Tag Archives: sea wall

Hove beach, East Sussex

Posted on by
Reply

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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

Posted on by
Reply

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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

Posted on by
Reply

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.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

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