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.

Penzance Mount’s Bay

Season: summer

It was a stunning morning in Penzance. On a high tide, the water lapped against a shingle beach, rolling the pebbles back as each wave ebbed. The promenade was full of people, many stopping to gaze out over Mount’s Bay at the mesmerising sight in front of them. The Scillonian slipped its mooring and made its way to the Isles of Scilly.

Marcia’s lifelong love of the beach.

A fine sight in the morning, Mount’s Bay at Penzance on a high tide.

Season: spring

The sun started to break through after a long spell of low pressure and here was an ideal place to be, by Mount’s Bay in Penzance. The sound of the pebbles rolling back on an ebb tide is rejuvenating and the light here is unique, fusing with the elements in a way captured by the Newlyn School of Art’s Stanhope Forbes and Henry Scott Tuke.

The beach as a reminder for Liz, here during a break to the South West.

By the water at Mount’s Bay in Penzance.

Season: spring

It was a flat calm Mount’s Bay on this occasion. From Marazion round to Newlyn, the sea glistened silver on a calm day, with St Michael’s Mount framed in the light. The low tide allowed me out onto Battery Rocks, close to the water which lapped against the walls of the Jubilee Pool.

With Adrian on the beach at Battery Rocks.

A beautiful, calm morning, looking across Mount’s Bay from Battery Rocks in Penzance.

Season: autumn

Located towards the western end of Mount’s Bay, Penzance sea front is an ideal spot to grasp the scale of the Bay, from Marazion in the east round to Newlyn and Mousehole. Parking is straightforward, with convenient shops and restaurants close by. The seafront leads you round to the Lido and Battery Rocks, another popular spot for sea swimmers in the Bay. At Penzance you can watch the world go by, walk the promenade or exercise in the sea, all bases covered.

With Graham in Penzance, looking out on Mount’s Bay.

Graffiti to cheer your soul at Battery Rocks in Penzance.

A sense of the action of the sea on the pebbles next to the sea wall in Penzance.

Season: winter

A break in the ongoing run of winter storms brought out bright sunshine for this winter visit. Promenaders enjoyed the respite and there was no need for an overcoat. Gentle, white-topped rollers sent bursts of foam skyward on impact with the sea wall. The scene was very different two days earlier, with water and debris all over the road and structural damage by the seafront. Another band of deep low pressure was due overnight, so this was a chance to enjoy being by the seaside.

A long way from home, Nigel and Chris enjoy the majesty of the sea.

Mount’s Bay in the winter sun.

St Ives

Season: winter

A low tide and mixed weather was the order of the day in St Ives. Beyond Smeaton’s Pier a stormy sky over Hayle made the harbour feel reassuring. Andrew explained how his grandfather, William Barber, perished on a lifeboat while going to the assistance of others in 1939. His celebration of a working life in St Ives sits at odds with many visitors’ initial impressions of the town.

Generations by the beach at St Ives.

The scene at St Ives harbour in the morning.

Season: spring

The low tide had just turned inwards so access to the harbour sand was easy, enabling a view back to the town from the sea. It was a bright, sunny morning, the low tide allowing fishing and leisure boats to prepare to leave harbour on the rising tide.

With Scott, learning about the Jumbo Association.

Graham’s view of the beach.

St Ives on a spring morning, seen from the harbour.

Season: summer

Although best known to visitors and artists for the beautiful beaches, charming streets and clear light, St Ives is still a fishing town. This morning it was mackerel that were being landed in modest numbers on Smeaton’s Pier, as the tide started to fall back. The fine sand of the beach glistened under the gentle lapping of the harbour waves, ridden by the fishing boats before the town woke up.

Tim, at ease by the harbour in St Ives first thing in the morning.

An early morning view from the end of Smeaton’s Pier.

Season: autumn

St Ives is a popular all year round getaway destination for well-to-do city dwellers. It is compact and walkable, with four great beaches and plenty of hotels, restaurants, bars and cafés. The enclosed design of this harbour makes promenading a pleasure at any time of day or in the evening. An early morning visit is a real treat, watching the sun rise beyond Smeaton’s Pier over Hayle Towans across the bay.

