Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Coast

If you are a coast-lover, then there is something uniquely appealing about an island, isn’t there? Perhaps it’s the fact that ultimately we all live on an island which lies at the heart of it. Whatever it is, I know for me there is nothing more thrilling than a trip to one. Islands give off a sense of adventure and escape which feel different to a trip to the coast, however enjoyable that might be. There somehow seems to be a different ‘feel’ to time spent on an island – the pace of life, the attitude of locals, the atmosphere…it’s slightly undefinable but you tend to know when you are on an island. Also, of course, is the necessity to think in advance about the mode of transport to reach…

Last month I talked about one of my pet hates, the ‘disposable’ barbecue. This month I am going to take a pop at another. That, my coast loving friends, is (sharp intake of breath) dogs. And their poo. In 15 years of cleaning beaches I must have picked up hundreds of bags of dog poo that had been left under stones or in trees, slung casually into the bushes on the coast path, abandoned at the side of a short cut to the beach or piled up with others in a spontaneous non-bin dog bin. These bags, sweating in the July sunshine, weren’t biodegrading like the manufacturers promised they would. They were toxic, disgusting, hateful and dangerous – sitting there, waiting for a do-gooder-angry at the owner’s apathy and lack…

Many of our more interesting seaside resorts are a little out on a limb - you don’t just drop in on them a mile or two off a motorway. That’s the case with Southwold. Visitors from London and the south have to cope with a sedate journey along the A12, while anyone coming across from the Midlands must negotiate north Suffolk’s B roads. However, once you catch sight of the Blyth estuary you know you are only a mile or so from the coast. So is this a destination worth seeking out? Yes, most certainly, and it doesn’t matter whether you visit in early spring (like me), summer or autumn. Through the ages it has been a busy port, a medieval fishing harbour and a pleasant seaside retreat for Victorian…

The most iconic feature of the Shipping Forecast is undoubtedly the Beaufort Scale, a wind measuring system ranging from Force 0 (the sea like a mirror) to Force 12 (Hurricane-strength winds). With a simple number you have a clear picture of conditions and that’s the beauty of this system, developed in the early 1800s by the Irish hydrographer Francis Beaufort. After being shipwrecked at the age of 15 due to a faulty chart, Francis Beaufort devoted his career to better advancing nautical knowledge. Working his way up through the hierachy of the Royal Navy, while other officers pursued leisurely activities while off duty, Francis spent his spare time collecting hydrographic data; measuring depths, pinpointing latitudes and longitudes, taking bearings of uncharted headlands. This hard work was rewarded with rapid promotion,…

In Great Britain, we are blessed with such a huge variety of stunning walks. But when you’re first starting out, it can be hard to know where to go. The options can be daunting. By bringing together 40 fantastic routes for all levels of experience from around England, Scotland and Wales, The Ramblers Handbook helps give everyone the confidence to find the walk that is right for them. And as the handbook is arranged by season, you can pick the perfect walk for every time of year. Whether that’s ambling through bluebell-carpeted West Country woodlands in spring or surveying the sweeping sea views from on top of the Seven Sisters on a clear summer’s day. The Ramblers Handbook doesn’t just contain wonderful walks: it also supports the Ramblers’ work to…

MERRYN So St Ives, 01736 691335 sostives.co.uk/merryn/ Merryn is a large, luxury house in a fabulous location in St Ives, with stunning views over the surfers’ paradise of Porthmeor beach. The house is just a short walk down the hill to the town centre, harbour and sandy beaches. Arranged over three floors, there are four bedrooms, three bathrooms and, perhaps best of all, a lovely, light and spacious kitchen dining room that leads out to the enclosed courtyard. Throw in plenty of parking, which is vital for the area, and you have the perfect house for a luxurious stay in St Ives. Weekly prices start from £1,200…

Supporting the wellbeing and welfare of seafarers, The Seafarers’ Charity is set to start receiving regular donations as Mark Ashley-Miller continues his fundraising Harbour Master Sailing Challenge. Sailing in his 34ft Nauticat Good Dog, Mark is endeavouring to meet every harbour master in the UK and Ireland. Over the last three-and-a-half years, his journey has taken him around England, Scotland, and Wales where he has visited over 250 ports and harbours and raised over £20,000 to date. This next stage will see Mark visiting the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, while continuing to raise valuable funds to donate to The Seafarers’ Charity. • To support the Harbour Master Sailing Challenge visit: harbourmastersailingchallenge.co.uk.…

