Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2021 i Coast

It’s amazing what a group of positive, like-minded people can do when they get together. Our lovely coast community constantly inspires me, and if you read our Islands of Hope feature (page 39), I’m sure you will be inspired too. With so many negative stories about the environment, it’s great to hear such a positive one, showing that we can make a difference to our marine wildlife, and also sharing how we might do this. If you are part of a community doing similar work in your area, please do email me, I’d love to hear from you! As hotels and restaurants reopen, and we begin to venture out – excited, but also with a little trepidation – it’s good to know there are plenty of amazing places to explore…

FIND OF THE MONTH Perfect for outdoor dining, these fish-inspired napkins and placemats will add a stylish edge to a coast-themed dinner party. Cinque Terre table runner, £50; set of 4 Cinque Terre placemats, £50; set of 4 Cinque Terre napkins, £50 (ellelyne.com)…

Checking our phones for tomorrow’s forecast has become an everyday part of life, but what if we could learn how to read the skies, clouds and waves for ourselves? Nature expert and writer Tristan Gooley’s latest book might help. From how to predict when fog will clear to understanding where the breeze will come from when you’re sailing out at sea, he helps us to tune in to the secret world of weather that surrounds us and teaches us how to become captain, if not of our own ships, then at least our daily ventures in the great outdoors. The Secret World of Weather by Tristan Gooley (£20, hardback, Sceptre).…

Growing up in the middle of Devon meant that going to the coast was always a treat, with Sunday walks on the beach and family holidays spent at Polzeath on the north coast of Cornwall. After years cutting my teeth as a musician in London I craved the live-by-nature lifestyle of the West Country and with my boyfriend Louie, now husband, already living in Truro, it was an easy move to Cornwall. My work means I spend a lot of time travelling, but there is nothing sweeter than coming home to our house by Fistral Beach in Newquay. For me, Newquay is unique in its openness to new ideas. In the aftermath of the infamous stag and hen-do years, our town seems less overly protective of its traditional reputation than…

ZEST FOR FLAVOUR A decade ago, Nuala Grandcourt started making a simple salad dressing in the kitchen of her cottage in Gurnard on the Isle of Wight. Using locally produced rapeseed oil, it was a real hit with people and encouraged her to devise other dressings, drizzles, marinades and fruit vinegars under the brand Wild Island. Now, the gourmet company’s reputation has spread to the mainland and the range is made in a commercial kitchen space in Newchurch. The philosophy remains exactly the same, however – small batches made with a blend of natural ingredients, with no artificial additives. Blackberry Balsamic Dressing, a winner of a coveted two-star Great Taste Award, is a favourite, along with Rosemary & Garlic Dressing and Marinade, Chilli Cherry Drizzle, and Lemongrass & Ginger Chilli…

LUSSA GIN FROM JURA Jura’s Lussa Gin uses sea lettuce to give a hint of sea spray fragrance and is named after the Old Norse word for flowers. It’s made by diurachs (Jura islanders) Alicia MacInnes, Claire Fletcher and Georgina Kitching, using a Portuguese still named Hamish. The women harvest sea lettuce from their rowing boat Red Rose, and add home-grown rose petals, honeysuckle, lemon thyme and even ground elder to the mix. Lussa Gin (42% ABV), £40/70cl. Buy at lussagin.com. MERMAID GIN FROM THE ISLE OF WIGHT Xavier Baker (MD of Goddard’s Brewery) and Conrad Gauntlett (owner of Rosemary Vineyard) use Boadicea hops, grains of paradise and rock samphire, locally known as Mermaid’s Kiss, to make their Mermaid Gin. The bottles even mimic translucent fish scales and the distillery…

The island of Skomer lies off the coast of Pembrokeshire and is the only MCZ (Marine Conservation Zone) in Wales. Famous for its incredible seabird colonies, the island’s many birds need food and their meals can be found underwater in an environment that is teeming with sea life small and large. Divers have counted 100 different sea sponges, 40 species of anemone and 65 types of sea slug – all in the reefs surrounding Skomer. However, don’t get too mesmerised by the sea life – remember also to check the tides as streams can race though gaps in the reef at seven knots, generating dangerous whirlpools and overfalls. The secret is to time any dives here for around slack water when these dangers are having a breather.…

