Veczemju Cliffs

The Veczemju cliffs run for a few hundred metres along the Vidzeme seashore, red Devonian sandstone standing directly on the beach with the Gulf of Riga washing the base, cut by the sea into caves, overhangs, arches and isolated blocks that stand out on the sand. The colour is strong when wet and the formations change as the sea works them, with material falling regularly. It is the most photographed part of the Latvian coast and appears constantly in tourism material. The beach either side is sand and pebble with boulders offshore. Access is from a car park and a short path, and the cliffs are walked along the shore at low water.

What you actually see

• The red cliffs - the sandstone face standing on the beach.
• Sea caves and arches - the formations cut by the water.
• Isolated blocks - the fallen stacks standing on the sand.
• The Gulf of Riga - the sea washing the cliff base.

When to go

May to September for the beach and the water; the cliffs are photogenic year round and dramatic in winter storms. Low water gives the best access along the shore. Morning light suits the red rock.

Honest expectations

The stretch is short and takes under an hour. Rockfall from the face is a genuine hazard and standing beneath overhangs is unwise. Parking is charged and fills in summer. The beach is stony rather than soft sand.

Nearby

Salacgriva lies north; Saulkrasti is south down the coast.