Botany Bay – located in Edisto, SC is one of the most beautiful, unspoiled beaches that I’ve ever seen. From the moment you enter the Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management area you will be stunned by the beauty.
We haven’t been since Hurricane Matthew, and while on the Edisto Beach website they have an update for Botany Bay – the beach was closed for nine months after Hurricane Matthew, due to damage. Botany has since reopened but a few things have changed:
A new bridge was built providing access to the beach – so you can now check out the north end of the beach. Their website says “The south end remains closed until August 2, while a threatened species of bird continues to nest”.
One of the big changes (and one to really make note of) is that there is:
NO BEACH from 3 hours PRIOR TO HIGH TIDE until 2-3 hours AFTER HIGH TIDE. So, in essence, you will be stuck if you venture out onto the beach and lose track of time. There are no pathways through the woods any longer. REMEMBER TO CHECK THE TIDE TABLES!!
Also, 30-40 feet of the beach has been lost (length), which means many of the dead live oak trees that lined the beach are now underwater in many circumstances. They recommend highly that NO ONE SWIMS AT THE BEACH – it’s far too dangerous – there are also oyster shells and beds and more tree stumps.
Remember – no dogs are permitted on the beach – and as always, you are not allowed to take ANYTHING from the beach (i.e. not even one tiny shell).
LEAVE NO TRACE
Leave the beach exactly as it is. Click on the orange links above for more information!
Catch you back here tomorrow!
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