Innehållsförteckning för September 2024 från Coast

Here’s the thing about a day at the beach…it can be so many things. Adventure, exploration, relaxation, fulfilment, mental stimulation – take your pick of what you want to get out of your visit and the chances are then it’s right there waiting for you. And if you’re stuck for choice, or want to visit somewhere new, then our Ultimate Beach Guide this month will definitely help with that. If you want award-winning stretches of sands, places so off the beaten track you could drive past them, or fabulous places for nature finds, then our 25 selected beaches have it all. I have written before in these pages about some of my favourites, but I am pleased to add in a new one to the list, having recently found myself…

1 THIS VODKA Sip a taste of Cornwall with small batch Gun Point Padstow Vodka distilled on the Camel Estuary – the spirit is made from barley and spring water sourced on the coast. (£44 per 70cl bottle, padstowdistilling.co.uk) 2 THIS WINE CARRIER Stash your favourite wine for a sundowner session on the beach in an Italian-made, leather handled, wine bottle tote bag – this washable paper design is also roomy enough to carry larger bottles. (£32, uashmamauk.com) 3 THIS FABRIC PATTERN Enjoy the restful vibes imparted by Kate Medlicott’s new Sea Story patterned fabric – the Little Palm design in Cloudy Blue is one of them and is also available in Ocean Blue and Rose. (£85 per metre, katemedlicott.com) 4 THIS HOODIE Wrap up warm for a seaside saunter…

If you’ve been reading this column for a while you’ll know that I am a proud member of Bude SLSC, the oldest surf life saving club in Europe. In 2023 we celebrated our 75th anniversary. It all started in the 1950s when an Australian life saver, Allan Kennedy, who was working for the Australian government in London, decided to import surf life saving techniques to the UK. At the time holiday resorts like Bude were enjoying a post-war boom, but, with inadequate life-saving provision, drownings were not uncommon. Kennedy had heard that Bude had been described by Aussie airmen flying over the coast from St Mawgan as ‘Britain’s Bondi’ for the quality of its surf, so decided to set up a club here. He enlisted 11 locals and trained them…

1 Balnahard Beach Colonsay, Inner Hebrides This wonderful beach is on the craggy island of Colonsay. Parking is at Kiloran Beach, which is, in itself, worth the trip – a lovely, long, usually quiet beach with sand rippled like the top of a loaf of tiger bread. After a stroll along the length of the beach, there’s a trail to pick up that climbs up into the hills and continues through the land of Balnahard Farm, passing indifferent sheep and Highland cows, and the remains of a chapel. The two-hour hike comes out at Balnahard Beach on the northern tip of the island, an unforgettable picture as you emerge from the machair-covered dunes: white sand, clear blue ocean, waves crashing and, most likely, not another soul in sight. 2 Budle…

“When the tide is out, the table is set,” declares Craig Evans, the enthusiastic leader of treks across the beaches, rock pools and inlets of Carmarthenshire via his business Coastal Foraging. My afternoon with Craig was an adventure and an education. A renowned expert in his field – or should I say beach – his coastal trips offer the opportunity to forage along the coastline, learning how to find prawns, mussels, cockles, wild samphire, sea anemones and wild garlic. We met up on a gloriously sunny day at Pendine Sands and with the tide out, Craig was able to guide me to the tucked away spots where the contents of our dinner lurked. And boy what a dinner! After an hour’s collecting Craig led me back to a sheltered spot…

HEY, TRY THESE FOR SIZE Put your best foot forward on a trip to the beach, or when hanging out shoreside, in a pair of these stylish new shoes just launched in the UK by HEYDUDE. The brand is known for its commitment to crafting shoes that are not only comfortable but also effortlessly fashionable, making them a staple for everyday and special occasions alike. We like this Wally style for men, available in shoe or ankle boot format. heydude.uk SUITS YOU FOR SURFING… ZONE3, the leading innovator in performance triathlon and open-water swimwear, has expanded its open water product offering with a new revolutionary wetsuit – The ZONE3 Switch. The wetsuit stands out from the crowd with its use of Yulex® fabric, a natural plant-based rubber material derived from…

