Castle Cove, Weymouth facts for kids
Castle Cove, also known as Sandsfoot Cove, is a small, quiet sandy beach. You can find it west of Weymouth in Dorset, southern England. It's part of the Wyke Regis area. The beach is very close to Sandsfoot Castle. This castle was built around 1541 by King Henry VIII. It helped protect Portland Harbour and Weymouth from attacks. Castle Cove is privately owned, but it's open for everyone to enjoy. It's a great place for swimming, sailing, snorkeling, and diving.
Above the beach, you'll find the Castle Cove Sailing Club. This club started in a small building in 1923. It moved to its bigger home in 2002. By 2014, it had more than 450 members who love to sail.
Fun Things to Do at Castle Cove
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If you get hungry or thirsty at Castle Cove, there's a refreshment kiosk. It has been serving visitors since 1947. Later, a fast food place also opened right on the beach.
Who Owns Castle Cove Beach?
The beach was sold at an auction in 2012. The new owners, Lee and Karen Maidment, said they wanted to keep the beach open for everyone. They wanted it to remain a place for local people to enjoy.
Working Together to Fix the Beach Path
In February 2013, a landslip damaged the steps leading down to the beach. This meant people couldn't easily get to Castle Cove anymore. A local community member, Clare Sutton, started a petition online. She wanted the local councils and landowners to help fix the path.
The petition started in March 2014 and quickly got over 1,700 signatures. However, the council said they didn't have money to fix the coastline or rebuild the steps. So, Clare Sutton and others held a public meeting in August 2014. They asked the community to form a group to help reopen the steps.
This group became known as the Friends of Castle Cove Beach. Three years later, they officially became a charity. The group worked hard to include everyone and stay focused on the beach. They created a Facebook page that gained 1,200 supporters. They also held events to raise money and started a monthly newsletter.
In 2018, the charity rented a piece of land that led to the beach. They got permission to build new stairs. They started raising money, aiming for £35,000. Thanks to their efforts, new stairs were put in place in April 2019. Brian Wilkins, who had been visiting the beach since 1938, helped open the new path.
