Cinnamon Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Its my birthday in a couple of weeks & I have asked if we can travel to the Sea Side for the day,just for a change But where to go? I have heard Hastings is lovely....anyone have any first hand experience? I just want somewhere pretty, not too commercial & nearish (not asking too much ) All suggestions welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 oooh, we like Swanage. Not too far away, they have a sandy beach, slot machines that still take 2p's, you can do crabbing off the side of the quay, there's fish and chip shops overlooking the front, it's not too expensive to park (or it wasn't last time we were there last year) it's just lovely. We're going camping there (if the sun shines - don't do wet and windy camping!) in the middle of August for a few days. And it's right in the heart of some lovely countryside which is only a ten minute drive away. Have a lovely time wherever you go. Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 I love the seaside! We are soooooo lucky to be so close to it. Just a stones throw away (well maybe a good catapult) two mins walk ish. It is really pretty depending on which direction you look! Lovely cliffs in one direction, Europes biggest blast furnace in the other! I can recommend every seaside place from here (Redcar) to and including Whitby the are all really picturesque. Probably further than you would like to travel though. Cathy is from Tamworth which I think is probably as far from the sea as you can get in England so she appreciates the beach more than I do. I feel guilty for taking it for granted She always phones her mum when we are on the beach to wind her up! Anyway ramble over, I hope you have a nice time wherever you choose to go and don't forget to post piccies!!! Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Well I might as well put in a good word for the North norfolk coast. I love it. Its my favourite thing about living in Norfolk. You could do seaside towns with crabbing off the harbour wall and slot machines or you could do huge quiet beaches like Brancaster. The food in the pubs round here is fabulous too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 I love the Seaside too Kev, but its a rare treat for us these days. We had childhood holidays at Swanage, so thats wirth a thought......it would be nice to see it again Last time we went to the Seaside we were driving around our area, with the children when we came across a road sign for Brighton, so we just decided to drive there on the spur of the momnet. It was one of the most wonderful days I have ever had.We ate fish & chips on the pebble beach & wandered around.The girls,who were tiny at the time, paddled & squealed at the waves. It took ages to get home as we had our old restored orange Beetle at the time,with a top speed of 60mph We go overseas on beach holidays quite a lot - we are very lucky to be able to do that- but there is NOTHING like the good old British Beach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 oooh, we like Swanage. Not too far away, they have a sandy beach, slot machines that still take 2p's, you can do crabbing off the side of the quay, there's fish and chip shops overlooking the front, it's not too expensive to park Mrs B your description takes me back to my youth! As a family we use to holiday in Bournemouth every year and Swanage was an annual pilgrimage to go crabbing! Such wonderful, worry free times I vote for Swanage! The chips are great and there were a set of 3 little huts when i was last there that sold seafood, chips & ice-cream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 I've got to confess that I don't like Hastings, pebbly and not very pretty and a little commercial for my tastes, but I'm probably a bit strange . Nicer places by far on the Kent coast, I like Camber, Whistable and Joss Bay. But they're probably all a bit far for you Sarah. Brighton's nice as well, of course . Gets a bit busy, but loads to see and do there I've never been to Swanage, but it sounds nice from the others accounts. I love a good traditional day at a British beach, hope you have a lovely day wherever you end up going to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperman Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Sarah, I love rivery places too! I thought Henley was beautiful when I was there. I also loved Stratford. The weather was a bit kinder when we visited mind! I hope everything is getting back to normal again. Kev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 Its stiill a bit soggy in places,but on the whole Henley got off very lightly during the flooding. Kev, if you like rivery places, have you ever been to Dartmouth in Devon? My Mum used to live there & it is one of the prettiest places I have ever been to. It has a sea as well as a river, so the best of both worlds really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Ahhh. Was going to recomend Brighton - theres lots to do there. However Seaford, a little further along the coast (inbetween Brighton and Eastbourne) is lovely too, (the town itself is not very big or exciting) but it has a nice beach and lovely walks along the cliffs. Our friends live there and we often walk on Seaford Head (see pic below) Eastbourne is nice as well (though you can't move for old granny's ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 I just found a gem of a place called Goring Gap close to Littlehampton. The wheatfields come all the way down to the sea the water is warm and there is a mix of sand and stones, and a fab cafe called the Bluebird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Opposite end of the country I know, but you can't beat the beaches in Scotland! Two of the most beautiful beaches I have ever been to: Killantringan Bay, just north of Port Patrick and Sanna Bay on Ardnamurchan. No fish and chips though, in fact no anything, just miles of white sand, turquoise sea, the wind and the waves ..... (especially the wind ... ) Hope you find somewhere nice and have a great time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 If you want a lovely sandy beach then I can recommend the West Witterings near chichester - me and my friends went there last year and had a bbq on the beach and ice cream etc and it was great. I live in Brighton and although i love it