Budock Vean Hotel This hotel and restaurant, pictured above, is one of the Helford’s finest, with spa, pool, golf course and 65 acres of glorious gardens down to the river. Choose from a selection of rooms and suites — the best have views over the gardens — or opt for one of their contemporary woodclad holiday homes or cosy cottages. budockvean.co.uk Kestle Barton Within striking distance of Frenchman’s Creek, Kestle Barton, pictured below, is home to six cottages housed in the converted barns of an ancient Cornish farmstead. There’s an art gallery and tea room, and beautiful gardens to wander around, too. kestlebarton.co.uk The Shipwrights Arms The four newly-refurbished rooms next to one of the Helford’s prettiest creekside pubs have gorgeous interiors, stylish en-suites and unbroken views of the river.…

If you would like to NOMINATE YOUR POOCH to feature in Dog of the Month, please email us at coast.ed@kelsey.co.uk For lots more Sea Dogs content, visit our website at coastmagazine.co.uk/sea-dogs-coast/…

FLORENCE BATE Florence runs a PR company out of Newquay. Whatever the weather, she’s known to be outside alongside her dog Ludo, so knows her home county like the back of her hand for both footpaths and supper spots! This month she profiles a wine buyer who is making his mark in the Duchy, as we make him the subject of our Coast Character feature. ROGER PUNCH Chartered surveyor Roger is one of the west country’s most experienced estate agents. A respected market commentator, he is a consultant to South Hams agents Marchand Petit. As far as downtime goes, he is often out with his local road cycling club or the MG Car Club. He is totally enthused by all that his region has to offer. LEE RUDDIN Lee has…

Located a stone’s throw from Padstow’s historic quayside, the flagship Whistlefish gallery spans three buildings, offering art prints, cards and gifts, and Roskilly’s ice cream from a small parlour. The shop is the second in the independent Whistlefish gallery business founded by artist Lyn Thompson in St Ives in 1996, and is one of a tribe of sister shops dotted around the Cornish and Devon coastlines. Lyn explains: “When the Padstow store opened 25 years ago, we wanted to introduce affordable art and locally crafted greetings cards to a town that already had an arty vibe. Our originals, art prints and canvas collections are mainly from Padstow and the surrounding area.” The rugged coastline and the beautiful wildflowers and hedgerows of the region have always inspired her and continue to…

‘This Welsh wonder is remote and has limited access, making it all the more magical when you eventually get the sand between your toes’ Curracloe, Co Wexford This is officially Ireland’s Best Beach 2024, as voted for by readers of the Irish Independent. They applaud its beautiful golden sands that stretch as far as the eye can see. They also love the balance of isolation and just enough infrastructure, including user-friendly parking. Curracloe rarely gets crowded and the waters are cool and calm. One local fan commented that: “Curracloe is like a beach abroad. It feels like you’re on foreign shores.” Perfectly put. WHILE YOU’RE HERE: Take a forest loop walk. Two wildlife-rich worlds collide on the trails that take you through the woods at Raven Nature Reserve, just next…

Ashoreline walk is full of fascinating finds that reveal a bit more about what lies beneath the waves, or beyond the horizon. Like a message in a bottle, these hidden treasures can tell a story of a different time and place, enriching our understanding of the world and our place within it. It’s also good for the soul. Spending time by the water, breathing in the fresh sea air and taking in the spectacular coastal scenery - all have well known health benefits. Whether you have a penchant for pebbles, a soft spot for collecting shells and sea glass, or you simply love seaweed, there be treasure to be found on these here shores. Here are five of the best shoreline walks where you can set your inner Womble free:…

