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.

Porthilly Cove

Season: autumn

There was another low tide at Porthilly for this visit. The weekend sun played across the beach and the bagged-up oysters, ready for collection. A couple were digging for lugworms and some people were working on their beached Cornish Shrimpers. My slightly elevated vantage point in the churchyard brought the whole vista into focus as I looked across the River Camel to Padstow and along to Rock.

Kay’s harmonious relationship with the rhythms of the beach.

A spin round Porthilly Cove at low tide.

Season: summer

A low tide at Porthilly Cove gave access to the leisure yachts and dinghies that were scattered across the River Camel on their moorings, including Pityme’s own Cornish Shrimpers. It felt almost possible to walk or wade across to Padstow on the other side of the river.

With Ann and her dog.

What one beachgoer likes about the beach.

Porthilly Cove on a low tide.

Season: winter

Porthilly Cove and its beach are tucked around a corner from Rock, on the Camel Estuary in North Cornwall, looking across to Padstow. You can park on the road near the beach and walk down a short lane to the beach. It was just past high tide for this visit, but you could still see the small church next to the beach. There is an art gallery in the adjacent hamlet of Porthilly.

My chat with Peter, the proprietor at Cornish Crabbers at Porthilly. I was able to look around the vibrant manufacturing site, where a new twelve foot entry level dinghy was being developed alongside the existing popular Shrimper and Crabber ranges.

I chatted to Tim, the proprietor at Rock Shellfish. Located right on Porthilly Cove, they harvest oysters from the Camel Estuary and carry them over Porthilly beach.

Loe Beach

Season: spring

There was bright morning sunshine for this spring visit. Two Canadian canoes were preparing for a day paddling the creeks at the top of Carrick Roads and beyond. I chatted to Peter about the rich history of people’s links to canoes and the beach.

Peter explains his passion and its history.

Early morning at Loe beach.

Season: winter

I returned to Loe Beach, several months after a previous September dawn visit during an Indian Summer. An uncanny tranquility and peace were both still there, as you can see by comparing these two films to those below them from the earlier visit.

Chatting to gig rower Michael at Loe beach in January.

Timeless tranquility at Loe beach. This was recorded during January, but it’s often like this first thing in the morning.

Season: summer

Tranquility and peace were the order of the day at Loe Beach on a high tide. The sea was calm, ideal for swimming and kayaking, which was already underway as I arrived. This is also a wonderful beach to look out from, past the swinging moorings and the yachts. You can see down to Falmouth and Pendennis Castle via Mylor Churchtown, then look across towards St Just-in-Roseland and Turnaware Point on the Roseland Peninsula. It’s a fine spot, ideal for those who live or work in Truro.

With Matt, Lisa and family by the water at Loe Beach.

The peace and tranquility of Loe Beach in the morning.

Season: autumn

Loe beach is the nearest beach to Truro, located in Feock, just south of the city. It’s popular all year round, especially for boating folk, due to its location at the top of Carrick Roads. The Truro gig launches and practises from here. During my early morning visit it was eerily tranquil, the dawn sun painting a Turneresque palette in the sky. It’s very handy if you’re working in Truro and need to see the sea.

Early morning at Loe beach, Feock.

The second in the series.

and the third in the series…

and the fourth…

and the fifth…

and finally…

My chat with Brian at Loe Beach.

Tolcarne beach

Season: summer

There was bright sunshine over Tolcarne beach at the start of the day during this summer visit. The immaculate beach was being decorated with temporary sports courts as the sand glistened under an ebb tide. Newquay Harbour, the Atlantic Hotel and Towan Head were clearly in view as I looked out from this fine town beach.

Pam’s and Bill’s testimony to Tolcarne beach.

By the water at Tolcarne beach.

Season: spring

The sea was an hour or so short of high tide on this occasion, so there was still some space between the water and the beach huts. This town beach has outstanding views across to Towan Head and Newquay harbour, plus it’s flat, sheltered and safe for bathing and surfing. You’ve got all you need here, plus you can easily get into Newquay.

Pepe sums up the appeal of the beach to him.

Tolcarne beach in Newquay, as seen from halfway down the steps.

Season: winter

It was a bright, cold February morning for this return to Tolcarne beach. To some extent defined by what you can see from it, the beach nevertheless feels tranquil and welcoming in its own right. On this occasion some students were on their way to take an exam in a building by the beach.

A view from Tolcarne beach in Newquay.

Season: autumn

Tolcarne is the least publicised of the Newquay beaches, perhaps because of the steep steps by which the beach is accessed from above on all but a low tide. As a result, some locals use the beach for bass fishing, guaranteed peace and quiet at this time of the year. I like the views across to the harbour at Newquay and further on to the Huer’s Hut and the old lifeboat house. Facilities vary through the seasons, but are full on in the summer.

A chat with a bass fisherman, enjoying the tranquility here at Tolcarne early in the morning.

A great view across the bay to Towan Head on a sunny morning, as seen from the water’s edge.

Another view, this time looking down on Tolcarne beach.