Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2024 i Coast

Two years ago on Christmas Day, at around 11pm as the last vestiges of the day’s festivities drew to a conclusion, I stood with my partner on the beach in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, and we watched the stars above us twinkling as the waves broke on the shore behind us. We were the only people on the beach at that hour and it was magical and memorable in equal measure. There is something special about the coast at Christmas, isn’t there? It’s a pretty special place at the best of times, but to be by the sea at festive season is to take that up a notch or two. Maybe it’s the sense of escape or being at one with nature, or the need to wrap up warm and take…

FREE GIFT LUXURY VEGAN HAND LOTION FROM NOBLE ISLE WORTH £22 WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE! EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE 1.Go to shop.kelsey.co.uk/NOBLECOA 2.Call us 01959 543747 quote NOBLECOA 3.Use this QR code to go directly to our website Lines open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm. Calls charged at your standard network rate. Scan me When you become a subscriber, you’ll automatically join the Coast Club, where you can enjoy exclusive subscriber-only discounts from our partners. Plus, you’ll receive your monthly dose of Vitamin Sea with Coast magazine, taking in all the beauty that our British coast has to offer with every issue. Discover the best staycations, dream homes, coastal walks and places to eat, plus our special focus each issue on ten fabulous things to do by the sea! We can’t wait for you…

With this being the December issue and, with thoughts turning to Christmas, I have been thinking about what I could possibly get for the dippers, sliders, swimmers and surfers in my family. How about the most influential invention ever to grace our coastlines, the changing robe? Great time for ’em. Brilliant for the festive swim. Of course, changing robes are nothing new, but in recent years they have had a makeover and are now more sophisticated than the towelling tube with elasticated neck of old. They have arms, zips, pockets, hoods and fleecy linings. Sadly, they have also escaped into the wider world. For people who want to change in public without flashing their undercrackers (or more), they are perfect. They are also perfect for people who do triathlons, like…

1 Get your skates on in Portsmouth Guildhall Square gets the white treatment again this winter with the return of the Portsmouth on Ice rink. Daily sessions run every day (apart from Christmas Day) from November 23 until January 5. This historic naval city goes all out for the festive season. In the dockyard, you can experience a Victorian Christmas on board HMS Warrior. Way up high in the Spinnaker Tower, Santa has organised a toymakers’ workshop for kids and their grown-ups to enjoy. The Florence Suite Hotel is a two-minute walk from the seafront and close to all of the festive action. visit-hampshire.co.uk 2 Enjoy a glamorous get-together in Tenby Family fun, fallouts and everything in between are best enjoyed in luxurious surroundings and ten acres of secluded woodland.…

Located a few miles outside of Deal, you’ll find a 17th century farmhouse turned boutique hotel and restaurant set in seven acres, where “make yourself at home” is the invitation from husband-and-wife team Ruth Leigh and chef Oli Brown, previously of Duck Duck Goose in Brixton. At Updown Farmhouse they aren’t bothered if your dog jumps on their Loaf sofas, or if there’s mud on your Hunter wellies when you arrive for dinner. Throughout the year Updown offers an eclectic mix of creative and food-focused workshops from screen-printing to foraging, and Christmas bento cake decorating. Menus change weekly but what is steadfast is the hearty Italian focus, with an emphasis on hyper seasonality rather than buying every single item locally. That said, much fruit and veg is sourced from Kent.…

CAN YOU AFFORD IT? CRAIG-Y-DON £238,299 PENRHYN BAY £248,628 DEGANWY £302,633 CONWY £302,025 GLAN CONWY £320,876 *AVERAGE SOLD HOUSE PRICES, PAST 12 MONTHS FROM RIGHTMOVE (JUNE 2024) The north Wales coast is scattered with many seaside towns – some in a state of decline, some not. The town of Llandudno, which sits just east of the River Conwy estuary, certainly sits in the second group. Once a magnet for holidaymakers in Victorian Britain, the town, bookended by the limestone peaks called the Great Orme and Little Orme, has managed to retain its reputation as the Queen of Welsh resorts. It’s Wales’s largest seaside destination too, boasting not one, but two beaches. Llandudno’s link to the children’s classic, Alice in Wonderland, dates back to the 1860s, when Alice Liddell, the little…

You’ve probably spent days and weeks planning and preparing the perfect Christmas dinner – but too often the table setting is a last-minute affair and can let you down on the big day. Perhaps you drape a tablecloth, find the matching napkins, sprinkle some crackers, add unlit candles to the centre and let the turkey and trimmings provide the wow factor. But after the presents, your Christmas lunch is the biggest event of the festive season – long after you’ve forgotten who bought who what, you will remember the Christmas dinner, whether the wine and conversation flowed, and how it all tasted. So, no pressure. ‘Colours should be matching and probably muted: reds, greens, whites or creams, but your taste should dominate’ DRESS UP BEFORE THE BIG DAY Build anticipation…

