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.

Yellowcraig beach

Season: spring

It was a fine, sunny day. The tide was in and walkers were enjoying the views out to the Isle of Fidra and its lighthouse, the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”. The approach to the beach, through woods and dunes, is a sheer pleasure, leading to that magical place where the air, land and sea meet.

The beach as a special place on a day of celebration.

The beauty of Yellowcraig beach, looking out to Fidra.

Season: winter

Yellowcraig is a popular family beach, with a nature trail, barbecue site and footpaths that lead through the sheltered woodlands and extensive grassland behind the beach. It’s a natural cove beach, with spectacular views to the 1885 lighthouse on Fidra Island. In the nearby village, there’s a castle with excellent gardens. To summarise, the beach has outstanding natural beauty in all directions.

I was filmed for BBC Reporting Scotland on this visit. You can see the piece here.

Lisa looks back in time.

How the light resonates for Lesley.

A beautiful winter morning on Yellowcraig beach.

Season: summer

This beach is one of the natural jewels in the crown of East Lothian. There’s a sense of drama as you approach, firstly through the band of trees then across the marram grass and dunes. The arc of the beach is the first thing to strike a visitor, followed by the island of Fidra and its lighthouse. The tide was low on this occasion, the weather was fine, the sky was blue and the beach was full of visitors, playing in the sand, relaxing or strolling by the water’s edge.

A lifetime on this beach for Ralph and Pat.

Berneray West Beach

Season: spring

The West Beach on the Isle of Berneray, which sits between South Harris and North Uist, comprises three miles of unspoilt, clean white shell surface. This is a Special Protection Area of international significance for birds, specifically dunlin, ringed plover, terns and visiting corncrakes. The machair behind the beach forms a carpet of wild flowers in the summer. Cycling and water sports are popular on the island and seals can be seen from the beach.

A Gaelic twist on the beach, with Donald by West Beach on Berneray.

The scene on the beach.

The ecosystem here, this time seen from above the beach.

Mevagissey

Season: autumn

This was a fascinating visit to a thriving Cornish fishing village. Everything is crowded around the harbour in Mevagissey, with a small beach in the corner. I arrived just as a new fishing boat had unloaded a good haul of Cornish sardines, so I was able to film a chat with both the harbour master and the boat’s skipper. The return of the pilchards seems like good news for Mevagissey and the mood was upbeat. There is parking in the middle of the town, so it’s best to access the village from the north. I particularly recommend the Mevagissey Museum at the left hand end of the harbour.

An interview with Hugh, the harbour master at Mevagissey.

Fishing skipper Peter, after a hard day’s night, is back in Mevagissey harbour with a full hold.

Evidence of a beach in the corner of the harbour at Mevagissey.

A view of the harbour from the outer breakwater.

With Trevor, fishing on the outer harbour wall at Mevagissey.