Season: spring

Rottingdean has its own micro-climate.  Facing south and in the lea of cool northerly breezes, the high white cliffs reflect and radiate the sun onto the beach and the promenade below.  The stylish performance stage by the town access makes you want to linger here.  The cliffs themselves are high and striking.  Out beyond the beach at low tide are white chalk pavements, formed by the erosion that is a permanent feature of this part of the coast.

Regine reflects on beaches near and far…

…et en francais.

A view from above the cliffs at Rottingdean.

Season: winter

Picturesque Rottingdean lies off the busy tourist trail.  It’s a small, picture-perfect town with a historic past and a friendly welcome. The main features in the town are Kipling’s Garden, Rottingdean Windmill, St. Margaret’s Church with its beautiful stained glass windows and some traditional old inns which were once frequented by smugglers in the area, due to the remoteness of the town and its proximity to the sea.  These times are referenced in Kipling’s “A Smuggler’s Song”:

“Five and twenty ponies
Trotting through the dark
Brandy for the Parson
Baccy for the Clerk.”

The beach itself is relatively secluded and backed by strikingly high chalk cliffs, with a life guard in attendance during the summer.  On this occasion the tide was high, the waves were wild and the winter sun was bright in the sky.

The inspiration of the beach to Gail, on a stormy day at Rottingdean.

Mike’s relationship with the beach.

The sea shows its teeth.