Leandra’s satisfaction by the sea in Cornwall.

A morning panorama in St Ives harbour.

Season: winter

The beach at St Ives is right in the centre of town, framed firstly by the church, followed by the independent shops and businesses then round to Smeaton’s Pier. It’s a fine setting with convenient eateries and shops to hand. On this occasion the tide was falling. At low tide a walk across the beach gives access to the old town, avoiding the crowds on the sea front promenade. St Ives has fine art galleries, beaches, shops, pubs, restaurants, a thriving Arts Club, superb fish ‘n chips and a cosmopolitan feel as one of the jewels in Cornwall’s tourism crown.

A chat with artist Martin Moffatt in his St Ives art gallery.

A first view of the harbour at St Ives, seen from in front of the Arts Club.

Trelissick Gardens beach

Season: winter

It was a peaceful morning at Trelissick Gardens beach for this return visit in January. Having started the manonabeach® series here, it was an opportunity to reflect on the interesting people and views of the beach that I’ve encountered along the way. Jo seems in tune with her surroundings. You can see the first tentative manonabeach® interview at the bottom of the page.

Jo, her son and the dogs at Trelissick Gardens.

Season: autumn

Spring tides, a southerly wind and low pressure had conspired to send the sea water over the wall, along with a buoy from Restronguet Sailing Club, further down the Carrick Roads at Mylor. The chat with Julia was the 1,000th manonabeach® video, filmed at the scene of the first video, on September 18th last year. Thanks for watching!

Julia explains what the beach means to her.

The result of a high spring tide at Trelissick Gardens.

Season: spring

A chilly north wind sharpened proceedings for this spring wind, but Channals Creek at Trelissick Gardens was calm under a high tide. It was the Easter break and visitors mingled with locals on the nearby woodland walk at this National Trust property. Staff had left the flotsam that had been washed in by the winter storms and repairs would be needed to the sea wall by the creek in due course.

What the beach means to Robin.

By the water at Trelissick Gardens.

Season: winter

A pale winter light in the morning suffused the beach. The colour scheme was a palette of grey, black and white, with silver flickering on the calm water. The tide had fallen away and the water’s edge afforded a fine view back to the big house and its rural setting by the sea. This National Trust property and its woodland walk are part of many locals’ morning routine.

The beach as a place of activity.

A winter morning at Trelissick Gardens.

Season: summer

Trelissick Gardens was in fine form during this visit, tranquil in the sun on a falling tide. There was enough gentle breeze for pleasant sailing without an engine, as you can see behind Amanda during our chat.

Amanda explains what the beach means to her.

One of the best views in Cornwall, as seen from the hillside at Trelissick Gardens, looking south over the Carrick Roads and beyond.

By the water at Channals Creek.

Season: spring

Tranquility reigned for this spring visit to Trelissick Gardens beach, located near Truro. The sea was flat calm and the park was largely deserted. Returning to Cornwall after a brief trip away is always special, a reminder not to take the exceptional beauty here for granted.

Sue’s take on the beach and the water beside it.

Season: autumn

The first manonabeach® visit was to Channals Creek, here at Trelissick Gardens, on the beach below the main house. The series was introduced here, with an explanation that viewers would see beaches and the characters who are using them during different seasons. This beach is part of the National Trust Trelissick Gardens attraction near Truro, so has convenient facilities to hand. There is free parking for National Trust members, shops and extensive woodland walks within the Trelissick estate. It is said that a previous member of the Lemon family, who owned Trelissick in the mining boom time of the early 19th Century, could walk to the centre of Truro from here on his own land. Almost the entire wealth was subsequently squandered in one generation by a descendant!

First ever manonabeach® film, at the beach below Trelissick Gardens.

First manonabeach® interview with Andy Richards, relaxing at the beach on a Sunday afternoon.