I’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS! Please email me with your ideas, feedback, creative projects and reports of your coastal adventures at coast.ed@kelsey.co.uk. @alexfishermedia FLASH, BANG, WALLOP 1940s This is me when I was four years old with my parents, Ann and Ben Fynn, on a trip to Cliftonville in 1947. Alex Fynn INSPIRATION FROM THE SEA I have been so inspired by your article ‘Shark Invested’, in the March issue. The next day after reading it, I went into my studio and carved this piece. It is 45cm long. I am a professional sculptor, and this is not the first time your magazine has inspired me, as I make a large range of marine life (whales, dolphins, sea birds, etc) in wood and metal. John Mainwaring STRANDED ON A FROZEN DANISH…

KEVIN PILLEY For a mercifully short time Kevin was a professional cricketer who became chief staff writer of Punch magazine. His humour, travel, lifestyle and food and drink articles appear in publications worldwide. He has visited most of the UK’s islands and become familiar with their local beverages and bars, and this month writes about island gins (page 60). He’s found that every gin maker has a story to tell and that every gin is unique. In particular, he remembers the laughter and the beauty of places he has visited, such as the Isle of Harris Distillery in the Outer Hebrides. CAROLINE WHEATER Based in the Kent countryside, Caroline is a freelance journalist whose work has been published in a variety of magazines and newspapers. She’s also coast’s contributing editor…

1 THIS LEMON SQUEEZER The perfect gadget when adding zing to salads and cocktails this summer, this stainless steel squeezer makes juicing citrus fruits a doddle. Designed by Rick Stein, it comes in a set of two (£10, uniqueandunity.co.uk). 2 THIS CANISTER Squirrel away sweeties in this stylish canister, made from high-fired porcelain with a gloss glaze. The Vice Collection also features ‘Peace, ‘Love’ and ‘Woof’ in a range of coloured stripes (£128, uk.jonathanadler.com). 3 THIS DECKCHAIR Adorned with shells or fish, a Scraffito deck chair will make a handsome addition to your garden or beach picnic this summer. Made in Britain from oiled Merpauh wood and canvas sail cloth (£149, perkinsandmorley.com). 4 THIS BOTTLE The all-new Klunken water bottle is a collaboration between Swedish maker Primus and sister brand…

Pan-fried Dover Sole • Dover Sole, skin and outer scales removed (Alternatively use Megrim or Plaice)• Flour for dusting• Sunflower oil• 200g Cornish butter, cut into small cubes• 2 tbsp nonpareille capers• 50g brown shrimps• 2 tbsp dried Nori seaweed, crumbled to a powder• 1 lemon, juice only• ½ small bunch of flat leaf parsley, finely chopped• Sea herbs, to garnish• Crisp mixed leaf salad and sourdough bread, to serve Method (serves 2) 1. Place a large frying pan over a medium heat. Lightly dust the Dover Sole in flour, drizzle the pan with some oil and place the fish in the pan, front side up. Cook for 3-4 minutes and add 150g of the butter. 2. Turn the fish over, baste with the melted butter, and continue cooking for…

1 ISLE OF CARNA, WEST SCOTLAND Ever dream of staying on your own secluded island? The Isle of Carna is an historic 600-acre oasis, home to otters, eagles, orchids and just three houses. While there are no sandy beaches, family-run Carna House (sleeping 8) and Carna Cottage (sleeping 6) are idyllic bases from which to explore the teeming wildlife, hills, mountains and gaze at the vast, starry skies. New to the island’s ongoing conservation work this year, guests are invited to take part in the ‘Soil and Earthworm survey’ and, if the flora and fauna of the island really captures your imagination, there’s a chance to make a return visit as part of month-long conservation working holidays in winter. Prices for a three-night break start from £850 (isleofcarna.co.uk). 2 LUNDY,…

1 PROPERTY OF THE MONTH ISLE OF ARRAN, £400,000 Seacliffe Cottage sits in an elevated spot in the tranquil hamlet of Dippen, near Whiting Bay. See 1 overleaf 1 ISLE OF ARRAN, SCOTLAND £400,000 Previous page: Built around 1800, Seacliffe Cottage occupies an elevated spot in the hamlet of Dippen on the south-east corner of Arran. As well as wonderful views across the Firth of Clyde, it has five bedrooms and can either be divided into two self-contained properties or used as one large family home. McEwan Fraser Legal (0131 524 9797, mcewanfraserlegal.co.uk). 2 ANGLESEY, WALES £675,000 Oriel Tegfryn has a great coastal location in Menai Bridge, looking out over the Menai Strait. This spacious detached property, formerly an art gallery, has huge potential to become a dream coastal home and…

