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.

Lindisfarne

Season: summer

The famous Holy Island at Lindisfarne lies off the Northumberland coast and is part of a National Nature Reserve. Steeped in history, its monastery can be traced back to the 6th Century and there’s also a 16th Century castle here. Access is via a causeway that’s covered at high tide. There are two sandy beaches on the north shore by Emmanuel Head, although most visitors follow the road towards the Priory and the castle on the landward south side of the island.

What the beach means to Ian.

Beaches near and far for Barbara.

A view of the nature reserve by the causeway.

Halfway across to Holy Island at Lindisfarne.

This illustration of Holy Island at Lindisfarne was supplied by Daniel Mitchell, whom I interviewed at Craster.

Holkham beach

Season: summer

I had deliberately scheduled an early morning visit to this sensory sensation of a beach to gain a few moments alone during a spell of wonderful weather. Interviewee Sheila and her dog had a similar idea and we met by the pine woods behind the beach. There was plenty of time and space for a long walk thereafter, during which time I met further interviewees Rachel and Steve, walking round for breakfast from adjacent Wells-Next-The-Sea. We were the only four people on a sea of sand, sheer bliss. This is a special place, as witnessed by its popularity with film crews from around the world. Iconic and highly recommended.

Sheila’s testimony to the beach.

What the beach means to Rachel and Steve.

Acres of space in the morning sunshine.

Season: summer

Holkham is a spectacular beach to visit at any time, but the azure blue sky on this occasion added to the dynamic. The tide was out, increasing the sense of space. Horses exercised along the shore. Back from the water’s edge, a dense bed of razor clam shells whistled musically in the breeze as I walked towards the tree-lined backdrop to this wonderful beach.

The beach as part of a project and a homage for Joe.

Season: winter

This is the most well known North Norfolk beach, with miles of natural beauty and a great sense of space. As part of the Holkham Estate, the beach is usually accessed via Lady Anne’s Drive, opposite the Victoria Inn. There is a variety of walks, such is the size of the beach. A left turn at the bottom of the drive takes you through the pine woods and back along the beach. Turning right takes you towards Wells-Next-The-Sea and its lifeboat house and dunes, again among the pine woods. This beach has remarkable light and it’s no wonder that it has featured in many films, including the final scene of “Shakespeare in Love”.

It keeps pulling Steve back.

Nick is a long way from home.

The expansive beach at Holkham.

Scarista beach

Season: spring

This is among the most southerly of the west-facing South Harris beaches, all of which are part of the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area. The beach comprises a vast area of pristine sand. It is approached over sand dunes and via machair that is decorated with colourful wild flowers in the summer. There are always shells on the beach. They are carried onto the machair, breaking up and providing valuable minerals for the wild flowers. Highly recommended.

Patricia’s natural affinity for the beach.

An atmospheric beach on a stormy day.

Season: summer

Scarista is the largest of the string of South Harris beaches that face west into the Atlantic. There are extensive dunes and machair behind the white, sandy beach. The turquoise sea gives a sense of otherness and adventure to the visitor, inviting one to dive in and explore beneath the waves.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w–tUmVCJLo?rel=0

Leena’s take on the beach.

A view from the dunes behind Scarista beach.