Pre-order our January issue NOW to guarantee delivery direct to your door… including these fabulous features: • 10 of the best coastal saunas to try • Island hop the Channel Islands • A big birthday for Scotland’s NC500 • Spend a weekend in Saundersfoot • 4 New Year coastal walks to try • Visit wonderful Weymouth by boat • Move to Camber & Rye ON SALE Nov 22 Visit shop.kelsey.co.uk/coastback Call the hotline 01959 543 747* *Hotline open Mon – Fri 8.30am to 5.30pm. Calls charged at your standard network rate or scan me!…

GILLY PICKUP Gilly, a London-based freelance travel and cruise writer, grew up near the North Sea coast in Angus, Scotland. She has had 13 books published on various subjects including food and drink, health and wellness, castles and palaces, inventions and - because she has rather a penchant for all things spooky - has written two books about the paranormal. EMMA RYAN Emma is a journalist and writer with more than 20 years’ experience in local and regional newspapers. She lives in Whitby, North Yorkshire and is usually found at the beach with her two rescued Border Collies. With a passion for the coast, she wants to tell the stories of its heritage, people and communities. KATE WICKES Mum of three boys, journalist, and author, Kate splits her time between…

1 THIS CHRISTMAS BAUBLE Add to tree decorations with a leaping reindeer in red and gold from Etsy star seller Jacqueline’s range of decorated oyster and scallop shells featuring retro images. (£7, ribbonairesands.com) 2 THIS BEACH TOY Treat a playful youngster to something fun from Bristol’s independent homewares shop, Mon Pote – the Little Dutch Ice Cream Beach Set comes with ice cream scoop and four cornet moulds. (£15, monpote.co.uk) 3 THIS HOT WATER BOTTLE Drift off at night cuddling a soft Alpaca wool hottie made on a Welsh lavender farm. There are two sizes and each has a pocket filled with scented lavender. (£49.50 and £59.50, chilcottuk.com) 4 THIS SCENTED CANDLE Gift a scented, refillable ‘By the Sea’ soy wax candle by aromatherapist Nicky Males who conjures up ocean…

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY Elly Wentworth, executive chef at The Angel of Dartmouth in south Devon, is a star of the south west cookery scene. In 2016, she was in the finals of MasterChef: The Professionals, and earlier this year represented the region in the BBC’s Great British Menu cookery challenge. Set on the water’s edge, her busy kitchen celebrates local seasonal ingredients, producing dishes such as roasted free diver scallop, day boat sea bass and clotted cream parfait, a menu that has earned accolades for the restaurant. Elly’s debut cookbook is an elegant selection of recipes for confident cooks, divided into four seasons. There are canapés and amuse bouche, starters, mains, desserts and delicious petits fours. Elly Wentworth at the Angel of Dartmouth by Elly Wentworth (£35, Ebury…

12 ISSUES FOR £49.99 PLUS RECEIVE A ‘LIFE IS BETTER BY THE SEA’ TOTE BAG! WORTH £15.99! Subscribe by 6th November 2024 and receive the official Coast 2025 calendar EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE 1.Go to shop.kelsey.co.uk/XMAS24COA 2.Call us 01959 543747 quote XMAS24COA 3.Use this QR code to go directly to our website Lines open Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm. Calls charged at your standard network rate. Scan me When you become a subscriber, you’ll automatically join the Coast Club, where you can enjoy exclusive subscriber-only discounts from our partners. Plus, you’ll receive your monthly dose of Vitamin Sea with Coast magazine, taking in all the beauty that our British coast has to offer with every issue. Discover the best staycations, dream homes, coastal walks and places to eat, plus our special focus each…

DRY AND STYLISH Protect yourself from the worst winter at the coast can throw at you with the Denton men’s 3-in-1 waterproof jacket from TOG 24. This two-piece set teams a fully waterproof coat with a detachable quilted jacket. High-performance fabric won’t let in a drop of rain, all the seams are taped, and for good measure, it’s also got a water-repellent coating. In pelting rain you can tighten the hood around your face and adjust the cuffs and hem to keep out the wind. Available in black or orange. tog24.com CLEAR INNOVATION See things underwater so clearly with the new low volume AGULHAS Mokarran Mask, which is the first fully modular low volume freediving mask, so every single part can be replaced. The snorkel is solid silicone, flexible and…

AFTER HOURS ADVENTURE IS BLOOMING LOVELY WITH POOCH IN TOW Trebah Garden was a source of great delight for me and my much younger kids when we lived in Cornwall, writes CHRISSY HARRIS. We’d often turn up there, picnics packed, ready for a walk through the 26 acres of exotic plants, champion trees and colourful blooms, past the pond and towards the private beach on the Helford River. Now, a decade or so later, here we are again. Except this time, just with the dog. The kids are teenagers now and prefer hanging out in their friends’ gardens, if they venture outside at all. But that’s fine. It meant me and the dog (and my husband) got to spend some quality time together in this lovely Cornish corner. Trebah, near…