Want golden acres of sands, stretching for miles with amazing views and stunning scenery? Then in Carmarthenshire you have come to the right place. And of particular appeal are Cefn Sidan Beach and Pendine Sands. At 13km, Cef Sidan is Wales’ longest beach and a favourite of sun-worshippers, swimmers and walkers alike. But low tide reveals a dark history of this stretch of coastline, when the wrecks of a number of ships become visible. Some were caught out by the fierce tides and shallow banks of the Bristol Channel, others lured onto the sands by gangs of looters to rob their precious cargos. On a clear day, it’s possible to see views as far as Caldey, Lundy and round to the Gower Peninsula. The 11km-long stretch of beach at Pendine…

We have teamed up with Rockfish to give one lucky reader the chance to win a year’s supply of sustainable seafood delivered to your home from Brixham Fish Market, England’s biggest fishing port. Over 35 per cent of seafood is wasted before it even reaches the plate. It’s a shocking number but the complicated supply chain via distributors and counters is not suited for seafood that needs to be eaten as fresh as it can be; wastage at this level is big. At Rockfish, they have made a commitment to change this by setting up an online fish market that gives people access to seafood direct from the quayside. Their experience tells them that people are a little nervous when it comes to cooking fish so they have taken care…

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WHAT’S THE BUZZ? This is a fabulous place to stay, whether you want a hotel experience or your own self-catered apartment. The location could not be better for a coast lover – Beachcliff is situated right on the seafront in the charming Welsh coastal resort of Penarth. You are just a ten-minute drive from the outskirts of Cardiff, meaning you are handy for the bright lights of the big city. And yet the truth is you may not wish to leave Penarth. It is a wonderful example of a historic resort which has been attracting tourists for years and yet has managed to modernise in order to keep both visitors and locals flocking to the area. And much of this must be down to the Beachcliff. In pole position just…

Visit the north and south coastlines of Devon and you’ll have two very different experiences. First, there’s the north with its wide, expansive beaches and rugged coastlines, so beloved of surfers; travel about 70 miles across the heart of the county and you’ll discover a very different, but equally beautiful coastline on the south with its sheltered coves and Jurassic Coast heritage. As well as being world class beach destinations, the coasts are also home to established and well-respected literary festivals – Budleigh Salterton in the south and Appledore in the north. Both take place this September. This year, authors who will be heading to the two towns include celebrity chef and restaurateur Rick Stein from just down the road in Cornwall; the Rev Richard Coles, cleric, broadcaster, author and…

1 DOMESTIC BLISS A new exhibition charts an evolution through decades of fascination with domestic objects and the basics of everyday life. Immortal Apples, Eternal Eggs at Hastings Contemporary Gallery will be a wide-ranging show of more than 30 works drawn from two of the UK’s most significant collections, the Ingram Collection and the David and Indrè Roberts Collection. With its focus on modern British art, the Ingram Collection has a number of still life works that show how the genre strikingly developed, from an official War Artist such as Ruskin Spear (1911-1990), to the metal assemblages of Sir Anthony Caro (1924-2013). Combining both formal depictions as well as more abstract interpretations, through paintings, drawings and sculpture, the collection shows how still life adapted during the disruption and revolution of the…

1 Find out about the beach you’re planning to visit. Is it a pebble beach or sandy? Are there large boulders for scrambling or rockpools for rambling? Depending on the geology, there may be interesting things to see in the rock face but heed warning signs and where there’s a risk of cliff falls, do not walk beneath them. 2 Check the tide times. If the beach is completely covered at high tide there’ll be no tideline to explore. Many beaches are transformed at different times of the tide, so being aware will make sure you’re better prepared. Knowing that rockpools emerge at low tide for example, or even barnacled shipwrecks, will give you an idea of what to look out for. 3 Wear appropriate footwear. Walking on pebble beaches can be surprisingly…

