Season: winter
A bright winter day at Padstow showcased the harbour and its sheltering fishing boats. A barrier which opens onto the inner harbour provides enough tidal water to float the boats inside, even at low tide. The town looked a picture, quiet and characterful, a reminder that fishing and Padstow’s relationship with the sea is still very important around these parts.
The pull of the beach for Steve.
A look around Padstow’s inner harbour.
Season: autumn
Looking back up the River Camel towards Padstow from Stepper Point gives a different perspective. It reminded me of Padstow’s sheltered geographical context in this part of North Cornwall. There’s such outstanding natural beauty to be seen from this headland that it’s well worth the walk up from the town via Hawker’s Cove. There was a high spring tide in Padstow on this occasion.
With Julie in Padstow on a high tide.
Season: winter
Padstow harbour looked breathtaking for this visit on a mild January morning. The tide was in. This well-known tourist town has a strong fishing tradition and I learned more about it from the harbour master, Rob Atkinson. Everywhere is walkable, basically grouped around the attractive inner harbour. There are excellent independent shops, restaurants, hotels and pubs to hand. There’s also a ferry across the Camel estuary to beautiful Rock and Porthilly.
With Padstow harbour master, Rob Atkinson.
Chatting to Philip, leading sand from the quayside at Padstow.
Padstow in the morning.
The beach for me means remembering childhood memories of happy holidays and blissful innocence. The sight, smells and sounds transport me back to a perfectly peaceful state of mind that remind me everything’s OK.
Living in Cornwall we are blessed with some of the best beaches in the world. These natural playgrounds have given me hours of pleasure from a young boy to being a father and seeing my daughter’s face light up with delight playing, jumping and exploring the golden sands.
The beach is a place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and feel free from everything. A place to de-stress, to spend time with family and friends, to build sandcastles, to splash around in the waves and to enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
I love the way that the beach changes with the seasons, from the taste of ice cream and smell of sun lotion on sunny summer days to the sound of crashing waves in winter; there’s a magnetism which always draws you back to the seaside.
I love beaches as they offer endless possibilities for the imagination. As a child, the beach offered endless hours of enjoyment whilst I built sand fortresses and dug for pirate’s treasure. As an adult, I enjoy beautiful walks along the beach, watching the sun set, with friends and loved ones.
The beach is about renewal and being able to start each day with fresh footprints in the sand as the tide clears away yesterdays.