We visited one of our favourite beaches in Littlehampton for our most recent photo-shoot. This prompted many a conversation at CSC HQ about our favourite British beaches and uncovered a mutual appreciation of escaping to the seaside for the weekend. Here are a few of our best-loved beaches and some little tips and tricks of what you should do if you find yourself there.
STUDLAND BEACH, DORSET
We love it because…
It’s a National Trust beach; a four mile stretch of golden sand with views of Old Harry Rocks and the Isle of Wight. If, like us, you like to have a proper explore, there’s also sand dunes and woodlands just behind the beach.
Something that a lot of people don’t know about Studland is…
You can get to Studland from Sandbanks by chain ferry. It connects the coastal parts of Bournemouth and People with Swanage and the Isle of Purbeck, avoiding a 25-mile journey by road on a return trip. There’s a handy tip for you. Also, rumour has it that Studland was the inspiration behind Toytown in Enid Blyton’s Noddy.
The best place to stay is…
The Pig On The Beach Hotel is a lovely seaside boutique hotel. It only has twenty rooms and a ‘25- mile’ food rule meaning most of the food is grown within the grounds or, if not, it’s sourced within 25 miles of the hotel. With roaring fires, a ‘snug room’ filled with all the latest magazines and a beautiful garden overlooking the beach and sea below, it’s the most idyllic place to watch the sunset.
The one thing you HAVE to do if you go there is…
Walk up to Old Harry Rocks. The hour round trip is worth it for breathtaking views of the three chalk formations. They mark the most easterly point of the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
HOLKHAM BAY, NORFOLK
We love it because…
It’s a great place to visit in the summer or wrapped up warm on a winter’s day. If you follow the sandy path through the pine trees, you are rewarded with an endless expanse of beach – miles of beautiful white golden sands and stunning dunes, windswept and completely unspoiled. It’s one of those beaches that has something for everyone from horse riders and dog-walkers to kite-fliers and birdwatchers.
Something that a lot of people don’t know about Holkham is…
The beach was used for the final scenes of Shakespeare in Love starring Gwyneth Paltrow.
The best place to eat is…
The Victoria Inn just over the road from the beach is a great place to go for a hearty bite to eat – they have a great selection of locally sources and seasonal dishes – we’d go for the Cromer crab or Brancaster mussels if we were you. Plus the building is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been.
The one thing you have to do if you go there is…
Fill your lungs with sea air and watch the world go by from the sandy comfort of a dune!
SALTBURN-BY-THE-SEA, NEWCASTLE
Photo by Michael Anderson
We love it because…
There is something very English about the Victorian spa town of Saltburn-by-sea. It’s a proper seaside resort with a newly refurbished arcade and traditional Victorian pier.
Something that a lot of people don’t know about Saltburn is…
The Saltburn Cliff Lift (built in 1861) is one of the world’s oldest water-powered cliff railways. It’s a great way to experience the incredible views out to the North Sea contrasted with the dramatic surrounding cliffs. Not so good if you’re afraid of heights though, you’ve been warned.
The best place to eat is…
If there’s one thing we love to do when we visit the seaside (or visit anywhere, actually), it’s go for afternoon tea. There’s a lovely new tea room called the Ha'Penny in Saltburn which makes for the ideal pit-stop after a windy stroll along the pier. Their novelty biscuits and vintage china made us feel right at home.
The one thing you have to do if you go there is…
Go for a walk along the pier and take pictures of all the amazing knitted characters by the mysterious yarn bombers who are very nimble with their knitting needles.