Tag Archives: cycling

Sandbanks beach review, Dorset

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Sandbanks beach starts on the mile-long peninsula crossing Poole Harbour, stretching for over five kilometres down to Bournemouth. Fabulously soft, golden sand, rocks and shallows make for a wonderful beach day out. It is so narrow at one section that you can see the waves lapping along the edge of both of its sides from the road.

At the height of Summer the water is busy with windsurfers, kite surfers, jet skis, power boats and ships. Water sport equipment, bikes, surf kit are all available for hire. rightbeach thinks Daddy is going to have a great day out! By the car park there is a great adventure playground set on sand. There’s also zorbing and crazy golf ensuring there’s something entertaining to do for all age ranges.

For fans of a hefty stroll, it is possible to walk from Sandbanks beach through Bournemouth to Boscombe along a concrete promenade which, outside July and August, is open to cyclists.

There is a chain ferry over to Studland, and a regular boat service (from the same dock) takes you to Poole Quay, Wareham River and the National Trust Brownsea Island. rightbeach hears that this is home to the red squirrel! In the Summer there is also an open-air Shakespearean theatre on the island. On the ride over you get a perfect view into the luxurious waterside homes that make Sandbanks, by area, the fourth most expensive place to own property in the world!

There are some great sights to be seen when actually on the beach. Of course, our national pastime of ‘people watching’ is an ever popular activity but at Sandbanks you can add ‘watching people wipeout on the water’ to your itinerary. There are also stunning views over to Studland beach (the other side of Poole Harbour mouth) and Old Harry Rocks.

rightbeach recommends Sandbanks beach for families of all ages, especially if Daddy has a penchant for windsurfing! Get there early to ensure you are able to park and head down to the beach to mark your spot with an “X”.

Beach blurb

See Sandbanks beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

  • Head ‘beach right’ from the main car park to a less crowded part of the beach. There is plenty to do here: rock pooling, crabbing and watching the chain ferry (dogs are allowed on this part of the beach).
  • If the traffic backs right up around the Peninsula this could be due to two reasons – 1. The car park could be full – in which case queueing is not permitted. 2. The queue for the chain ferry can be very long. It is possible to park in Canford Cliffs and walk down. There is also some limited street parking on the Peninsula itself, but get there early!
  • The Ice Cream Boat! Flat bottomed boats pull right up to the shore to sell their wares, in an innovative attempt to go where no van has gone before. Although, rightbeach warns: save your pocket money as this novel delivery comes at a price!

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Area
Rating
Observation
Beach Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating The beach is beautiful, fine sand with rock pools, shallow sandy pools and a gentle slope for good paddling. The beach is cleaned daily throughout the year.
Crowded (1=deserted) Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating During the summer this beach is very very busy. Head ‘beach right’ for less people (more dogs)
Surf Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating More known for windsurfing than surfboarding, but still, good surf.
Sand Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Soft, golden sand.
Parking Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating 500 spaces (not enough) adjacent to beach- also on road parking- Charges £4 for 4 hours or £8 for 8 hours
Toilets Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Toilets (with disabled access), showers, baby changing in car park.
Food Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating The Sandbanks Beach Cafe comes highly recommended to rightbeach (if a little expensive) Their cakes seem to be a hot topic (a subject dear to Mummy rightbeach‘s heart). Ice Cream Boat!!
Shopping Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Several kiosks and shops selling all the usual beach goodies such as inflatables, buckets and spades etc. Forbes Food Hall Spa on Haven Road is the nearest supermarket or head into Poole for Sainsbury’s.

Review by Grainne L

Hove beach, East Sussex

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Hove beach is very close to Brighton beach but has a far more relaxed child-friendly feel. The beach itself is mostly shingle. The sea can become deep at the edge if the pebbles have shifted. It can get busy but not overcrowded.

Along Kings Road and Kingsway esplanade there are a great selection of well-kept attractions (bouncy castles/trampolines), cafes, restaurants and lawns. There is a playpark/sandpit/paddling pool that is a young child’s delight just past Brighton’s old pier (maybe techincally still Brighton): an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza. Free too! rightbeach‘s niece has spent many an afternoon pootling around there.

rightbeach recommends Hove for people who enjoy the vibrant mix of quirky shops, cafes surrounded in salty sea air. Not as intense as Brighton, with a charming laid back air.

Beach blurb

See Hove beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

  • After a busy morning playing pebbles and people watching in Brighton, take a 10 minute walk along the sea front to the paddling pool and keep the youngsters amused in the fabby dabby paddling pools and play park. Finish off with a fish and chip supper before heading off home with some weary babies in the back of the car.
  • Marroco’s Ristorante-Bar Grill and Fish, but more importantly…24 flavours of ice cream plus an awful lot of bejazzelling besides!
  • When your feet are tired of sand and stones then head up onto the lawns for a foot fresh feel! No sand in the picnic either!
  • Parking is available but you do need to move well out of Brighton to ensure you get value for money.

