Author Archives: manonabeach

About manonabeach

On a beach…welcome to manonabeach.com, where I’ll regularly add video of my beach visits, so you can enjoy a flavour of the beach, even when you’re not there.

Tolsta beach

Season: spring

Tolsta is a relatively large Hebridean village and is quite remote, sitting fourteen miles north of Stornoway. Facing east across The Minch towards the Scottish mainland, the main beach is reasonably sheltered and popular with surfers. It is the largest beach on Lewis, truly spectacular. There are invigorating coastal walks here and neighbouring Garry beach is exquisite, a real jewel. You can head south from Tolsta Head down to Traigh Mhor (big beach) car park, or north all the way up to Port of Ness.

With John and Marsali at Traigh Mhor in Tolsta.

The beauty of Garry beach at Tolsta in the spring sunshine.

Acres of space at Traigh Mhor.

St Anthony-in-Meneage

Season: spring

St Anthony-in-Meneage sits peacefully on the northern edge of Gillan Creek, itself on the southern side of the Helford River. The tide was in for this visit and people were preparing their boats for another sailing season. The setting is idyllic, with the church of St Anthony and small cottages behind the hard standing. This creek offers some of the best access to the sea on this side of the Helford estuary and is popular with yachting enthusiasts and kayakers alike. The village feels timeless and peaceful, although a Celtic fortress once stood nearby on the headland. The South West Coast Path traverses Gillan Creek here and the area is part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

A spirit of adventure, with Rebecca and River.

What the beach means for Anne and John.

By Gillan Creek at St Anthony-in-Meneage.

Bexhill beach

Season: spring

There’s an up-market feel here, with outstanding architecture close by Bexhill’s promenade. On the town side, Georgian and Victorian terraces and facades bear witness to fine summer seasons in the past. By the beach, the De La Warr pavilion and the Colonnade are striking examples of confident modern design. With beach huts, shops, cafes and restaurants all along the seafront, a walk by the beach at Bexhill-on-Sea is a feast for the eyes, both natural and contrived.

The beach as a rebalance for Kathryn.

Bexhill on a hazy spring day.

Season: winter

Bexhill makes for a relaxing visit to the seaside. Two miles of promenade run behind a long, gently shelving shingle beach, with fine stretches of sand covering the lower foreshore. The scene setting film was taken in front of the Colonnade, with the striking De La Warr building behind. There are beach huts for hire, rock pools to explore and seafront cafes to enjoy, or you can simply relax and unwind on the beach and in the sea.

Christine’s affinity for the beach.

On the beach at Bexhill in the middle of December under a bright sky.