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.

Middleton-on-Sea

Season: spring

Middleton-on-Sea is located in a well-to-do section of the West Sussex coastline. There’s a strong sense of civic pride here, with the Middleton-on-Sea Association working closely with Arun District Council to protect the Greensward and the vulnerable beach with elaborate groyne systems, plus the rock islands off Elmer that interviewee Chris refers to. It’s certainly a tranquil spot.

Chris’ sense of pride in the place where he lives.

The greensward and the elaborate sea defences at Middleton-on-Sea.

Season: winter

Middleton-on-Sea’s beach is best approached on foot, as there is no parking, apart from at nearby Middleton village. Typically for West Sussex, the upper reaches of the beach are made up of shingle, with wooden groynes acting as breakwaters. On this occasion, the ebb tide revealed plenty of sandy beach beyond the shingle. The plants that grow in the ”vegetated shingle” make this beach unique, attracting insects and sea birds along the shore. There’s plenty of seating, with views out to sea, making this a good place to rest if you’re walking along the coast. This beach marks the western end of the Bognor Regis promenade, so to get to nearby Climping beach you need to go into Middleton-On-Sea village and follow the signs to Elmer.

The spiritual appeal of the beach to Jane.

Place

Season: autumn

The creek was a scene of peace and tranquility on this occasion. There wasn’t a breath of wind, the sunshine was warm and bright and the trees were still covered in leaves. The midday sun lit Cellars beach and St Mawes, looking across from Place House. It was a chance to enjoy an Indian summer day.

The romance of the beach, shared by Megan and Derek.

Looking out from Place House towards Cellars beach and beyond.

Season: winter

Place was briefly a hotel, known as Place Manor, but has actually been in the same family for over five hundred years. Based on the site of a monastery that was dissolved in Tudor times by Henry VIII, it has a spectacular setting opposite Cellars beach and St Mawes. You can rent the house to celebrate a special event, or simply to get away from it all in an idyllic setting. There are plenty of enjoyable walks in the area. On this occasion recent storms had given way to bright sunshine.

Two views of the beach from Ann and Audrey.

A tranquil scene at Place.

Percuil Freshwater

I was invited to the Freshwater Boatyard by its owner, Mark Humphrey when we met at the St Mawes Sailing Club. What a wonderful place this is to live and work, next to the beautiful Percuil River and Freshwater beach. The working boatyard is not generally open to the public, so it was a great privilege to chat to master boat builder John Leach in the workshop.

My first chat with Gawain and John at the Freshwater Boatyard on the Percuil River near St Mawes.

A chance to look at the St Mawes One Design that John had originally built and was now renovating.

A panoramic view of the Percuil River, as seen from Freshwater beach.