Croyde Bay beach review, North Devon

Posted on September 7, 2011 by mtargettuk

Croyde is a popular beach, sandwiched between the two longer sandy stretches of beach – Woolacombe Sands to the North and Saunton Sands to the South.

It’s a sandy bay, sheltered by a series of dunes and slopes, and features a rivulet running through the middle of the beach. It has terrific rock pools at either end of the beach, although our rightbeach contacts recommend the northern end of the beach for the best selection. Either way, these are ideal for keeping little ones occupied when not splashing in the water or making sand castles.

Away from the dunes the beach can feel exposed if there’s breeze, so take a wind break and a kite to get the best of both worlds.

Croyde is particularly notable for the waves and water. It’s a reliable surf beach, regularly featuring swell and decent breaks at either end of the bay. Swimmers beware however, as there are significant rip tides even when the swell is relatively low. But this shouldn’t deter you from taking the kids for a paddling session in the shallows.

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: RNLI Lifeguard service April 22nd – September 30th & October half term
Water quality: recommended
Dogs: Dogs not allowed May 1st to September 30th

See Croyde Bay beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

Take your nets and head to the north end of the beach for the best rocks pools. Ideal if the weather’s a bit on the cloudy side.
Remember to take your kite. Away from the dunes, the breeze is perfect for this.
If you’re there to surf then hang around Down End to catch the point break or make use of the reef break at the northern end of the beach (aka Baggy Point) for an hour or so during high tides.

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		Rock pools, big waves, shallow paddling in the sea, and flat sand.
Crowded (1=deserted)		Fairly popular with all ages, from families with young kids right through to hardcore surf dudes..
Surf		Waves are usually pretty good. Swimmers need to watch out for strong rip tides..
Sand		Wide flat sand backed by dunes.
Parking		Parking is £5 per day but you can park at the nearby campsite (Ruda) for free.
Toilets		Toilets are free and have baby-changing facilities.
Food		Devon ice creams available at the beach shop … yummy!
Shopping		A well stocked beach shop, plus surf hire.

Review by Mark H

Yaverland beach, Isle of Wight

Posted on August 29, 2011 by mtargettuk

Yaverland is a long, wide sweep of golden sand edged by the famed red and white cliffs. It has great fossil finding prospects and is rated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Collecting of fossils can only be done from the bottom of the cliffs but it is very likely you will find something to take home to show off with. rightbeach found fossilised bivalves hidden in grey sandstone. Go out and see what you can find!

The beach itself is a sandy, open space. It is popular with dog walkers and families but is also known for a variety of water acitivities such as windsurfing and fishing. It is busiest between the groynes but you can get that feeling of near isolation by heading ‘beach right’.

Yaverland beach is very close to The Isle of Wight Zoo (Tiger Sanctuary) which is a chance to get up close and almost personal with some truly stunning tigers. rightbeach fell in love with Xena the snow tiger. It is also a stone’s throw from Dinosaur Isle (think Natural History Museum on a small seaside scale)

rightbeach would recommend Yaverland for a day on the beach with children and family dog. Easy car parking and toilet facilities combined with enough space to spread out and build a sand fortress (see photo) make it a real winner.

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: No
Water quality: Recommended »
Dogs: Allowed on this beach

See Yaverland beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

Visit the beach after a heavy rain storm for the best chance of finding fossils. Perhaps combine it with a trip to Dinosaur Isle (lots of interactive dino fun along with the best dino shop EVER! rightbeach bought a mould to make the fossilised remains of a triceratops out of chocolate!
Windbreaks or tents are a must as the wide beach can get rather breezy.
Great beach for kite flying. rightbeach nearly had its head removed by the string of a wildy flapping butterfly-shaped kite.

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		Flat sand, sand at all times, cool fossil opportunities when beach combing
Crowded (1=deserted)		Populated but not on top of each other. Head ‘beach right’ for more space to call your own.
Surf		Breezy beach means good surf. Popular with windsurfers.
Sand		Sand. Small pebbles, fossils and tumbled glass in the tide line. All very pretty really.
Parking		About £1 an hour. Get there earlyish to get a space in the car park nearest the steps.
Toilets		In the car park, so not too far away. Free and eco. The cleanest toilets rightbeach has come across.
Food		Ice creams and the usual chips and sausage roll from the one cafe by the car park.
Shopping		A walk into Sandown brings more traditional gift shops or pubs for a wider meal choice.

