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.

Restronguet Passage

Season: winter

This return to Restronguet Passage coincided with a peaceful morning in February. The sea was like glass and birdsong was all around. The scenery is exceptional here, bestowing a particular charm in the early morning before most people are out and about. The popularity of this part of Cornwall makes an off-season visit even more enjoyable.

Resident Deborah explains the enduring appeal of Restronguet Passage.

The tranquility of Weir beach at Restronguet Passage.

Season: winter

Restronguet Passage covers a varied stretch of crag and beach, from Weir beach up towards the Pandora Inn, with the Carnon River beyond. There’s always plenty to see here, whether you’re looking across to Turnaware beach and the Roseland Peninsula or towards Restronguet Point itself. The winding lane and path are tree-covered and feel secret, offering glimpses of outstanding natural beauty out to the water as you ramble along, plus on this occasion a rainbow.

What the beach means to Samantha.

A changeable scene, including the Pandora Inn at Restronguet Passage

Season: spring

A low tide showcased Weir Beach, located just below Restronguet Barton village alongside Restronguet Passage at the top of Carrick Roads. You could see the boat houses by the water and a lone oyster dredger, working the end of the season. It was a windy day, but the sun broke through in patches, throwing pools of light onto the sea.

The appeal of natural elements at the beach for Emily.

A view from the water’s edge at low tide on Weir Beach.

Season: spring

I got down to Restronguet Creek before the well-heeled lunch visitors to the newly refurbished Pandora Inn. The pub has been sympathetically restored, looking across to Restronguet Point at the top of Carrick Roads, south of Truro.

With Lizzie outside the Pandora Inn.

Season: autumn

It felt quiet down at Restronguet Passage, with the famous Pandora Inn being reroofed after a fire and not many people about on a dull October morning. The beach looks across through the swinging moorings to the affluent Restronguet Point. This is now a leisure waterway, very different to the industrial scenes of drag mining across the Carnon River hundreds of years ago.

By the water at Restronguet Passage.

A chat with a passing walker.

Helford Passage

Season: autumn

A flat calm Helford estuary greeted me for this morning visit in autumn. The tide was falling and the sun glowed silver over the entrance to Falmouth Bay. There’s always a tranquility to this south-facing beach, generally populated by just the ferry that crosses to the southern bank of the river.

What these visitors take home with them from Cornwall.

The regenerative effect of the beach on two men of the world.

A tranquil start to the day on the beautiful Helford River.

Season: winter

A pale winter light fell on the beach in front of the Ferryboat Inn. The tidal Helford Passage was calm and the atmosphere was quiet. The recent storms and the time of year meant that tenders to the boats on swinging moorings were lined up on the road behind the beach, rather than on the hard standing, as in the summer. I felt a historical resonance of times long ago.

The relaxing effect of the beach.

A quiet scene by the Helford River in winter.

Season: summer

This is a haven for sailing, whether on the Helford River in a dinghy or as a route out to Falmouth Bay and beyond. The moorings were heavily populated and the ferry was plying its trade across the Helford River.

With Jan, preparing to go sailing.

The ebbing of the storm and the tide at the Helford Passage.

Season: winter

Helford Passage, with its beach located on the north bank of the Helford River, is a popular visitor attraction. It has great natural beauty and attracts sailors in the summer, largely due to the excellent moorings in the river and good access out to Falmouth Bay. There is also a fishing tradition here. Boat hire and shops are available within walking distance of the beach and the Ferryboat Inn.

With local man Arthur, looking back over a life on the Helford River.

Porthgwidden beach

Season: winter

Although it is the second smallest of the St Ives beaches and a safe place to swim, Porthgwidden can be a feisty proposition on a rising tide, the unexpected “seventh wave” often creeping further up the beach than an unwary visitor expects. It’s enclosed by rocky headlands on both sides, so waves seem to explode onto the granite, particularly on the town side. There are beach huts for the warmer months and an excellent cafe, giving Porthgwidden a welcoming, cosmopolitan feel. The view directly out to Godrevy lighthouse and the frequent visits by wildlife, seals and cormorants in particular, only add to the attraction.

Kath and Murray summarise the appeal of the beach for them.

By the rocks and the sea as the tide rushes in.

Season: winter

On the back of recent storms, the headland by Porthgwidden beach at St Ives was as sensitive as ever to the changeable, fast-moving weather. The light for this visit was passing through cascading storm clouds out at sea over the lighthouse in the distance onto a fresh, clean beach. The waves appeared to be translucent, topped in crisp white. The early morning is a fine time to catch Porthgwidden beach, before its popularity draws people down here at any time of the year.

The pleasure of working by this beach.

A beautiful morning at Porthgwidden beach in St Ives.

Season: autumn

Although it was quite early, Porthgwidden beach and the sea beyond was a hive of activity. There were seals in the water, fishermen about their business and regular swimmers taking the waters. As the tide fell away, bright sunshine lit the beach in a broad, straight line from over Hayle Towans in the east all the way up to the beach cafe and over the hill to Porthmeor beach. It was a magical start to the day.

Fiona and Nigel’s testimony to the beach and all it offers here in St Ives.

By the water at Porthgwidden beach in the morning.

Season: winter

The 100th manonabeach® beach visit was on the shortest day of the year, December 21st. St Ives was a wonderful place to be on such an occasion.

100 beaches and counting…