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.

Shingle Street beach

View map of beach Parking available Suffolk Coast Path SSSI Dog friendly

Season: winter

The beach at Shingle Street is wild and exposed, being home to a carpet of wild flowers in the late spring and summer.  The waters are hazardous, however, marking the point where the outgoing River Ore meets the North Sea breakers; there is a strong tide run.  The North Weir bell buoy sounds an alarm at the submerged end of Orford Ness’ sand spit.  This area was once a thriving fishing community.  More recently, Barnes Wallis’ bouncing bombs were tested here in World War 2, leading to the demise of the Lifeboat Inn, which once sat by the beach.

What the beach means to Tim.

Findhorn Bay beach

View map of beach Parking available Toilets available Scottish Coastal Path SSSI Dog friendly Good water quality for swimming

Season: summer

This high summer evening visit to Findhorn Bay coincided with a high tide and the end of a day’s yachting and sailing.  A sand spit at the edge of the bay was still visible and the sky was a study in whites, blues and greys.  The atmosphere was languid and a deep calm pervaded the waterside watchers at the end of their day by the sea.  This is a special place, one that holds you and is genuinely relaxing.

A constant through time for Emma.

Macbeth's Hillock

A late evening in summer at Findhorn Bay.

Season: winter

The beach at Findhorn Bay in Moray sits between the pine trees of Culbin Forest to the west and Burghead Bay to the east, where seals can be found by the shore.  The area was once known as “Scotland’s Sahara”, before the forest was planted in the last century.  The setting is outstanding, part of the Culbin Sands, Forest and Findhorn Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest.  Nearby Findhorn has a thriving Arts scene and the Findhorn Bay Arts Festival takes place annually in September.  The poems below were sent in by Emma Gibb.

 

The first of two poetic homages to Findhorn Bay.

 

Here’s a second poetic reflection on the beach at Findhorn Bay.

Kingsbarns beach

View map of beach Fife Coastal Path SSSI Dog friendly Beach cleaned regularly Good water quality for swimming

Season: winter

Kingsbarns has a two miles long sandy beach, which is backed by dunes and a golf course.  It’s a natural paradise, with the rock pools showcasing shore and hermit crabs, anemones and small fish.  Gulls fly above and there are wading birds, such as oystercatchers and redshanks.  This is a spectacular beach, natural and unspoilt.

The associations that the beach holds for Georgina.

The outstanding natural beauty of the beach at Kingsbarns.