Review by rightbeach

St Helen’s beach, Isle of Wight

Posted on August 29, 2011 by mtargettuk

St Helen’s is a tranquil sand and shingle beach, maintained by The National Trust . It is situated along the sea edge of the Duver. At low tide there are fascinating rock pools to dip your net in or great clumps of seaweed in which to rummage for crabs. rightbeach saw three generations of one family having a ‘who can catch the biggest crab’ competition. Grandad and his bacon lure was the winner!

The beach is mainly used by twitchers, boat watchers and some families from Nodes Point Holiday Centre. During the Summer months, long lines of ponies can be seen trotting contentedly along through the shallows. It has no esplanade of sea front shops but there is a sea wall running the entire length, topped by a concrete promenade. A short row of beach huts and a cafe is all that can be found on some days. On sunny days, it is a stop off for cyclists and walkers.

The beach drops steeply down to the sea which becomes deep reasonably quickly. Boats coming into Bembridge Harbour pass close by and so swimming should be with this in mind. The red and green buoys mark the channel relatively close to the shore.

rightbeach recommends this beach for a morning of crabbing at low tide rather than a whole day camped on the beach. rightbeach‘s eldest daughter spent a marvellous hour trotting along the shore line on Turnip the pony-thanks to Sally’s Riding School of Nodes Point.

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: None
Water quality: Recommended »
Dogs: Are allowed without restriction

See St Helen’s beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

To find parking near the sea, follow signs to The Duver, along Duver Road, past the Common and the entrance to the Duver and park near the remains of St Helen’s Old Church .
Dogs are allowed on the beach all year.
Bring a picnic as there is only one small cafe.

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		At high tide there is not a lot of beach left. Low tide leaves fab rock pools and crabby seaweed haunts. Breakwaters at regular intervals.
Crowded (1=deserted)		Not a super sandy beach and so not too crowded even when the sun is high in the sky. Nodes Point Holiday Park is a five-minute stroll so there are families who use the beach regularly.
Surf		Still water means it makes a great part of the sea for kayaking.
Sand		Mostly sand and shingle with pebbles dotted around. Rocks when the tide is out.
Toilets		Including disabled access.
Parking		Park near to St Helen’s Old Church, plenty of space in the pay and display spaces.
Food		One cafe on the sea front but a mile or so inland is The Vine Inn which serves local pub grub.
Shopping		No gift shops, clothing or other retailers. Head up into the village for provisions, or better still round to Bembridge.

reviewed by The rightbeach Team themselves

Challaborough Bay, South Devon

Posted on August 29, 2011 by mtargettuk

Challaborough Bay beach is an enclosed Blue Flag sandy beach with some decent surf between tides, a stones throw away from Burgh Island of TV’s Poirot fame.

It’s a pretty spot with nice flat sand, a freshwater rivulet, and is ideal for walks in the gorgeous Devon countryside, and shallow paddling in the sea.

Challaborough Bay is home to a reasonably large holiday park, with the caravans leading up to the road bordering the beach. Parking is via the holiday park and is limited (£4.50 for the day). However, despite the proximity of the holiday park the beach is not too crowded.

It’s a pretty reliable place for surf, with a steeply shelving beach creating a fast wave at higher stages of the tide, although the swell dies back during the highest part of the cycle.

Challaborough Bay has been recommended to rightbeach as a quiet, relatively sheltered beach, ideal for families with young children.

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: 21st May – 18th September
Water quality: Recommended »
Dogs: No dogs May to September

See Challaborough Bay beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

Parking is limited so get there early to ensure you avoid unnecessary stress.
Chill out with an ice-cold drink at the Regatta Restaurant immediately overlooking the beach, or head over to Friar Tucks to grabs some fish and chips to take back to eat on the beach. Yummy.
Time you trip. At high tide there’s not much beach left and the waves die down. At low tide however there’s rock pooling to keep the young ones occupied. Between tides – surf’s up!

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		A sandy beach with rocks exposed at low tide. Reasonably sheltered. Good for walks.
Crowded (1=deserted)		Quiet and not too crowded.
Surf		Better surfing between tides, with NO waves during high tide.
Sand		Yep – there’s sand.
Parking		£4.50 for the day in the holiday park car park but spaces are limited.
Toilets		In the car park, so not too far away.
Food		Ice creams and the usual fodder. Restaurant and fish and chips within staggering distance and groceries available via the holiday park shop.
Shopping		Via the holiday park shop.

