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.

Bigbury-on-Sea

Season: summer

Framed by Bigbury Bay, sitting between the headlands of Stoke Point and Bolt Tail, Bigbury-on-Sea is one of the most well-known Devon beaches. With Burgh Island just offshore and accessible at all tide times, either via a causeway or by the sea tractor, this has been the location for numerous films and television episodes. The island has a pub and a hotel and is a pleasant addition to any visit here. The beach is on the South Devon Coastal Path and is also part of the South West Coast Path. There are all the ingredients you’ll need here for a fine day out.

What the beach means to Sid.

The scene at Bigbury-on-Sea.

Applecross beach

Season: summer

Fine weather prevailed at Applecross for this summer visit. The views across to the Isle of Raasay were clear and evocative. The setting here is ancient, with volcanic granite towering above the expansive strand. There’s a headland with a small building at the end, weathered into the land and at ease in this wonderful setting. Down the road is a popular inn and there’s a spectacular coastal drive around the peninsula, with an option to climb and cross Bealach na Ba, the Pass of the Cattle, for the more adventurous visitor.

Michael’s appreciation of the beach.

Beside the beach at Applecross.

At the top of Bealach na Ba – the Pass of the Cattle, en route to Applecross.

Season: summer

Applecross faces west, looking out across Applecross Bay and the Inner Sound to Raasay, with Skye’s Trotternish Peninsula sitting behind Raasay. As well as a Heritage Centre and campsite, the popular Applecross Inn sits by the water and the immediate environment is pristine, unspoilt and beautiful. The sandy beach is a couple of miles outside the village, backed by high dunes and ideal for swimming. An incidental highlight is the breathtakingly steep access to the village via the 1 in 3 gradient Bealach na Ba, or Pass of the Cattle, which rises over two thousand feet from sea level to its highest point.

What the beach means to Darren.

A summer scene at Sand Beach in Applecross.

Hastings

Season: spring

It was a misty morning by the shore at Hastings, as one of the inshore fleet, the Senlac Jack, returned to port with cuttlefish and some Dover sole. I was able to film the hauling up of the eighteen ton boat across the shingle. As well as being a popular visitor attraction, this is the main Cinque Port in East Sussex, with a proud fishing tradition and a healthy, thriving Sea Angling Association.

Pete’s pride in his family connection to the fishing in Hastings.

The Senlac Jack returns to port.

A morning vista, seen from the top of the beach by Pelham Place in Hastings.

Season: winter

This visit was to the beach next to Pelham in Hastings, a south east facing shingle beach. Much of this beach has been created from land reclaimed from the sea. With the advent of the railways in the 19th century, more tourists arrived in Hastings and so more beach space was required. The beach is generally shingle, but sand is exposed at low tide. An explanation of the recent damage to the harbour wall was given by Paul in the Sea Anglers Association building by the beach.

Paul explains the importance of Hastings’ history and status to his world today.

The scene on the beach at Hastings, by Pelham.