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Area
Rating
Observation
Beach Shingle.
Crowded
(1=deserted)		 Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating rightbeach doubts that you would ever be alone but at least the kiddies can become best beach buddies for the afternoon.
Surf Sandcastle rating There are some waves but nothing to write home about.
Sand Sandcastle rating Shingle and pebbles.
Toilets Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Toilets by paddling pool, ncluding disabled access and baby changing. Clean.
Parking Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating
Food Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Lots of cafes, ice-cream shops and pubs along the esplanade. VBites cafe (Heather Mills’ vegan cafe) is within the Hove Lagoon complex.
Shopping Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating An impressive array of funky interior design shops, fashion boutiques and specialist shops jostling alongside international restaurants, organic greengrocers and independent cafes. Regular French markets.

reviewed by Kerry T and the rightbeach Team

Spring Vale beach, Isle of Wight

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Spring Vale beach is a small sandy beach with pebbles banks set below a comforting sea wall. Beach hutters and cyclists gaze out to views of the Solent-very peaceful in the late afternoon sun. The pebbles are littered with slipper limpet shells and makes a melodic sound when crunching through them at high tide. rightbeach spent a pleasant afternoon gathering shells to spell out their very own name!

When the tide is out, (it goes out a loooooooong way, the remaining rock pools and channels are perfect for little feet to paddle and little hands to gather bucketfuls of winkles. If sitting quietly it becomes apparent that wild birds (other than shouty seagulls) use this beach: rightbeach spotted a pair of dancing white egrets using a pair of birthday binoculars!

Nearby Puckpool Park provides fun in the form of tennis, crazy golf, ice creams and also has parking for around 100 cars (free, unheard of on The Isle of Wight!) It also boasts a pub and serves hot food all day.

Beach blurb

See Springvale beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

  • Park in Puckpool Park for free. Take advatage of their facilities and then head off to the beach. Return for an ice-cream before trooping off home.
  • Dogs are allowed on the beach all year.
  • A pair of binoculars will allow close up views of birds and boats far away.

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Area
Rating
Observation
Beach Sandcastle rating 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)		 Sandcastle ratingSandcastle rating 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 Sandcastle rating Still water means it makes a great part of the sea for kayaking.
Sand Sandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Mostly sand and shingle with pebbles dotted around. Rocks when the tide is out.
Toilets Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Including disabled access.
Parking Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Park near to St Helen’s Old Church, plenty of space in the pay and display spaces.
Food Sandcastle rating One cafe on the sea front but a mile or so inland is The Vine Inn which serves local pub grub.
Shopping Sandcastle rating 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

St Helen’s beach, Isle of Wight

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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

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 Sandcastle rating 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)		 Sandcastle ratingSandcastle rating 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 Sandcastle rating Still water means it makes a great part of the sea for kayaking.
Sand Sandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Mostly sand and shingle with pebbles dotted around. Rocks when the tide is out.
Toilets Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Including disabled access.
Parking Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Park near to St Helen’s Old Church, plenty of space in the pay and display spaces.
Food Sandcastle rating One cafe on the sea front but a mile or so inland is The Vine Inn which serves local pub grub.
Shopping Sandcastle rating 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

Portrush East Strand beach, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

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Known as ‘Northern Ireland’s favourite holiday destination’, Portrush is well known for its long, sandy beaches, East and West Strands. East Strand is the quieter of the two, as it does not have the life boat station training centre. It is still a busy beach with plenty of people watching to be done. It has large sand dunes and amazing views along the coast and is an ideal place to explore the Causeway Coast.

Portrush, built mainly on a mile-long penninsular, is a popular and well known town on the Londonderry border. It has hosted the British Golf Open, many open air music festivals and an annual air show in September. Portrush is also home to Barry’s Amusements, the largest amusement park in Northern Ireland. Actor, James Nesbitt, once worked in Barry’s.

rightbeach recommends this beach for young families due to its ease for parking and toilet facilities but also for families with teens who fancy learning to surf. There is a surf school on the beach with surf board and suit hire with changing rooms.

Beach blurb

See Portrush East Strand beach on a map …

Things to note to ensure your trip goes well:

  • Take a wind break as the wide beach means it can get a bit breezy.
  • …and a kite to keep Daddy entertained (although Daddy rightbeach is yet to succeed in the kite department!)
  • A wet suit to keep the chill out when learning to ride the waves.

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Area
Rating
Observation
Beach Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Open beach with plenty of space.
Crowded
(1=deserted)		 Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Can get busy due to its popularity.
Surf Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Waves here can get very good with the prevailing south westerly winds blowing offshore.
Sand Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Sandy, sandy, sandy
Toilets Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Clean and tidy with baby changing facilities. Located in car park.
Parking Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Massive car park on sea front.
Food Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Only a stones throw away from Portrush town.
Shopping Sandcastle ratingSandcastle ratingSandcastle rating Clothing shops, surf suit hire

Review by Lesley H

St Ouen’s Bay beach, Jersey

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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

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

Review by dom perrignon