Review by Tom v A

Whitecliff Bay beach, Isle of Wight

Posted on August 29, 2011 by mtargettuk

Whitecliff Bay is a relatively small, golden sanded beach situated at the bottom of Culver Cliffs, on the south-east side of the island. It is 10 minutes walk from Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park and so is popular with families and couples. The holiday park is the only parking available near to the main concrete path down the cliff. The path ends in a steep, oh so very steep, final section. Not so much fun for tiny tots or tired daddies on the hike back up to the car!

The beach has a very shallow slope towards the sea, making it good for swimming and paddling with little children. High on the cliff top, Yarborough Monument (known as ‘the Obelisk’) can be seen presiding. Rock pools and mini coves, isolated by high tide, to ‘beach left’.

There are two beach cafes/shops to keep a ready supply of buckets, spades, ice-creams and cold drinks on the beach. rightbeach had breakfast at the ‘Tuppenny Cafe’ and basked in the glorious morning sun, watching the rightbeach kiddies and grandparents taking the first plunge of the day…ahh fond memories.

rightbeach recommends this beach for families with older children due to the tricky path down to the beach and lack of toilets.

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: None
Water quality: Recommended »
Dogs: Are allowed without restriction

See Whitecliff Bay beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

Get there early to nab a parking space and parking is limited (rightbeach warned you, 20-30 spaces max!)
Minimal kit or plenty of hands and arms to carry it to and from the top of the cliff.
turn ‘beach right’ at the bottom on the slope as it gets mighty windy to the left.
Rock pools galore to the left so pack your beach shoes, nets and buckets to nab all sorts of creatures of the deep.
Watch out for high tide, it can leave you with nowhere to run but back up the cliff!

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		What it lacks for in wide expanse of sand it makes up for in character.
Crowded (1=deserted)		It’s never too bad there although the car park and cafes can get busy. You can always head ‘beach left’ for seclusion.
Surf		Mini rollers but nothing too fancy.
Sand		Lovely golden sand but it is nearly completely covered at high tide.
Toilets		NONE! Not even for staff at the cafes or at the top of the cliff! NONE!
Parking		20-30 spaces within Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park.
Food		Two cafes (hot and cold food and drinks) with a small range of buckets and spades, postcards, etc
Shopping		The only shop nearby is the newly refurbished, reopened and fully stocked holiday park convenience store. Situated to the left of the driveway at the entrance to the holiday park.

Minehead beach, Somerset

Posted on August 29, 2011 by mtargettuk

Minehead beach is a busy sand and shingle beach. It has great views over the Bristol Channel, North Hill and Exmoor. Fab for young and old alike as it has so many convenient features: easy parking, clean and tidy toilets, sand for castle building, shallows for paddling, steam train for Grandad, to name but a few.Minehead is the beginning of the South West Coast path and has some stunning scenary as you stroll along. Wander in the other direction to spot speedboats in the small harbour.

Minehead hosts one of England’s largest Butlins camps which not only offers the usual array of Redcoat frolics: funfair, ballroom , boating lake, etc, but also a chairlift system and a miniature railway.

Head into the town for a wide selection of shops and treats. We hear the fish foot spa is a must! Perhaps combine with a cream tea? The Farmers Market is open for business every Friday in The Parade from 8.30am to 2.30pm come rain or shine!

rightbeach recommends this beach for families of all varieties. Lots of fun on and off the beach with the necessary requirements of parking, toilets and food all within convenient reach.

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: None
Water quality: Recommended »
Dogs: restrictions apply, see signs at beach

See Minehead beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

Change for Pay and Display is a must.
Plan a stress free lunch and take advantage of the many food vendors along the sea front.
Windbreaks to create an element of privacy on the popular beach.

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		Wide and sandy with some shingle. Rock and pools. Known for kites and windsurfing.
Crowded (1=deserted)		Butlins near by means you are not likely to be alone.
Surf		More wind surfing than surf boarding.
Sand		Good sand but much of it is covered during high tide. Some sand has been washed away by sea defences.
Toilets
Parking		Pay and display along sea front.
Food		Nice selection of hot, cold and ice cream vendors.
Shopping		Walking distance to Minehead town centre. Usual high street stores as well as some quirky stores, check out ‘Fizz’ the retro sweetie store.

Review by Sharon S

St Ouen’s Bay beach, Jersey

Posted on August 28, 2011 by mtargettuk

St Ouen’s Bay is a massive five-mile-long stretch of sand, making up the majority of the west coast of Jersey. It feels the full force of the Atlantic which can be a blessing and a curse. Surf can be fabulous but it can also be very exposed if there’s a westerly wind blowing given there’s little shelter on the beach.