For such a simple word, the ‘reef’ is an extraordinarily varied tidal environment. Defined by the International Hydrographic Dictionary as ‘a mass of rock or coral which either reaches close to the sea surface or is exposed at low tide’, there are two main types; fringing reefs and barrier reefs. Fringing reefs extend out from the shore, while barrier reefs are separated from the coast by a lagoon. What both have in common is that they create a home for a phenomenal range of underwater creatures. While Britain’s cold waters do not encourage the growth of shallow coral found in the tropics, this is made up for by the multi-coloured sea life. On any reef around Britain you might expect to find such wonders as the seahorse, sea sponges, anemones,…

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Eight-year-old litter hero Rayer Waddell is joining the MCS to call on the government to introduce a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers. Rayer has been cleaning beaches since she could walk and has collected more than 300,000 plastic bottles. A Deposit Return Scheme involves paying a small deposit on top of the price of a drink. When finished, the container would be broght to a collection point, and the deposit returned. See mcsuk.org/clean-seas/drs.…

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One afternoon, while overlooking the majestic Sound of Jura from his home on the Argyll coast, marine volunteer John Aitchison took out a telescope to watch for harbour porpoises. Over an hour-and-a-half, the award-winning wildlife filmmaker and chairman of the Friends of the Sound of Jura counted not five, not 15, but 50 of these charming, short-nosed cetaceans, clustered in small groups. ‘It’s one of the best places in Europe to see harbour porpoises, shy animals that keep themselves to themselves,’ says John, adding, ‘we also have common and bottlenose dolphins in the Sound and humpback whales in the Sound of Mull nearby.’ Jura, a rugged, glacier-formed scrap of an island – home to just 200 people, 6,000 red deer and a tribe of otters and seals – is part…

PROPERTY OF THE MONTH NAIRN, HIGHLAND £1,000,000 Firthside House is a grand Scottish mansion in a fabulous location overlooking the Moray Firth. See 1 overleaf 1 NAIRN, HIGHLAND £1,000,000 Previous page: Firthside House is a grand Scottish mansion in a fabulous location overlooking the Moray Firth. Dating from 1885, it is reminiscent of a castle and has 11 bedrooms, five reception rooms, six bathrooms and mature gardens that extend to the seafront. Strutt & Parker (01463 723596, struttandparker.com). 2 COLINTRAIVE, ARGYLL & BUTE £699,000 Altavoil is a five-bedroom coastal home set in more than two acres of parkland gardens. Highlights include lovely views over the water, access to the foreshore, an octagonal summerhouse and a sea swimming pool. Robb Residential (0141 225 3880, robbresidential.com). 3 LYMPSTONE, DEVON £750,000 No 5 Harefield…

UNDERWATER LIFE Reefs create a space for a variety of sea life to thrive, ranging from tiny plankton to large porpoises and everything in between. Despite lacking the colourful coral commonly found in the shallow seas of tropical climates, Britain does have a deep-water coral called Lophelia that thrives on the cold waters off the west coast of Scotland. STEEP SIDES On the side facing the open sea, reefs generally tend to be steep sided with a drop off into deep water. This creates steep breaking waves when there is a swell and, in turn, they generate strong undercurrents. However, the ‘inside’ of the reef typically shallows gently and provides gentler conditions. FAST WAVES Because waves break when the water gets shallow, if the seabed shallows gradually then the waves…

DOG-FRIENDLY PLACE TO STAY The Barn at Fernlea, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire This converted 1800s barn is in a private spot close to Lytham St Annes, so it’s ideal for exploring the Fylde Coast and the lovely Lancashire countryside – and of course for those who love their golf. Blackpool and Lancaster are also nearby. Sleeping two and welcoming one dog, this 4-star romantic retreat can be made all the more special by adding in a tailored private dining experience. And to the side of the property is an open garden with mature trees and flower beds, garden furniture and a barbecue – perfect for al fresco dining. There’s also off-road parking. PRICE For seven nights, prices start from £369. Dogs are charged at £20 each per full or part…

I grew up in Swansea and first discovered Rhossili (pictured) when we went on family caravan holidays there in summer. It was full of birds, with flocks of up to 100 goldfinches and choughs – called 'red crows' in Wales – as well as breeding guillemots, fulmars and kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs. From gorse to grasses to rocks, there’s every type of habitat on the headland. It’s also a welcoming place for people, with disabled access paths. The sweeping, sandy beach is three miles long and the ocean is a crisp, blue colour. It’s very open and bright, often voted among the top 10 beaches of the world. I still live in Swansea, a 15-minute drive to Rhossili, so I come every month if I can, especially in May…