Season: summer
Another ten metres of the coast had eroded recently at Happisburgh, with the truncated road shortening on each of my visits to this beautiful stretch of coastline. On this occasion bright sunshine on a rising tide was the order of the day. The lighthouse still stands guard, but one feels it is only a matter of time. Sand martins’ nests dot the soft cliffs. The beach itself is on a grand scale and is a perennially popular visitor attraction.
What the beach means to Jacquie and Eddy.
A bright day and a rising tide at Happisburgh beach.
Season: autumn
Pronounced “Hazebruh”, Happisburgh originated as “Haep’s Town” and was mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Unfortunately it is disappearing under erosion at a rate of knots, so enjoy the oldest working lighthouse on the Norfolk coast while it is still here. There’s a ramp down to the beach for easy access and great coastal walking along this stretch of Norfolk’s coastline.
Chris’ passion for the beach and all that it means to him.
With Peter, above the beach at Happisburgh.
The view from the vulnerable cliffs above the beach at Happisburgh.
Season: summer
Bright blue skies were the order of the day for this summer visit. The tide was halfway in, allowing good access to the beach via the ramp that’s part of the managed retreat against the erosion here. Models were filming a clothing shoot by the cliffs. The red and white hooped lighthouse was framed in picture book style by the azure, cloudless sky, sitting in a field of vivid, ripe oil seed rape, altogether a riot of colour.
What the beach means to Julie, on holiday in the lighthouse keeper’s cottage.
A view of Happisburgh beach in the summer, seen from the cliffs above.
For the last 25 years I have been lucky enough to stay in a caravan at Eccles on Sea, right next to the beach. As a Mother our son would collect shells, baby crabs and unusual stones. We would spend time finding flat stones as skimmers and have competitions to see who could bounce them the most. We would wrap up on colder days and walk to the beach at Sea Palling, rolling on the sand dunes on the way. These days we walk along the beach to Happisburgh for a pint and sandwich at the pub and comment about the cafe where we ate banana sandwiches and scones, which has since closed following its disappearance into the sea. Every year there is a memorial service at Eccles at the remains of the original church, which collapsed into the sea in the 1800’s. Staying at Eccles brings a great sense of calm and tranquility, especially when you are curled up at night in the caravan and can hear the waves breaking on the shore, a perfect retreat.
My second home is Happisburgh. My mum (R.I.P) & Dad had their first holiday in Happisburgh when they were 15 & 16 with my Dad’s parents. They fell in love with it & when we were born we spent many a happy holiday there as an extended family. We still go now & have made great friends there as well as us having 2 beautiful God daughters Darcy & Violet, I am also very lucky that my best friend Nicola lives there too. I would eventually love to move to Happisburgh as it is by far my favourite place to be. I just hope that it keeps that quaint village feel and doesn’t become too touristy as it will certainly lose its charm.
The erosion of the cliffs is awful and I hope that something can be done about it soon.
To cut along story short,
HAPPISBURGH …. GREAT MEMORIES, SPECIAL FRIENDS, FAMILY & MY FAVOURITE PLACE X
LOVE SALLY X
The beach means walking my dogs, watching them running free on the soft sand, into the pools left by the retreating tide, chasing the shoreline birds with no chance of catching them, just doing it for the joy of running. It means seeing the martins in their nest holes in the cliffs, watching the seals bob up and down, accompanying us as we walk the shoreline, obviously curious about us. It means watching the sun go down over the cliffs. I run on the beach when the sand is firm, or along the cliff tops looking down. Sometimes it means swimming when the weather is warm. Always it brings on a sense of wonder and history – the oldest human footprint was discovered here, many prehistoric axe heads, fossils and remains have shown that this shore was inhabited 800,000 years ago. The beach means a sense of wonder, privilege and pleasure.