The beach does have non-sun worshiping activities though, with rock pools and surf lessons to be enjoyed. However, the beach’s primary assets are it’s epic expanse of fine, flat sand and mega surf.

rightbeach recommends this beach for its space, sand and surf, and deems it suitable for families with children and surfers.

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: RNLI Lifeguard service May 28th – October 2nd
Water quality: Recommended »
Dogs: Allowed on this beach.

See St Oeun’s Bay beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

If you’ve got the motivation, take a BBQ with you, buy some fresh fish from Faulkners at the north end of the beach, and eat on the beach in style.
There’s virtually no beach left at high tide so timing your trip right is essential.
If you fancy a break from all that sand and surf take a stroll around the World War II German gun emplacements. Jersey (and the other Channel Islands) were occupied by the Germans from June 1940 to May 1945.

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		Massive amounts of space and sand, but can be exposed and beach is virtually non-existent at high tide.
Crowded (1=deserted)		Sooooo much space
Surf		The Atlantic 2,500 miles to get ready for St Oeun’s Bay. The waves can be big!
Sand		Fine, flat and lots of it.
Toilets		In the car park so think twice about venturing too far away from civilisation.
Parking		Lots of parking along the length of the beach (three or four car parks all along La Grande Route des Mielles) all right next to the sand.
Food		A reasonable selection of icecreams / pasties, but most of the food outlets are clustered around the car parks.
Shopping		Good for fresh fish (at Faulkners) less good for other stuff as the beach is so spread out.

Review by dom perrignon

Worthing beach review, West Sussex

Posted on August 12, 2011 by mtargettuk

Worthing is a steep, pebbly beach situated along the West Sussex coast, west of Brighton.

Wet sand is available during low tide for the sand castles builders. When the tide is out, the shallow water is perfect for little paddlers who like to run in and out of the sea. Small, shallow pools mean there are plenty of chances for crab spotting and building moats. There can be seaweed by the shore and on the tide line making it a little off-putting for some.

Worthing sea front has a number of attractions to offer. The Lido has fun fair style rides and a range of ice-cream, gift and clothing shops. The Pavillion Theatre often runs indoor markets and has live stage shows throughout the year. There are plenty of well-known restaurant chains and cafes along Marine Parade as well as regular toilet facilities. The long promenade is ideal for bikes, scooters & buggies.

Worthing boasts a 105 ft, Grade II listed pier. It is a great place to spot fishermen reeling in their catch as well as trying your luck on the traditional ‘Pier Amusements’ in the middle (perhaps more suited for the teens). Plenty of comfy benches, perfect for ice-creams, people watching and breastfeeding (perhaps not all together!). The pier also hosts its own annual Birdman competition in August. The prize stands at more than £30,000 for reaching 100m from the end of the pier.

rightbeach recommends this as safe beach for families who like to explore the sea fronts, shops and amusements as well be by the sea.

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: No
Water quality: Recommended »
Dogs: Dogs are banned and dog bins are provided.

See Worthing beach on a map…

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

Check the tide times if you are hoping for sand, the beach can be pebbles only;
Be prepared to move along to find the perfect spot away from clumps of drying seaweed and sandflies;
It can be a steep, pebbly slide down to the sea at high tide so keep hold of those tiny tots!

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		Pebbles all along and a steep incline down into the sea. Sometimes seaweed by shore and on tide line.
Crowded (1=deserted)		Hustle and bustle of a busy promenade beach.
Surf		Tiny little ripples to keep the teeny tiny bathers happy.
Sand		Stones, pebbles and wet sand when the tide is out.
Toilets		Old and traditional but free, clean and plentiful, by the Lido and Pavillion.
Parking		Car parking along the sea front (free on Sunday) as well as a multistory car park on Marine Parade.
Food		Plenty to choose, from Pizza Hut to ice creams, as well as many restaurants along the sea front.
Shopping		The Lido has a small gift shop and clothing for sale. Marks and Spencers is opposite The Pavillion.

Review by Kerry T and Lynne and Nigel R

Eastbourne beach, East Sussex

Posted on August 12, 2011 by mtargettuk

Eastbourne has been a noted seaside destination since the 1700s. It has the privileged title of Britain’s sunniest place, recording the highest hours of sunshine in a month for July 2011. It has a busy town is served by a well-connected railway station. The seafront has a pier, promenade, 1930s bandstand and the stunning Carpet Gardens.