On first visit there’s nothing too out of the ordinary about Orford. The intrigue lies in a spit of land half a mile from the shore. So, once you have strolled around the lanes of this pretty village, popped into the renowned Pinney’s shop, smokehouse and Oysterage restaurant, and explored the castle, do turn your attention to Orford Ness. It’s a landscape unlike anywhere else on the Suffolk Coast. A mix of coastal grazing marshes, lagoons and reed beds leading out onto what you might liken to a lunar landscape of incredibly rare vegetated shingle. Furthermore a certain amount of mystery surrounds its history as a top secret military test site. Glen Pearce, property operations manager, National Trust Orford, picks up the story: “The First World War saw early experiments…

Cornishwoman Lucy Kemp made silver and sea glass jewellery as a hobby before launching a bona fide business in 2001. Initially working from her garden shed, she began attending local craft fairs and stocking local galleries with her pieces. Seven years later she was able to open her first shop next to her then workshop in the Old Foundry in Hayle, known by locals as Pratts Market. Her current design studio and head office is in an idyllic barn conversion with coastal views across Hayle Harbour, the Towans and towards St Ives, with a retail shop down on Penpol Terrace by Hayle Harbour. “It’s so important that we never lose the personal touch that comes with having a physical shop. We love meeting customers whether they are visiting or locals…

Who can forget Russell Crowe in Ridley Scott’s film Gladiator: “My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius, commander of the Armies of the North, General of the Felix Legions and loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius…” Stirring stuff. A new exhibition, in partnership with the British Museum and Museums in Colchester and Ipswich captures the romance of the gladiators who fought in the amphitheatres of Britain. Gladiators of Britain, which starts a national tour at Dorset Museum and Art Gallery in January, will explore the often-overlooked history of gladiatorial contests in Roman Britain. The Romans not only introduced towns, roads, military garrisons and centralised government but also armed combat as a public spectacle. The objects on display include a bone figurine depicting a gladiator of the murmillo class, found in…

1 SIMPLEST TURKEY FROM PIPERS FARM The big festive meal is made easy with this Christmas Turkey and Trimmings Box from experts Pipers Farm. In this wonderful festive box you’ll find the award-winning free range, rolled turkey breast and leg stuffed with a beautiful, all natural, apricot and hazelnut stuffing as well as native breed pigs in blankets and pure turkey stock to make the most incredible gravy. All you need to do is to select how many people you are feeding and Pipers Farm will provide you with everything you need for a simple Christmas. Look out for the rest of their festive range too, including an amazing cheese selection. pipersfarm.com 2 SNAPSTAND 3-IN-1 PORTABLE CHARGER Make charging your various devices super easy with the SnapStand 3-in-1 portable charger.…

On my usual walk along the prom from the pier to the windswept course of the beachside Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for the whiskery noses of grey seals swimming back to their colony at nearby Pegwell Bay while enjoying distant views to the white cliffs of Ramsgate. I fell for Deal some 15 years ago, charmed by its UFO-shaped beachfront shelters, its stark Brutalist concrete pier - the last to be opened in the UK in 1957 - and the glistening pebble beach bordered by a pick and mix of architectural styles in a paintbox of colours. For such a seemingly sedate town, it packs some punches history-wise. Julius Caesar is believed to have landed here in 55BC, and bijoux Deal Castle was built…

1 ALNMOUTH, NORTHUMBERLAND £950,000 This is an attractive stone built Victorian house dating from about 1850. The property is in a prime position in the town, overlooking the Aln estuary and about ten minutes’ walk from the beach. It comes with lovely mature terraced gardens, a summerhouse and a boathouse. Accommodation includes sitting room, dining room, garden room, large kitchen, laundry room, cloakroom and four bedrooms. Sanderson Young (01665 600170, sandersonyoung.co.uk/property/riverbank-house-river-bank-road-alnmouth-alnwick-northumberland/) 2 BOURNEMOUTH, DORSET PRICES FROM £525,000 The Sonnet offers a rare opportunity to live at one of Bournemouth’s premier seafront addresses in West Cliff Gardens. Built by acclaimed developer AJC Group, these brand-new, high-end apartments blend modern design with the timeless elegance of Victorian and Edwardian architecture, reflecting the best of Bournemouth’s heritage. Available now is a stunning ground…

Coast’s Sea Dogs pages are sponsored each month by If you would like to NOMINATE YOUR POOCH to feature in Dog of the Month, please email us at coast.ed@kelsey.co.uk…

If my neighbours hadn’t invited me to their tiny cottage in the early 2000s, I might never have discovered the hidden gem of Burnham Overy Staithe. Going west from Holkham the north Norfolk coast road passes through a scattering of historic villages with tiny flint and tile cottages. You could miss it in a breath, save for a faded sign pointing to the water and an old red phone box. The natural charm of Burnham Overy Staithe lies down at the sheltered harbour where the little colourful dinghies lie on the grassy banks next to the clapboard boat house; it couldn’t be more low key. The slightly larger sailboats are moored in the water where Overy Creek meanders through mud banks and salt marshes, slowly heading toward monolithic dunes and…