This page deals with three parts to Cresswell beach, the private beach, the Scars, and the southern part of Duridge Bay. The private beach is not private and I don't know why it is called that (All land below the high tide mark is property of the crown and full access is granted. NB If you wander on to a firing or bombing range in your part of the country you have a right to be there but do not hold me responsible if you get blown to bits). Park in the little carpark opposite the caravan site over loking the beach, walk towards the village and there is a path leading down (about 50 m). The private beach has extensive kelp beds making it a good place to fish during calm weather at lowtide. It also holds a good depth of water at high tide and is well worth trying paricularly with a sea on.
The Scars are the flat rocks north of the private beach. Park on the road just past the ice cream shop and walk down the steps. Access is by means of a stone walkway (see photo) This is usually wet and slippery so take care, remember to get off the rocks before it is covered. Once on head north if there is a south wind blowing and fish parallel to the beach, the ground is pretty clean here. As the tide turns try fishing the front or the south end amongst the kelp.
The southern part of Duridge Bay fishes well at both high and low water although a good cast is helpful. This part fishes best with a south, south-east wind blowing which brings the fish off the Scars. Park in the car park north of the village walk on the beach and walk 50 m south or near the ice cream shop and walk north till the end of the stone blocks on a flood moving further north on the ebb. It is a good place to fish at night when it would be risky to fish the rocks. High tide works best when the sea has piled up the sand giving a steep incline so it is worth visiting at low tide to see what the beach is like today. As a side note Duridge Bay is good for bass during late summer, Park in the car park at the sharp turn 2 miles north of Cresswell and fish either high or low water or turn right at Hadston carrs and continue to the end of the road. Some good holes and gullies open up along duridge bay so a visit at low tide is well worth the effort.