The beach is a mix of shingle, pebbles and sandy stretches. It is a gentle slope down to the sea where there is sand at low tide and great rock pools and lots and lots of mussels. In fact low tide is really rather good for young children to play and be occupied by the pools. There can be a lot of seaweed. The water is quiet and safe with no surf. There are areas sectioned for swimming towards the town.

rightbeach recommends Eastbourne for day trippers from the Big Smoke and families with both young and older children. Plently of traditional seaside activites on and off the beach.

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: Lifeguard service May to September
Water quality: Recommended »
Dogs: Dogs not allowed May 1st to September 30th

See Eastbourne beach on a map …

Tips to ensure your trip goes well:

Head past Eastbourne town, towards Beachey Head and The Grand Hotel. It is slightly quieter but beach is great and the promenade is wide and spacious to walk along. There are green areas just above to hang out on and play as well.
Toilets are signposted but there are some just in front of the Grand Hotel, in front of the turreted area.
Remember your nets and buckets for rock pooling as there are not many shops that sell this type of thing.

Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		Pebbles but sandy stretches at mid and low tide. Rock pools!
Crowded (1=deserted)		Busy and friendly promenade beach, head towards Beachey Head for a quieter stretch of beach.
Surf		No surf. Dedicated swimming areas.
Sand		Pebbles and wet sand when the tide is out.
Toilets		Not always easy to spot the signposts. Some directly outside The Grand Hotel.
Parking		Car parking along the sea front. Can get tricky on a hot Summer day.
Food		Bars and cafes by the pier and Harry Ramsden’s along the sea front. McDonald’s & Starbucks in the Arndale Centre.
Shopping		The Arndale Centre is 5-10 mins walk from the sea front. It has many high street faves, not many gift shops or beach paraphernalia for sale near the sea front.

reviewed by Kerry T

Pevensey Bay beach, East Sussex

Posted on August 9, 2011 by mtargettuk

Pevensey Bay is a narrow and steeply pebbled beach stretching for some way between Eastbourne and Bexhill. This historical fishing village is known as the landing-place for William the Conqueror. The beach is lined with a smattering of holiday cottages, benches and, occasionally, private marinas along its substantial length. There are also opportunities for windsurfing and kayaking.

To be honest there’s not a massive amount of family-friendly attractions here other than the lure of being by the sea itself. Even bathing can present a challenge as the beach shelves steeply into the water, making paddling awkward. rightbeach did see parents and children taking the plunge but close supervision would be advisable.

Having said that it’s within relatively easy reach from Greater London and is a pleasant enough environment to have an ice cream or tuck into some fish and chips while gazing over the water.

rightbeach recommends Pevensey Bay for romantic yet bracing walks along the sea edge or taking the dog for a long run (maybe even combine the two?!) Finish off your chosen walk with fish and chips, shared from the paper wrapping-ahhh!

Beach blurb

Tide and weather »
Lifeguards: No
Water quality: Recommended »
Dogs: Dogs allowed

See Pevensey Bay beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

Park in the main car park (pay and display) – there should be enough space.
The fish and chip shop on Eastbourne Road behind the beach (Rose Grill and Fry) serves pretty good fish and chips to take back to munch on the beach, if a bit on the expensive side.
It’s fairly exposed and so can get a bit on windy on the beach. Together with the pebble beach making wind breaks impractical, we’d advise setting yourselves up next to one of the breakwaters, in the lee of the prevailing wind.

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Area	Rating	Observation
Beach		Pebbles all along and a steep incline down into the sea
Crowded (1=deserted)		Plenty of space to spread out or stroll along in relative solitude.
Surf		Deep in the heart of the English Channel so not much in the wave department
Sand		Stones, pebbles and, if you’re lucky, a bit of shingle.
Toilets		Free, clean and located in the main car park.
Parking		One smallish pay-and-display close to the beach but there seems to be enough space to deal with demand.
Food		Bit of choice on the main road, plus plenty of pubs with beer gardens close to the beach.
Shopping		A couple of beach-type shops but their stock was pretty shabby and definitely over priced.

reviewed by The rightbeach Team

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Author Archives: mtargettuk

Croyde Bay beach review, North Devon

Beach blurb

Yaverland beach, Isle of Wight

St Helen’s beach, Isle of Wight

Beach blurb

Challaborough Bay, South Devon

Whitecliff Bay beach, Isle of Wight

Beach blurb

Minehead beach, Somerset

St Ouen’s Bay beach, Jersey

Worthing beach review, West Sussex

Eastbourne beach, East Sussex

Pevensey Bay beach, East Sussex

Beach blurb

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