Bright and breezy
HEAD TO THE SHORELINE FOR AN IMPROMPTU DAY OUT OF RUNNING ON THE SANDS, POKING ABOUT IN ROCK POOLS, COOKING ON AN OPEN FIRE AND BREATHING IN THE SEA AIR
Strolling on the beach, breathing in lungfuls of salty air and staring out at the vast sea before you isn’t just for summer days. The water may still be icy and the winds fresh, but heading to the beach out of season means fewer people, more space to explore and somewhere calm to breathe deep.
Check the local rules and the weather forecast, then pack plenty of blankets and head out on a day trip to the coast. Make the most of the stillempty sands to search for treasures, from sea glass to washed-up finds hiding in rock pools, then jump through the dunes and have a tentative paddle. Once you've worked up an appetite, get a campfire going and cook fresh fish wrapped in foil, baked chocolate-filled oranges and toasted marshmallows – all washed down with gallons of tea. If you’re brave enough, you could even take a dip, then warm your toes by the fire afterwards while tucking into a gooey chocolate fudge cake. As the sun sets, you're sure to be heading home, refreshed, energised and just a little bit windswept. »