Call of the coast
SIMPLY being beside the sea is enough to put most of us in a happy mood, usually from the moment we catch our first glimpse of it.
Swathes of sand, cawing seagulls, rock pools, colourful beach huts, crab shacks on the seafront and magnificent walks along coastal paths are just some of the magical ingredients that call us back again and again to the great British seaside.
NORTH Norfolk, feted for its big skies, beaches and stately homes, is a place where it’s easy to shake off the crowds and find a completely deserted stretch of sublime sand, even in summer.
Just now, the coastal paths are coming into bloom — and it’s a joy to amble through seaside bird reserves to see flycatchers, warblers, shearwaters and kittiwakes, or book a seal trip to visit the colony of common and grey seals that basks lazily at the water’s edge at Blakeney Point.
Meanwhile, the pretty flint villages and large deer parks of the region’s grand estates provide plenty to explore not far from the coast.
Norfolk Hideaways can provide anything from a cosy cottage for two, to a dogfriendly house or a barefoot retreat next to the sea. NOW is the perfect time to
explore Cornwall’s glorious coastal gardens, as they come into colourful bloom. The mild climate bathed by the Gulf Stream means all kinds of rare plants can flourish.
And don’t forget the county’s great beaches and iconic attractions, including St Michael’s Mount, the Minack Theatre, Tate St Ives, Tintagel and the Eden Project.
Stay at Pot & Barrel, an AA 5-star B&B by the sea in Bude, or the Hannafore Point Hotel, by the coastal path at Looe.