Longing for the beach!

[Gemini]

I live in a wonderful town, with many more wonderful things to see within a few miles in any direction. I am on a direct train route between London and Scotland. I know I am lucky

I do envy those of you with the beach on your doorstep though!

The nearest beach is just over 40 miles away, so it is suitable for a day trip, but it's not close enough to just pop down for an hour.

This good weather has made me really long for the beach and the sea. We didn't get to a beach in Florida in March. DD1, GS1 and my mum and I spent a little time on a beach one day last summer. That wasn't too relaxing, catering for the needs of a 3 year old and a frail lady in her 80's! Before that the last beaches I saw were in Cornwall last June.

It seems to have worked out that if we are both free, the weather isn't good. I know we are not into June yet, and there is plenty more summer to go to the beach, but I wish I was there now.

I know I can go alone, and maybe I will one day when OH is playing golf, but these things are nicer shared I think.

[Oma]

Gem we live very close to our beach but rarely go , we may go for fish and chips at tea time on a nice warm evening but don't spend a day there ,
It's a beautiful coast line but like everything if it's on your doorstep you don't use it

[Mimi]

In my teenage years I lived near a beach and yes its lovely all weathers except when its foggy... the mist rolls in from the coast and the sound of ships fog horns could be heard for quite some distance.
Taking all this into consideration the upside of living near the coast easily outweighs the own side. A walk along a deserted beach in the middle of winter is breath taking. BUT ......
I now live within 7 -10 minute walking distance to rolling fields and country lanes and that has its own beauty

[Clover]

Oh Gem I wish you could come for a visit here. As you know we are so lucky to live on the Gower Pennsular and can get to a beach walking in less than half an hour and can just see the sea from the end of the road.In fact we've just come from a walk round the cliff tops looking down on Three Cliffs Bay and Pobbles Bay.It's hard not to take it for granted and I do make an effort not to.
Anyone who is remotely in the area is more than welcome to visit us.
Of course we don't have the attractions of a big town and direct train routes etc. others have which would be lovely sometimes.

[Glammanana]

Isn't it strange how we fail to not to make use our immediate surroundings sometimes,my front door is just 5 mins from New Brighton beach front and it carries right along the coast line to West Kirby we can also cross the River on the Ferry and go down to Crosby/Blundersands beach which is very well visited by locals we are also fortunate to have great Train and Bus services to Chester which takes 1/2 hr from the bus Terminus/Station we are spoilt really when it comes to places to visit and relax.I have to admit I don't use the beach as much as I should do but this pm DD and I are going to a Spring Festival at Fort Perch Rock to watch the River Shanty music played by members of the Merseyside Banjo Group.its a free afternoon so it will be good I'm sure.

[Plantaholic]

Like you Gemini, I live in beautiful countryside but somehow need to see the sea at least once a year, which is why I am going to Brighton in a couple of weeksfor the weekend, not my choice would rather go to Cornwall but it was GD's choice. You have the best of both worlds Clover, beautiful beaches set in lovely countryside.

[Libra Gran]

We are so lucky living where we do,we have the best of both worlds. Beaches within 10 minutes and countryside within 30. Love it.

[Grauntie Mag]

We live a 6 minute walk from the quieter end of Southend beach (only 1 beach type cafe, nothing else) but rarely go. The last time I took the local GCs there with a packed lunch for the day, J ate his lunch at 11, then asked to go back to my house to play in the paddling pool! Sometimes we go and collect shells which we decorate the garden with. 😆 They all love that, especially the two younger GCs.

[Gemini]

Guess where we went today?!

I got my bit of beach and sea time, and the sun shone as a bonus
I hope to see the sea a few times more this year.

[Gemini]

Oh Gem I wish you could come for a visit here. As you know we are so lucky to live on the Gower Pennsular and can get to a beach walking in less than half an hour and can just see the sea from the end of the road.In fact we've just come from a walk round the cliff tops looking down on Three Cliffs Bay and Pobbles Bay.It's hard not to take it for granted and I do make an effort not to.
Anyone who is remotely in the area is more than welcome to visit us.
Of course we don't have the attractions of a big town and direct train routes etc. others have which would be lovely sometimes.

If we are ever in the area Clover I would love to visit or meet up with you

[Nanto2girls]

When we are abroad,we spend very little time on the beach,if any.But,hubby says many a time,wouldn't it be lovely to live on the coast, and just have a stroll on a warm evening.
On the other hand,we only need a 10 minute drive, to be in some lovely countryside.

[Daisy]

Gem - I'm so glad you got your 'beach fix' today.


Clover - if we had had more time in Burnham, I would have been in touch like a shot. You do live in a really beautiful area, although I haven't been there for nearly 20 years - we used to take students on residential trips to the University, and I always promised sometime to go back in a more relaxed mode!

We are about 20-30 minutes drive to our nearest proper beach, but there's a river estuary into the Solent just 5 miles away. I love living so close to the sea and never take it for granted, but we live literally in the New Forest - we can't get out of our road without going into the Forest - so I go there far more than the beach. In the summer a lot of our beaches restrict access to dogs, which means we can't take Eva.

Nanto - I'd love to drag my OH out for a stroll along the beach on a warm summer's evening - walking isn't one of his favourite things.

[Oma]

Each time we go to the beach we always say we should make the effort to go more but we never do , We really enjoy just sitting watching the sea and everyone strolling along the prom , we have a little stroll but not far as B cant walk a lot but if we take his wheelchair we can walk ( or I can ) a fair way along and back again ,
Fish and chips are always nicer some how, but the blooming gulls are huge and can be a pest sometimes

[Enfys]

We are a 10 minute drive to the beach and often go for a walk along the sea shore. But to be honest it's mainly in the winter months as it gets so crowded in the summer so that's when we go into the Forest, again about a 10 minute drive. We count ourselves so lucky to have the best of both worlds right on our doorstep. We also enjoy going to Hengistbury Head, beautiful walks there and great views too.

[Daisy]

Enfys - I agree. The beaches are better in the winter - sometimes you can find you're the only ones braving the weather! Parts of the Forest can get very busy too in the summer. I don't know why we never think of going to Hengistbury Head - it's lovely, and I like the views too. We usually go to Mudeford or park at Highcliffe Castle and walk down onto the beach there where it's usually quiet.