When in Carmarthenshire a visit to the National Botanic Garden of Wales – just inland from the coast – should be on your tick list. Sprawling over 500 acres, there is plenty to see and do, such as exploring the recently restored parkland and the Waun Las Nature Reserve, home to over 5,000 different plant varieties, and a selection of themed gardens. And while you are there marvelling at the collection of some of the most endangered plants on the planet from six areas of the world, also highly recommended is a visit to the adjacent British Birds of Prey Centre. And when you do, book one of the aweinspiring bird-flying experiences. I was lucky enough to participate in the Eagle Experience, allowing me to walk out into the open…

After disembarking the ferry across from Liverpool and exiting the terminal – a refurbished Grade II-listed building – we turn right onto Seacombe Promenade. Before starting our two-day, 16-mile walk to West Kirby via New Brighton, two miles away, we look back over our shoulders across the River Mersey – beyond the landing stage – towards the former UNESCO-recognised waterfront and the Three Graces: the Liver, Cunard and Port of Liverpool buildings. One of the world’s best skylines, this view rarely disappoints, though this proud Wirralian is more focused on highlighting to his Mexican wife what Scousers mockingly call ‘The Dark Side’. With selfie stick tucked away, we soon approach Wallasey’s imperious Town Hall, whereupon our eyes are drawn to folk patiently lingering at fishing pitches. Despite a 2023 survey…

Often overlooked by visitors making a beeline for the coast, the Helford River is one of Cornwall’s forgotten corners, a peaceful place of secluded coves and wooded creeks, glorious gardens and incredible wildlife, and dinky fishing villages huddled along the water’s edge — a complete contrast to the rugged cliffs and crashing surf found along much of the Duchy’s coastline. Meandering for over five miles from its headwaters in Gweek in the west to its mouth at Mawnan in the east, the flooded Helford river valley is lined with ancient oak forests and towering Scots pine (it’s one of the few places in the UK where woodland meets the sea). Small villages and sleepy hamlets border the banks, and there are dozens of gently sloping beaches dotted along the rocky…

I admit, I am being disingenuous: creams and off-whites are a vital part of any colour palette, whether to offset or set off more vibrant interiors. Traditionally, white is mostly confined to ceilings and paintwork. But the increase in colour options in gloss and wood paints means we have slowly cured ourselves of uninspiring white doors and skirting boards. Coastal interiors can be a bit stripey and blue. Still, blue is not the only colour of the coast, explains interior designer Jack Thompson (jackthompsonandco.com), who is based in the glorious Isle of Wight – perfectly placed to offer expert advice on getting coastal interiors right. What about the golden hues of a sandy beach, the greens of beach scrublands and seaweed? All these colours should be incorporated into the perfect…

Whilst a romantic getaway just for two is a blissful notion, in reality taking the dog can make it even better, as VICTORIA ROGERS discovers. Without the presence of Poppy, our Jack Russell, and her desire for walks, our motivation to leave the luxurious enfolds of our beautiful Cornish bolthole Carn House would have been very low. And as tempting as it was to stay indoors, the spectacular landscape surrounding the small village of Pendeen on Cornwall’s west coast, is quite simply unmissable. From beach walks at the nearby hidden gem of Portheras Cove, to breathtaking clifftop stomps along the Penwith Heritage Coast, after a day of exploration here your dog will be just as willing to curl up in their luxury accommodation as you are – bonus! Luckily for…

No doubt over the years Coast magazine has featured great tales of derring-do on the seas around the British Isles. Maybe struggles in stormy waters near Shetland, or dicey navigations around Cornwall’s rugged coastline. But this is not one of those ‘hang on to your sou’westers’ exploits. Perhaps look upon this north Norfolk adventure rather like the Glastonbury visitor who prefers glamping, not getting their wellies too muddy, and stays as far as possible from any moshpit. What’s on offer here is a gentle introduction to sailing - a cruise around Blakeney’s saltmarshes that combines serenity, wonderful vistas, great wildlife watching and a few creature comforts. And as a sometimes reluctant sailor I thoroughly enjoyed it. We meet at Blakeney’s quay on the most perfect early summer evening with barely…

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