Hillwalking isn’t just about climbing hills. Those who solely climb hills are missing out on an equally enjoyable means of ascent and descent – the coastline. There are coastal mountains of course but the summits rarely consist of a trig point directly suspended above a sea cliff, making their coastal status dubious. On the other hand, coastal walks seldom attain the lofty altitudes of mountains, although height alone is not a classification for Worthiness. Quality is the key.

It is unlikely that lower level coastal walks will make the grade in any case, as height brings with it the majesty of cliffs. Even a few hundred feet can be sufficient, because the impression of dizzying exposure is amplified by the verticality of the drop to the ocean below.

I have long enjoyed coastal walking, especially the dramatic sections above waves crashing into spectacular cliffs, arches and sea stacks, while the raucous gulls wheel around an ice blue sky. The paths can be as taxing as Munros, with frequent sharp dips to the sea, followed by lung-searing climbs back to the cliff tops. It’s a recipe that is strikingly different from mountain walks, yet when I dial in dramatic stretches of coast path into the Worthy ‘Gradeometer’ surprisingly high results are returned. In particular, amongst the criteria for judgement of The Worthies is ‘Special Qualities’, generally not a major player in the mountain field, but for seascapes the importance is often much boosted by distinctive geology and unique landforms.

It is therefore my assertion that the finest sections of coast paths in Britain and Ireland deserve a place in the hall of fame, for which I have created a subdivision under the dedicated title of ‘Coastal Highlights’.

It is intriguing to speculate on how many places will be considered worthy of inclusion as I revisit many coastal walks over the coming years. I can confidently call to mind at least half a dozen particularly stunning sections of coast on the South West Coast Path alone. Wales also offers possibilities, although my initial thoughts are that the lower height of the sea cliffs and the generally more level cliff-top paths may not provide sufficient interest for many coastal sections to gain Worthy status. Having said that the sea stacks of Pembrokeshire are absolutely stunning!

England has occasional possibilities and closer scrutiny will be paid to parts of the Yorkshire coast, otherwise coastal scenery with a hilly nature is not England’s strongpoint. The Isle of Man is intriguing, where the hills are not especially involving and actually trumped by the rugged southwestern coast. As for Scotland, there are isolated candidates on the east and south west coasts, although for the Highlands and Islands the line becomes more blurred as mountains approach the sea. Nevertheless, it’s the only hope for the likes of Orkney and Shetland to gain a foothold on the list and I am certainly looking for an excuse to return to these northerly outposts!

Ireland has similarities to the Highlands, where mountains encroach into the coastal equation. Achill Island is an example, although there are areas such as Slieve League in Donegal, where the cliffs are a mountain in themselves, reaching almost 2,000 feet. My only visit to Slieve League was accompanied by a pea souper, so I will need to return to make an accurate judgement as to whether to classify the area as coast or hills, or indeed Worthy.

There is much research ahead and if you have suggestions and recommendations they would be very welcome.