one visit.

UK Bike Park (MTB Freeride Club) website

(10) Flamborough Cliffs, Bridlington

Flamborough Cliffs Nature Reserve, as part of Flamborough Head, is designated as a SSSI, a SAC and a SPA, and is also a part of the Flamborough Head Heritage Coast.

Flamborough Cliffs is a coastal reserve, ranging from cliff top grassland and spectacular chalk cliffs to rocky shore and sandy beach. It is a wonderful reserve on which to see huge numbers of breeding seabirds, species rich grassland, farmland birds and a variety of invertebrates.

For more information on Flamborough Cliffs see Yorkshire wildlife trust website

The reserve is located north-west and south-east of North Landing, Flamborough, approximately four miles north east of Bridlington, East Yorkshire. Best place to park is at North Landing beach.