I walked the Horton to Slade Bay route on a calm summer evening, when the tide was low and the heat of the day had eased into a cooler breeze. The drive down through Port Eynon was straightforward, though parking in Horton was limited — a few roadside spaces near the beach where I was lucky enough to find one free. With boots on and a bottle of water in the pack, I set out toward the eastern end of the bay.
The walk began with a gentle stretch across the beach at Horton. The sand was firm with the tide out, and the light was soft, catching on the ripples left by the retreating water. A few paddleboarders were finishing up for the day, carrying their boards back toward cars parked near the slipway. The village behind was quiet, only the sound of gulls and the sea carrying across the bay.
From Horton, I picked up the coastal path heading east. The track rose gently at first, grassy underfoot with patches of stone, and soon offered clear views across the curve of the bay. The gradient wasn’t demanding, but the footing needed attention where the path narrowed close to the edge. Looking ahead, the small sweep of Slade Bay came into sight, tucked between rocky outcrops.
The descent into Slade was short but steep, the ground loose in places. Careful footing brought me down onto the shingle and sand mix of the cove. The tide was still low, exposing rock pools and seaweed-covered ledges at either end of the bay.
I stopped at the cove for a while, sitting on a flat rock with the water bottle. The sound here was different — waves smaller, more rhythmic, breaking gently against the stones. A group of teenagers explored the rock pools further along, their voices echoing off the cliffs. Otherwise, the cove felt secluded, more enclosed than Horton just around the corner.
The climb back out of Slade was steady, the loose ground again demanding slower, deliberate steps. Once back on the higher path, the going was easier, and the walk back to Horton followed the same grassy trail. By the time I returned to the beach, the evening light was fading, and the last of the paddleboarders had packed up and gone. The bay felt almost empty.
Back at the car, I changed out of boots and sat for a few minutes, watching the light drop across the water before starting the drive home.
– **Distance**: Around 2 miles (out and back).
– **Weather**: Calm summer evening, light breeze.
– **Terrain**: Firm beach sand, grassy tracks, loose descent to cove.
– **Parking**: Limited roadside spaces at Horton.
– **Gear**: Boots or sturdy shoes, water bottle.
The Horton to Slade Bay walk is short but full of atmosphere. The easy start across Horton contrasts with the steeper descent into the smaller cove, and the change in sound and feel between the two bays is striking. It’s a route that works perfectly for a quiet evening, rewarding with seclusion without demanding too much effort.
