Time and tide waits for ………. Earthcachers EarthCache

Time and tide waits for ………. Earthcachers

This Earthcache is designed to make you think of what effect the tides have.

Wells Next the Sea is one of those places where the gently shelving beach means the low tide line is a long way from the high water point.

You must only attempt this Earthcache at 45 minutes before low tide, which gives you plenty of time to be at the low water mark at the exact time of low tide.

Depending on the time of year you can be barefoot, wear beach shoes or wellies. You won’t need to wade through deep water, but you will get splashed.

Parking is available close to the beach, where you can find free toilets and refreshments. If you want to make it a family day out the clean beach with its quaint beach huts make for a lovely spot. The lifeboat station is well worth a visit. From the trail head you will see a newly constructed harbour where specialist tender boats are moored – they service the windfarm you can see out to sea. Wells itself, a haven and port for centuries, still has a small fleet of inshore fishing vessels, narrow streets and old cottages.

There is some limited free parking in the backstreets of Wells itself, but it is a 30 minute walk to the beach! You walk either on a lower tarmac path or a higher path with great views. We counted 30 different wild flowers when we did it.

Do not attempt in times of high winds or storms. People with children and dogs frequently walk to the sea and, much of the year, there is a coast watch station open on the dunes near the trail head. However, you must assess the risk on the day you attempt the cache. Outdoor types love the walk at all times of year, on a sunny day it is glorious. Children of all ages enjoy splashing through the shallow pools. There are stretches of just sand, stretches with a few shells and, every now and then, you’ll find a shell mine!

Remember, this is one of the unspoilt parts of the UK – leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories. (However taking photos and/or collecting the odd shell is acceptable.)

So, once at the car park your quest begins.

• Make your way to the trail head N52 58.382 E0 51.018, unless you have a dog in which case you need to go to N52 58.436 E0 50.670 where dogs are allowed.

• At the foot of the steps (no dogs) mark a waypoint at the high water mark, if you have a dog mark the high water point nearest the groyne on your left

• Now head out for the sea, following the creek on your right, it is over a kilometre.

• While you walk think about two of the questions you need to answer

  • What is the major cause of the tides? Although winds, currents, time of year and other influences have an effect most of it is down to one thing!

  • Understanding the rule of 12ths why are you safer doing this 45 minutes before low water rather than walking to the sea edge 3 hours after low tide?

• Note the creek marker bouys, when you see the more complex one compared to those upstream head directly to the sea edge rather than follow the creek.

• Wait for the exact moment of low tide (you get this from the tide table available online or posted in the town’s information centre) and mark a waypoint.

  • How many metres is it from the high tide waypoint you marked?

• People tend to think there are two tides a day, but this is an approximation. If you arrived at this point in a week’s time your feet (and more) would be wet! To answer one of the questions you need to find the accurate tide interval.

• Take a photo of you and your GPS at this point. This is optional, but welcome.

• Make your way back. You might want to go via N52 58.604 E0 50.634 which is an island at high tide.

• Above all, enjoy your experience!

To prove your visit and show you have understood tidal differences you need to email me, through my profile, the following information and answers:

1. Send me the coordinates of the high and low tide waypoints you have created.

2. How many metres are there between them?

3. Understanding the rule of 12ths why are you safer doing this 45 minutes before low water rather than walking to the sea edge 3 hours after low tide?

4. Tell me the date and time you did the walk (I will be checking tide tables) and the next date when the low tide would be at the same time.

5. Photographs at any point of your experience are encouraged, but not essential.

I appreciate you will need to do some work to answer the questions but this is reflected in the D/T rating.