SHARON GOBLE Sharon runs an award-winning communications business from her home in Exeter. She’s been a journalist for longer than she cares to say! She loves architecture and interior design and is happiest hanging out by the sea. In this issue, she goes ‘off the beaten track’ on the Sussex coast, where she grew up. RICHARD BRYSON Suffolk-based Richard is a former regional journalist of the year and an award-winning magazine editor and publisher. Now semi-retired, he plays golf, sketches and paints, and takes the springer spaniel dogs he shares with his wife on long walks, often by the coast. ANDREW MILLHAM Andrew Millham is an emerging nature and folk history writer whose debut book, Singing Like Larks, was published in March. In this issue, he transports us to the…

1 THIS PICNIC BAG Make a date for lunch by the sea and pack up your goodies in a Dragonfly pocket picnic bag, which has thick thermal insulation to keep things cool and a 22-litre capacity. (£47.50, sophieallport.com) 2 THIS SILK SCARF Top off a summer party outfit with a luxury scarf in coastal colours made by an independent British design studio – Irises No 2 Silk Twilly is designed by artist and milliner Holly Kennedy. (£50, inkandsilk.co.uk) 3 THIS CUSHION Cocoon in a hammock or sunlounger with a water repellent cotton cushion decorated with an on-trend, block-printed jungle leaf motif in cobalt, 45cm x 45cm. (Anyday range, £10, johnlewis.com) 4 THIS TABLE TOP GRILL Enjoy an intimate barbeque with a Feuerhand Tamber table top grill (20cm diameter) that cooks…

How often does it feel practicality and style in a shoe can never marry up? Vionic are breaking that mould with their unique comfort technology shoes. Each pair combines podiatrist-designed orthotic insoles with a flexible, cushioned outsole and a lightweight, breathable upper. Perfect for beachside strolls – they look fabulous into the bargain. vionicshoes.co.uk New to the UK and with their bright colours and easy to slip on styles, it surely won’t be long before Biion Footwear becomes the new essential style to be seen wearing at the beach. Originating as golf shoes, they are now a fabulous leisurewear option for those who want funky designs with comfort. We loved our Oxfords in blue and white…see for yourself the amazing colour combinations on offer. biionfootwear.com Triathlon and open water swimming…

ISLE OF MAN Helen Crosbie is officially a stopover. She and her family have lived on the Isle of Man for seven years - long enough to progress from being a mere ‘comeover’. “We’ve passed the five-year mark so we’re classed as stopovers now,” says Helen, who moved here with her husband Mike and their toddler daughter when the chance of a new start came up. The couple had been living in France for almost 15 years and working in ski resorts - not easy to balance with raising a young family. “We wanted to relocate somewhere and then my husband had the opportunity to set up a business on the Isle of Man,” says Helen. “We took the leap and decided to go for it.” Helen and her family…

Adnams are ingrained into Southwold like the wording in a stick of rock. Over time the brewer has become a hotelier and wine merchant with a green, low carbon distribution centre on the outskirts of town while just yards from the beach there’s the brewery, a couple of traditional pubs, a shop and cafe plus two landmark hotels on the high street, The Swan and The Crown. I stayed at both, starting with one night at The Swan where all bedrooms sport bright colours and a contemporary design. In the main house rooms you get four poster beds, Nespresso machines, 40 inch smart TVs, Temple Spa toiletries and a welcome bottle of gin. Dogs and their owners can stay in smart annexe rooms arcing around an attractive enclosed garden. The…

Mention the Sussex coast and one place invariably springs to mind: the cosmopolitan city of Brighton (and Hove), but Sussex has much more to offer than the buzz of its biggest city. You only have to venture a short distance east or west to discover some overlooked gems, as Arthur Stanley Cooke did at the start of the 20th century for his tome Off the Beaten Track in Sussex. The county is split into East Sussex and West Sussex, each with its fair share of historic towns, glorious beaches and magnificent countryside, not to mention a rich maritime history. Having grown up in the county, I know both parts pretty well, but Off the Beaten Track and its many sketches by Sussex artists inspired me to revisit my childhood stomping…

There’s often a cheerful personality to seaside towns across the United Kingdom, and the maze of swatch-card-coloured Regency buildings dotted along narrow cobblestone streets, teeming with independent shops, cutely characterises Aberaeron as such. But there’s something more happening below the surface here, a certain je ne sais quoi, that leaves visitors guessing at what the ingredient that makes this town so singular might be. Perhaps it’s simply because its symmetrical architecture is unusual for mid and west Wales – a consequence of Aberaeron being one of Wales’s only planned towns. Or maybe it’s the strong maritime spirit that makes this part of Ceredigion feel different, as children can often be seen trying their hand at crabbing while elderly couples amble along the promenade. A soft fragrance of newly made bread…

