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.

Stonehaven beach

Season: spring

Stonehaven beach is a popular crescent of sand and shingle, which is accessed via a path and boardwalk. It’s a long beach that faces the North Sea, with large cliffs at either end, sheltering rock pools and inlets. The town of Stonehaven stands immediately behind, offering independent shops and eateries. There’s a beach pavilion on the promenade, which hosts the annual Stonehaven Folk Festival. New Year’s Eve at Stonehaven means the fireballs ceremony, with burning balls of fire, as the name suggests, a great choice for Hogmanay. As well as Stonehaven’s reputation for festivals, the wider area offers both history and nature, ranging from Dunnottar Castle and the Tolbooth Museum to the excellent Fowlsheugh Reserve, among other things the preserve of puffins.

The joy of the beach for Jane and Hazel.

Family times at the beach.

Across the sea to the beach.

Anstruther Billowness beach

Season: summer

Billowness beach sits at the western end of Anstruther village, just in front of a golf course and in the lea of the headland round to Pittenweem. Its sharp arc gives it a picture book quality, reinforced by the blocked stone slipway at its edge. There’s sheltered seating on a raised terrace above the beach, where you can enjoy the ebb and flow of the tide, with a southerly outlook to enjoy the sunshine. This was a bright, warm day, with fine weather, a chance to reflect on life by the beach. Interviewee David recommended “The Old Ways” by John Ferguson. The local pronunciation of Anstruther is “Ainster”.

Silvana and David reflect on beaches near and far.

A fine sight in the summer.

Season: winter

Located just west of the village of Anstruther, Billowness beach is part of a quiet, sandy bay. It’s on the Coastal Path and surrounded by natural beauty, with a golf course at the back of the beach. There are rock pools to play in and an unspoilt atmosphere. The beach has a satisfying arc as you walk on it and a depth that offers varied scenery at low tide.

The beauty and tonic offered by the beach to Lesley and Tony.

Billowness beach on a low tide.

Studland Bay

Season: spring

I chose South Beach for this spring visit and was handsomely rewarded, the beach feeling within touching distance of Old Harry Rocks here on the beautiful Isle of Purbeck. Studland Bay is of prime scientific importance for marine life, being a breeding ground for cuttlefish and sea horses, who graze on the sea grass here while holding on to it with their tails. The beach had a tranquil, laconic feel on this occasion, but landslips behind the beach were evidence of stormier days and some recent wet winter.

What the beach means to Wendy and Nigel.

A tranquil scene at South Beach.

Season: autumn

Made up of Knoll Beach, Middle Beach and South Beach, Studland Bay is popular all year round, helped by its proximity to Poole and the chain ferry across to the Isle of Purbeck. It stretches from just past the ferry, all the way round to Old Harry Rocks and includes a designated naturist area. The wide sweeping sandy beaches are ideal for swimming, water sports, sailing and diving. The water quality is good.

Chris’ perspective on the beach and family memories.

The view in both directions from Middle Beach.