A place to pause and take it in

For years, Sarah has come to the Waters of Philorth to walk along the dunes and shoreline. It’s somewhere she turns to for fresh air, a bit of space, and time to clear her head.

She often walks the same stretch, following the path through the grass and down towards the beach. It’s simple and familiar. A place that feels open and easy to access, whether for a quick walk or a longer one along the coast.

Like many others, she values the fact that it’s there to be used without restriction. There’s no structure to it. People come and go as they please, using the land in their own way.

The proposed development would bring significant change to this part of the reserve. While it is described as a shared space, Sarah finds it hard to see how that would work in practice without altering the character of the area.

For her, the concern is not just about the physical changes, but about what would be lost in how the space is used. The ability to walk freely, to take in the landscape without barriers, and to rely on it as a quiet, everyday place.

It is that simplicity that matters most. Once that changes, it cannot easily be brought back.