1 ‘This stretch of the north Cornwall coast between Polzeath and Daymer Bay has been a beloved spot for generations of locals and visitors’ 1 WADEBRIDGE, CORNWALL GUIDE PRICE £5,000,000 Bishops Rock was built by the current vendors’ grandparents in 1937 and is perfectly situated on the coastline known as Greenaway. This stretch of the north Cornwall coastline between Polzeath and Daymer Bay has been a beloved spot for generations of locals and visitors for accessing the magnificent beaches, for walking and for just sitting and watching the endless surge of the Atlantic Ocean and its wildlife. Inside of Bishops Rock its authentic 1930s period features remain, such as the original doors, oak floors, small-paned windows with slate sills and butler’s bell system in the kitchen. Demanding attention away from…

Chichester Harbour Conservancy has announced the appointment of Matt Briers CBE as its new chief executive. Matt had a distinguished 37-year career in the Royal Navy, serving as a warfare officer at sea and aviator in the Fleet Air Arm. As well as a range of staff appointments in Whitehall, he commanded on three occasions with his final post as a rear admiral. Matt says: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the outstanding team at Itchenor and Dell Quay. Chichester Harbour is special, being of international importance environmentally and a busy recreational area.” Pictured left to right: Richard Craven, outgoing harbour master, Cllr Ann Briggs, chair of the Conservancy, Matt Briers and Robert Macdonald, chair of the Conservancy’s advisory committee.…

When graphic designer Susanna Cook relocated to the Suffolk coast in 2017 it just so happened that a double-fronted Georgian shop, a former 16th century merchant’s house in Woodbridge, became available. “I’d known and loved this building on Church Street since I was young,” explains Susanna. “It was an antiques shop run by the same family for many decades and I understood what a special place it was, and how important it was for the community.” For over 30 years, Susannah worked with independent labels in the British food industry and during her time in London had hosted a series of events called It Starts at the Table, based on the idea that sharing food is the starting point for cooking, education, creativity, discussions and work. “This, plus my commitment…

1 ROCK AND ROLLS You’d be hard-pressed to find a more picturesque location for a food and drink festival than the Camel Estuary on the North Cornish coast. This is the setting for the four-day Rock Oyster Festival with lashings of local food and drink to a soundtrack supplied by some great music acts including a DJ set from Groove Armada, Nile Rodgers and Chic and Sophie Ellis Bextor. This year they are getting into the party spirit early with the gates opening on a Thursday and a special evening event – a Paella Pop-Up from the chefs at the extraordinary Hidden Hut which overlooks the beach at Porthcurnick. A Cornish seafood paella comes with wild rocket and roasted garlic aioli, served up campfire style. It will certainly whet the…

COASTAL CLASSIC REBECCA BY DAPHNE DU MAURIER The two films made of Rebecca (1940 and 2020) are captivating, but for a journey of the imagination nothing beats reading Daphne du Maurier’s compelling tale of passion and intrigue set on the Cornish coast. The author fell in love with Cornwall in childhood, when her family bought Ferryside, a holiday home near Fowey. Later in life she lived on the Menabilly estate, the coastal property thought to have inspired Manderley, the fictional mansion where Rebecca is set. The novel is peopled by enigmatic characters such as owner Maxim de Winter, his young, unnamed wife (the narrator), and their shadowy housekeeper, Mrs Danvers. Du Maurier likes to go to the dark side and her story’s psychological twists and turns have ensured that Rebecca…

‘The quirky buildings tell stories of heritage, with some properties having been known to have sailing masts used as window lintels’ St Ives, formerly a small fishing village, has rightly earned itself a reputation as one of the UK’s cultural capitals. With many fantastic restaurants, galleries, including Tate St Ives, museums, shops, surf schools, beaches and scenic walks to choose from, there is a plethora of activities to keep all ages amused. There is deep-rooted history in St Ives in the form of fishing, farming, and mining. The quirky buildings tell stories of this heritage, with some properties having been known to have sailing masts used as window lintels. The annual St Ives Food Festival attracts many to sample different cuisines whilst enjoying the shoreline of Porthminster beach. The annual…

“My use of different types of water based paints has evolved over 50 years of working as a professional artist. In my art college days, I mostly used ink to draw with. During those early years, I began to work on ideas for etchings and designing for lino-cuts, working with Indian Ink or sepia ink. “Gradually my work evolved into a way of mixing ink with either watercolour, gouache or acrylic paint which helped me work quickly en-plein air. “When working on more detailed paintings over many days, I use a very thick watercolour paper, usually Saunders & Waterford Rough or Smooth surface with a combination of mixed water based paints and ink. “I also now work on canvas and use only the best acrylic paint called Golden on quality canvases…