Who's at the beach?

[Jag_NE]

3 hours today from about 11 till 2. We live in a tourist free area and saw literally 7 other people on the beach the whole time (a walker, a family of four and two fitties splashing around in bikinis!). It was quite idyllic.

[talksthetorque]

sparks_190e said:

Nope, North Dorset countryside where I live. The Sandbanks beach/Bournemouth is unbearable on a day like this.

It'll be worse next weekend when the airshow is on.
We used to live in Westbourne, and while the bank holidays were bad we wouldnt be able to park in the same postocde as our place on airshow weekend.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Yep...left at 7:30am Oxford and got to Lepe near the New Forest at 9:00. Traffic was a little busy on the M3 bit but otherwise a clear run. Beach was quiet. Left there, stopped and watched some Hovercraft racing in Fawley, and then had fish and chips by the sea in Hythe...fantastic day.

[Johnnytheboy]

talksthetorque said:

sparks_190e said:

Nope, North Dorset countryside where I live. The Sandbanks beach/Bournemouth is unbearable on a day like this.

It'll be worse next weekend when the airshow is on.
We used to live in Westbourne, and while the bank holidays were bad we wouldnt be able to park in the same postocde as our place on airshow weekend.

Said it elsewhere, there's an invisible horizontal line across Dorset, above which (barring the Steam Fair) is a delightful tourist free experience.

Every Saturday I go from North Dorset to the most fashionable bit of West to visit my father. It is a journey in two halves. First bit is great, second bit is an Angry Dad tourist hell every single week.

[mcelliott]

Pretty close to to the beach here, about 1 minute walk.

[DIW35]

Just got back from the beach where we were watching the puffins returning from their fishing trips.

[lord trumpton]

Nope. I tend to be a miserable git who gets annoyed with the general public. I go out of my way to avoid the cliche things where large swathes flock to

Beaches on hot days
Shopping/town centers at the weekend
Travelling on a friday
Going on holidays when school is out
Supermarkets
Festivals/car shows et al
A&E
Weddings if I can avoid them

Traffic, fat noisey families with unchecked kids, dithering old giffers - all that st.

The only populated place I don't seem to mind is centre parcs - usually busy but with the 'right' type of public

[FocusRS3]

Currently at our flat in Frinton on sea and it Gorgeous.

Weathers perfect and as of yet not too many people although all the free parking is gone by 10.30/11.

Perfect tide times this weekend works well too so plenty of beach most of the day.

Today and tomorrow may get a little too busy mind given the weather and the last BH of the year.

Love this place though

[snake_oil]

Mexman said:

Roll on end of September into October when the Emmett's have cleared off and there are still some warm, sunny days to enjoy peace and quite on our beaches.

Hey screw you. I endured hell on the M5 to come down here and pump 000's into your pathetic seasonal local economy.

Thanks for the welcome.

[markymarkthree]

Polzeath for most of the day, then Trebarwith Strand for the evening.
Mother Ivy and Constantine today.

[FocusRS3]

markymarkthree said:

Polzeath for most of the day, then Trebarwith Strand for the evening.
Mother Ivy and Constantine today.

Love Constantine .

Had a week at Treyarnon last year and walked round the cliff to Constantine bay .
Just stunning

[BigMon]

Had a walk past Preston and Paignton beaches yesterday. Nice to see so many people enjoying themselves.

Off into Torquay for a carvery today so will probably walk down the promenade and past Torre Abbey Sands.

[Wildcat45]

We live by the coast. A hot bank holiday means out nice local bars and restraints will be full of visitors.

So we went inland. Went to a newly returned pub everyone is recommending. Walked through urban parkland, found another pub, then wandered through a part of town we don't know crust well and discovered a micropub where we sat outside and chatted with the owner and locals.

I do get resentful of the tourists where I live but it has to be said they subsidize the nice pubs restaurants and shops locally.

For those who know the area, I'm talking about Tynemouth. We went inland to Jesmond walked through the dene, Heaton Park and then Heaton.

[ou sont les biscuits]

BigMon said:

Had a walk past Preston and Paignton beaches yesterday. Nice to see so many people enjoying themselves.

Off into Torquay for a carvery today so will probably walk down the promenade and past Torre Abbey Sands.

Just had a coffee in the Costa there. Quiet at the mo, although it will be rammed later. A few VW dormobiles and vans parked up near the theatre. I wonder if it’s some sort of meet.

[SeeFive]

Pretty hectic at Southsea / Pompey this weekend with the victorious festival going on.

We are quite restricted at the moment with my missus getting home from hospital yesterday after winning the bingo on lung infections (including pneumonia, pleurisy and abscesses - ouch), so today will be quite slow. Fortunately we are right on the waters edge at Port Solent. With a gentle sea breeze.

[troika]

Couldn’t think of anything worse than the coast on a sunny bank holiday. Will wait until September for long weekends away. I can’t think of anything better this weekend. Lovely weather, at home, BBQ’s, cold beer, TMS, sit out late into the evenings looking at the stars, surrounded by gorgeous countryside and not a single other person in sight. Well, maybe we could be going a bit better in the cricket but you never know...

[cologne2792]

I popped down to Charmouth last night and it was still full of people at 8pm.
Home in West Dorset today and employing my golden rule for sanity survival:

Never go anywhere on a bank holiday...unless you can walk.

[theboss]

troika said:

Couldn’t think of anything worse than the coast on a sunny bank holiday. Will wait until September for long weekends away. I can’t think of anything better this weekend. Lovely weather, at home, BBQ’s, cold beer, TMS, sit out late into the evenings looking at the stars, surrounded by gorgeous countryside and not a single other person in sight. Well, maybe we could be going a bit better in the cricket but you never know...

I’d generally agree with you but my kids wouldn’t.

Therefore we drove down from Shropshire to Pembrokeshire yesterday morning. I was being followed by my Mum in her T6 camper so “overtaking everything” wasn’t an option, but there was no need, most people (amazingly) we’re doing 60-ish and traffic was scarce until we reached Carmarthen. A very relaxed drive through mid-Wales.

Spent the day on Newgale beach without any other family or group near us. Easy parking. Took the little Weber grill and fed everyone, had a few beers and watched the kids play.

I knew yesterday was the good weather day for the far Western coasts (25C vs about 17C today) and despite traffic hell fears it really paid off. No crowds, no other people to contend with, no stress. Watched the sun set then blasted back with no traffic.

You can do it - you just need to pick your routes and your times carefully. Would I have done the same for Bournemouth or St Ives - no chance.

Today, of course, I won’t move from my own garden.

Edited by theboss on Sunday 25th August 10:53

[Bill]

Went yesterday afternoon in Swanage, it was rammed near town but not too bad further along. Might go again today but friends are here with a dog who isn't great in the heat. Currently lying in a hammock under the trees while my wife does some gardening.

[T-195]

Will be in Swanage next week for a long weekend. Looking forward to it.