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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.

Newburgh beach

Season: summer

What a difference a season makes. The wild easterly winds of March were replaced for this summer visit by the sight of seals basking in the warm, bright sunshine under blue skies. The texture of the soft beach sand here was being recorded by art student Nathan, whom I interviewed. There’s a fine, flat walk here through bushes and grassland to the estuary of the River Ythan, where you can look across the entrance to the seals and across to the Sands of Forvie. This side of the Ythan estuary is now protected for their benefit.

Different sand on different beaches.

At Newburgh beach on the River Ythan estuary.

Season: spring

Located next to a golf course below the village of Newburgh, the beach is best accessed via a delightful walk along the banks of the River Ythan estuary, where it’s situated on the southern side, opposite the Sands of Forvie. Eider ducks and seals can be seen at close quarters, as well as terns and oystercatchers. The beach is backed by an established dune system.

An ever changing scene, yet part of a routine.

Towan beach, Roseland

Season: spring

This is a natural beach, without development and watched over by the National Trust. Crescent-shaped and south east-facing, it’s spectacular in the morning, with views round from the Nare Head to the north towards St Anthony Head in the south. The flat surface of the beach catches seaweed and vegetation in its rock pools at low tide, a panoply of subtle greens, blacks, blues, yellows and browns.

Suzanne takes us back in time at Towan beach.

The peace and quiet of Towan beach in the morning.

Season: summer

I arrived just before dawn for this visit. Towan beach is natural, facing south east to greet the morning and always inviting a visitor to stroll along its shore. The beach is backed by small cliffs and the South West Coast Path. It is located between Portscatho to the north and Porthbeor beach to the south. On this occasion the sea had stacked the soft sand onto the higher ground, leaving a small bank down to the flat lower reaches. Another day, another beach, different on each visit.

The natural and sensory appeal of this beach for Bridget.

Dawn, by the sea.

Season: autumn

The arc of Towan beach reminded me of Gugh in the Scilly Isles, across the bar from St Agnes, with its sweep round and natural feel. There’s no development here; it’s so pure.

What the beach means to Richard.

A pleasant surprise visit for Lizanne and Simon.

The beauty of the Roseland Peninsula in the morning.

Season: summer

The crescent-shaped Towan beach was wrapped in a mild mist for this visit. It felt like entering a secret world of sounds and smells, heightened by the damp air and the enclosing mist. Being on the beach seems to lead people’s eyes to the horizon but, when misty, the lack of perspective and distance draws your attention to the pebbles on the sand, the minutiae in the pools, the subtle sounds of the sea washing the rocks and the morning smell of a rising tide.

With Roger at Towan beach.

Glen and Laura enjoy the beach.

Enveloped in mist, Towan beach on a misty summer morning.

The gentle action of the sea on the rocks.

Maenporth beach

Season: spring

A blustery east wind brought a short sea onto the beach for this visit to Maenporth beach. Tankers sheltering in Falmouth Bay lined the horizon. On an ebb tide, the arc of the beach here became apparent, bordered by the strong granite headlands which give Maenporth an intimate, enclosed feel.

Georgina looks out to sea, a familiar view for her.

Looking down on a falling tide at Maenporth.

Season: autumn

The south coast beaches of Maenporth, Swanpool, Gyllyngvase and Castle are within a stone’s throw of Falmouth, one of the most vibrant towns in Cornwall. Despite this, you can be in a wonderful natural environment in no time, before or after the working day. On this occasion it was very mild and misty, with a low tide and plenty of beach to enjoy. The wistful autumn weather lent a poignancy to the gentle, lapping waves.

John’s appreciation of the beach and Cornwall.

Maenporth beach, as seen from the South West Coast Path in the morning.

Season: summer

Maenporth beach was calm and peaceful at the height of summer. As the rising tide lapped against the beach, the boats in Falmouth Bay glistened under the new day’s sun. A scuba diver explored under the water and early morning beach goers paddled in the sea.

With Russell by the water at Maenporth beach.

Looking out to Falmouth Bay from Maenporth beach.

Season: spring

The sun was still waiting to break through the morning haze. The sea moved between grey and silver during my time on the beach. Maenporth has a pleasing crescent shape to it, with the South West Coast Path connecting to it at either end and with Falmouth Bay straight ahead. The beach is widely used for morning exercise and to help people to focus on the day ahead.

A regular beach goer alludes to the enigma of the beach.

A hazy morning on Maenporth beach.