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.

Coll Sands

Season: spring

The beach at Coll (Traigh Chuil) is generally known as Coll Sands. It sits on the east side of Lewis, between Tolsta and Stornoway. This is a relatively long beach and on a clear day you can look across to the mountains on the Scottish mainland. As a touring base it is ideal, handy for the various attractions on the island and situated on the sheltered eastern side of Lewis. At low tide, the wide, flat, east-facing beach is a great place to walk in the early morning, as the sun comes up.

The pull of the beach at Coll for Alice.

Looking across the beach at low tide.

A view from the water’s edge.

Roome Bay

Season: winter

Roome Bay and its sandy beach lie just east of Crail and its little harbour. You can easily walk there from Crail, dropping down to the beach from the grassy park behind. The bay lies on the Coastal Path and the beach is ideal for swimming, rockpooling and fishing. The geology here is well worth a look, particularly the eroded sedimentary layers in the soft cliffs. Plenty of facilities are at hand, including cafes and restaurants. There is a caravan park and a campsite nearby too.

What the beach means to John and Elaine.

Jacquie looks back in time at Roome Bay.

Looking down on Roome Bay, near Crail.

Season: summer

The beach at Roome Bay looked picture perfect on a fine summer’s day for this seasonal visit. Above were blue skies, with children playing in the beachside lido and relaxing visitors scattered along the strand line. There’s a theatrical feel to the setting, as you approach via manicured grass parkland. Interesting soft sedimentary cliffs are the backdrop for the beach, affording privacy and seclusion.

Ursula’s literary reference to the tide’s motion.

A warm summer day by the beach at Roome Bay.

Bournemouth Central beach

Season: spring

A bright morning coincided with a low tide at Bournemouth Central beach. As people used the promenade as a route to work, others like interviewee Pauline were taking their morning exercise. A view from above the beach put it into context among a string of fine beaches, which stretch from Hengistbury Head to Old Harry Rocks on the Isle of Purbeck. It’s a pleasure to have such a flat, sandy beach on one’s doorstep in such a well-to-do town as Bournemouth.

The beach as part of Pauline’s routine.

A view from above Bournemouth Central beach.

Down on the sand at the beach.

Season: autumn

Based around the main pier, Bournemouth Central beach is a traditional favourite for young and old, attracting thousands of visitors annually. The wide, sandy beach is perfect for traditional beach activities, but you can also take a boat trip, stop for lunch at one of the many restaurants, or simply stroll down the pier. There are attractions to keep the whole family entertained.

Adile has an environmental perspective.

A late November scene by Bournemouth Pier.