COASTAL WALKSThe longest coastal footpath in Britain is the South West Coast Path, the 630 miles of which link Poole Harbour in Dorset with Minehead in Somerset ( ). The box office opens on 2 May (01736 810181/471; ). The castle opens daily from 11.30am-5pm; admission is £3.30.To hear the murmur of the sea while watching a play, go to the open-air Minack Theatre at Porthcurno, Cornwall, where the season includes The Taming of the Shrew, Kiss Me Kate and La Boh?. She opens daily from 10am-6pm; admission is £8.ANY DRAMA?English Heritage is organising many maritime-themed events at its properties, ranging from re-enactments of Viking incursions at Whitby, Yorkshire, during May (01904 601876) to the Tall Ships Parade Party at Tynemouth Priory, Tyneside, on 28 July (0191-257 1090) and Tales from Trafalgar at Scarborough Castle, Yorkshire, from 15-19 August (0870 333 1181; .uk). The nearest is the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast (020-7940 6300; .uk), moored near Tower Bridge.
For a Thames cruise, you can even hire Bluebird of Chelsea (020-7823 5612; ), the boat built in the 1930s for Sir Malcolm Campbell, the former holder of the world land-speed record.ANY BATTLESHIPS LEFT?No. The Thames Estuary has numerous companies arranging charters or excursions on anything from a barge to a four-masted barque (Topsail 020-7022 2201; ). Scotland has more than 25 sailing schools with the option of RYA qualifications (Sail Scotland 01309 676757; ). The "Taste of the Highlands" three-night cruise costs from £1,050 based on two sharing.The history of St Kilda, a World Heritage Site, exercises such an appeal that Wilderness Scotland (0131-625 6635; ) operates 10-day tours to it aboard either a modern yacht or a 65-year-old gaff cutter sleeping eight.I'D PREFER A HEAD OF SAILMany companies offer yacht charter or sailing courses. It operates mostly out of Oban, exploring the west coast and islands. Hebridean Island Cruises (01756 704704; ).
The area's seal colony can also be seen during the daily boat trips from Seahouses (01665 720884), where the lifeboat station is forever associated with the bravery of Grace Darling and her father; their exploits in saving survivors from the wreck of the Forfarshire are commemorated in the Olde Ship Hotel (01665, 720200; ).ANYTHING LONGER?The most luxurious way to explore the British coast is aboard the Hebridean Princess, once a Caledonian MacBrayne ferry but now more of a floating country house with accommodation for 49. The Farne Islands off the Northumbrian coast offer exceptional opportunities to watch seabirds. Capable of carrying 267 passengers, she can be chartered for coastal or river cruises when not on ferry duties Return fares on the ship are £28. Fares cost £35 return.One of the most romantic islands off the British coast is Lundy, linked to the Devon coast by the island's ship MS Oldenburg (01271 863636; ), which retains its original panelling and brass fittings. Rover tickets are available for island-hopping visitors - an eight-day ticket costs £234 per car and £47.50 per person.The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (08705 523523; ) celebrates its 175th anniversary this year, but some of the vessels operating its routes from Liverpool and Heysham are a far cry from the wooden paddle-steamers with which it began servicing the island. The ferries of Caledonian MacBrayne (08705 650000; ) provide a lifeline for 22 of the Western Isles.