Bectan Sands

The Green Hill

The steep green hill sits beside the tall church in the middle of Bectan Sands. No-one ever goes up there apart from the people in the houses because a rumour goes around about a boy went up there and never came back. There is a shallow spring with fresh water that runs down the steep hill. 

Emily, Porchester Junior School

Rivermouth

Rivermouth is Bectan Sands 'twin' village to the south.
It contains the local harbour, that sees more tourist boats than industry anymore.
It's history however centres around the harbour.

Smugglers Cliffs

On the top of Smugglers Cliffs, there are pleasant walks through low-lying shrubs and flowers. Paths wind around rocky outcrops. Good views may be seen in all directions.

Stubby, twisted trees lean to show the force of the wind and rabbits dance in the evening warmth.

Care must be taken to stay on the paths, as the edge of the cliff is fragile and crumbling, while down below, jagged rocks lie in wait for the unsuspecting.

Deep in the centre of the cliffs are tunnels and natural caves, said to be used by smugglers in days gone by.
The cliffs are imposing throughout the seasons, whether blanketed by snow, wet with spring rains or warmed by the summer sun.

An old sailor described how he first saw Smugglers Cliffs:

Through the fog a magnificent cliff loomed into view. The waves splashed against it with a violent anger. The cliffs looked dangerous and rocky. Colonies of fungi carpeted the walls. From the bottom you could see the lowering clouds hovering over the village. There were caves almost like pockets in a blanket of rock. Inside a cave, a hundred tunnels led off into the gloomy, dingy darkness. Unearthly sounds echoed through the ragged passages. Sharp barnacles clung to the mossy, damp walls. Slimy snakes slithered around the rough stalagmites and stalactites. The stench of rotting fish wafted through the clammy air...

Description created by St. Michael's Primary School

The Beach

Bectan sands is a beautiful place, the beach is covered in silver sand with a line of pebbles at the top of it. In the middle of the pebbles are four small boulders, out of which flows a stream going to the sea. Far away on the horizon as you look out to sea there is a lighthouse.

The little cove is a welcome relief from the rugged cliffs to the south of the village. Luckily for the locals, the bay is quite difficult to access and the road that goes through the village stops at a point high up on the dunes where motorists cannot possibly know the hidden sands exist. There are however, some well-worn paths from this point winding down through rough sea-grass dunes and bursting out onto a secluded, sheltered, usually deserted beach.

Tucked in at the top is a row of beach huts, painted in stripes (red and white) for visitors to get changed in. At the end of the row of beach huts is a stall that sells ice cream, drinks and food. It also rents towels, sunshades and wind stops. It is not very often open. A young lady called Miss Young owns the stall. Up at the top end of the beach it is a bit rocky and people go for walks around this bit in the evening. The rocks are made of sandstone.

The beach is a haven for wildlife and children. Although sheltered, only on occasional Summer days is it very warm, so it is a perfect place for shore creatures and children to frolic, although grown ups need cardigans and rugs to settle comfortably in their deck chairs or to catch up on their reading. There are no modern seaside amusements on Bectan sands beach and everything down there has to be brought by the people who come. If you want a deck chair you must bring it and take it back yourself and food only comes in picnics, unless you come on the rare days the beach stall is open. You must remember to bring your own amusements if you like bats or balls, though there is plenty to fascinate in the numerous, interesting rock pools. There are starfish and shrimps and a myriad of tiny creatures probably not yet discovered. Nothing can be left on the beach as the ocean cleans it nightly leaving a sparkling clean new sweep of sands to start each fresh day.

Class 4C at Clifton Green Primary School created this description

Forest Town

Forest Town is a small town, 4 miles to the North East of Bectan Sands.

There is a wide variety of shops and offices at Forest Town, as well as the primary and secondary schools that children from the surrounding villages attend.

A railway station and a bus station provide transport links away from this part of the country, and there is also a motorway - the M93 - within 15 miles of the town.