I'd stay clear at the moment as it is student season again so is full of european students which although is nice they do tend to stand in huge groups in very awkward places You do get great fish and chips and loads of places seeling good old mr whippy ice cream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 What about Harloch castle beach in Whales? we went last year the weather was georgous and but the sand was so hot you could bearly walk on it. i spent most of the day in my trainers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Harlech may not be so hot this year though - it is quite often cooler and windy. We love Harlech Castle Swanage is lovely, a good old fashioned seaside - and so are the Witterings, I was just recommending them to Kate yesterday. Probably more amenities at Swanage though? I'm with Cathy (Couperwife) here - Stratford is Heart of England as well and I love visiting the seaside. My favourite beaches are on Anglesey - but that is quite a distance from Henley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Oh yes! West Witterings lovely too! We went and camped there a couple of years ago. Heres some pictures of us and Milo on West Wittering beach... Miley... Me, Milo and DH. DH pulling a face (probably cos it was freezing cold - but we did go in October!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 I quite like Hastings. There's lots to do there and the shops are nice. But the beach is very pebbly and every time I've been it has been extremely windy and cold! For sand and calm waters I like Ramsgate. I also love it that all the facilities are close, even parking. Littlehampton is all right and has more sand than Brighton. You could get a train to the Isle of Wight - Shanklin is great, lovely beach, ice creams/coffees/f+c just there, crazy golf and toilets. Sandown is more 'touristy' if you prefer that. Are you too far from Weymouth? I think that is good, but I haven't been for a very long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted July 29, 2007 Author Share Posted July 29, 2007 Swanage it is The children are not impressed - they say it sounds like Sewerage (they have a point.....) The Omlet T & camera will be packed too. Fingers crossed for good weather,please or it'll be Uggs on the beach rather than Crocs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted July 29, 2007 Share Posted July 29, 2007 Hurray! Glad you have chosen Swanage cant wait to see the pictures - oh the memories! Hope you have a wonderful day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathy C Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 We visited Swanage a few years ago, with my brother in law, and loved it. We took the steam train to Corfe castle (I think that a famous train was visiting that weekend, my Brother in law is train mad) I liked the traditional sea-side town feel of Swanage. It reminded me of going to Teignmouth on Sunday School outings from Exeter when I was a girl. Suntan lotion on my arms covered with sand, waving sand flies off my lunch and dripping ice cream down my legs and then running up to the pier to play on the slot machines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 Well I might as well put in a good word for the North norfolk coast. I love it. Its my favourite thing about living in Norfolk. You could do seaside towns with crabbing off the harbour wall and slot machines or you could do huge quiet beaches like Brancaster. The food in the pubs round here is fabulous too. I love the beaches in Norfolk too Bron, having more or less grown up there. I love paddling and crabbing. Do you ever go to Cookies? Great wet fish shop and restaurant shack on the coast at Salthouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 I love the seaside! We are soooooo lucky to be so close to it. Just a stones throw away (well maybe a good catapult) two mins walk ish. It is really pretty depending on which direction you look! Lovely cliffs in one direction, Europes biggest blast furnace in the other! I can recommend every seaside place from here (Redcar) to and including Whitby the are all really picturesque. Probably further than you would like to travel though. did you ever get up to Seaton Carew!! (our local beach resort when we lived in hartlepool!!) quite the most picturesque (NOT!) and charming (LOL!) beach resort in all of christendom!! (whitby is fantastic!) Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 If anyone wants a nice beach a bit further north - I can seriously recommend Harlech! We go there at least twice a year! Criccieth is a nice too. Barmouth we also enjoy. For another sandy beach Lligwy on Anglesey is beautiful & safe for Children to swim as quite shallow. I have also visited Chapel St Leonards near to Skegness - that was nice too. I adore the beaches in Cornwall - but it's a bit too far to go for weekends away. We also visited a place near to Weymouth called Lulworth Cove - absolutely stunning, but very expensive to park there. But what the hell if it's beautiful. There is a hippy there who paints scallop shells. Love it there. We are planning to go away I think for August Bank Holiday or just before, but don't know whether to head for the sea or the rivers. Hubby fancies going back to Builth Wells in Wales. Very nice campsite called Fforest fields. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 Broadstairs is nice, have you seen the advert ... think its something to do with eco etc, wind turbines etc....... ok, i admit i have forgotten what it is about, but the seaside is lovely, or my fav place is Whitstable, nice there tooo, All depends what you want to do , ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 Well I suppose I have to do a "shout out" for Devon then !! Endless choice here,....you could go north - Saunton (long sweeping beach), Woolacombe (long again), Ilfracombe (rugged town beach), Lynton and Lynmouth (pretty with tea shoppes!) Clovelly (pretty harbour). South coast.... Sidmouth (old fashioned - tea shops, pebbles), Beer (pebbles), Babbacombe (nr Torquay - shops, tram), Paignton (typical seaside town - pier, amusements, bucket and spade shops), Blackpool sands (nr Dartmouth - lovely beach). We are spolit for choice here, but maybe a long trek for you - but well worth it if you could stay overnight maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
