Britain’s best and worst seaside towns

[rubbershoes]

One that's not been mentioned on the thread: Salcombe.

Happy memories of many a childhood holiday here, and I still go for the odd day out when I'm down in the south-west. It's a beautiful place.

Obviously it's second-home and holiday-let central, and like a lot of such places the locals have been completely priced out of town. I remember my dad asking pointed questions about what it was actually like to live in one time when we were there in the mid-80s, and later he let on that he'd been thinking about applying for the parish, which was vacant at the time. Eventually he decided that a town that was practically dead for several months of the year, had serious problems of poverty and its inevitable consequences in the estates the tourists don't visit, and where he'd be referred to as 'padre' by retired naval types in the yacht club wasn't really his scene. I do sometimes wonder how differently life might have turned out had he decided to go for it...

I was there last weekend. Amazingly the beach at East Portlemouth wasn't too crowded.

 

[A380]

Winterton-on-Sea. A little gem as opposed to the snot-nosed antique shop infested braying twats of north Norfolk, the dingy ;'land that time forgot' Lowestoft and Yarmouth or the fucking muesli belt (Waxham, Walberswick and Aldeburgh. Horsey is OK (but busy) Gorleston is just dull but W-o-S is a little timewarp with a tea-hut on the beach. Good for dogwalks (pretty much the only thing I do at the beach). Painful childhood memories of the utter freezing shitness of New Brighton.

Gorleston Beach is second to none and hardly anyone goes there. Except when they filmed Yesterday at the Pier Hotel obvs. Bourgh Castle has some of the largest remaining Roman walls in the UK and a beautiful setting. Although Gorelston itself is pretty shit.

 

[cyberfairy]

I’m quite fond of Morecambe but haven’t been in about 10 years. Went there with Mrs SFM to go to a vintage fair near the Midland Hotel. While the sea front is pretty shabby I can see the potential that a bit of investment could realise. There was a fantastic 2nd hand bookshop on the front - everything piled high with categories bleeding into each other at the whim of the chatty (& rather eccentric) owner. I got a great 60s paperback of “Girl on a Motorcycle” there. Hope it’s still trading.

It's still open- a fabulous shop and a great owner who knows loads about history etc. Morecambe absolutely heaving today

 

[T & P]

If a single afternoon's visit is considered sufficient to form a valid opinion, I'd like to nominate Herne Bay as one of the biggest shitholes I've found myself in.

 

[ska invita]

If a single afternoon's visit is considered sufficient to form a valid opinion, I'd like to nominate Herne Bay as one of the biggest shitholes I've found myself in.

Hmm yeah, though just one mile west is Reculver which is beautiful...

 

[seeformiles]

It's still open- a fabulous shop and a great owner who knows loads about history etc. Morecambe absolutely heaving today

Glad to hear it

 

[danski]

Hmm yeah, though just one mile west is Reculver which is beautiful...

East

 

[brogdale]

East

Yes, one mile West is the disappeared village of Hampton-on-Sea. A village washed away by erosion and tidal scour caused when the Victorian oyster fisheries pier disrupted the LSD sediment cell and drastically reduced the replenishment of the beaches capable of absorbing the wave energy of the violent North-Easterlies.



What remains of the pier still affords good views West to Tankerton & Whitstable and East to Reculver's twin towers. Nice pub and, if you're into coastal defences, an impressive array of rip-rap, baffles, groyns, revetments, and recurved walls etc.

What's all this about the Bay being a shithole?

 

[ska invita]

East

ah i was confusing herne bay with westgate on sea
herne bay is alright...westage is mehh

 

[Red Cat]

That's where her ashes went, Morte Point. Got nice memories of being left with crisps and a drink on the wall in the sun outside the pub there while she went in for a cider! Here's a pic of her and family and friends on the beach at Woolacombe, guess maybe the late '50s or early '60s? Not sure which family member is the long faced one in the middle.View attachment 225087

That's a fab pic LynnDoyleCooper

 

[Red Cat]

Big problem with West Wittering is that it is too popular, often a solid queue from the A27 down to the car park in recent years, >2 hours and anyone who lives there is trapped. We went the week after lockdown was eased and you had to pre-book and
pay online before you went, we arrived just before midday and no queue at all, just a steady flow of cars. Dunno if that is virus related or just to make it better for the locals, but if the former they need to keep it in place, two years ago we went there on a really hot Father’s Day and the A27 was blocked, took over an hour from the A3 to the Wittering roundabout, we turned around and went to Hayling Island, park on the beach and no queue, pebbles but I’ll take that.

We went a couple of weeks ago and they had this system, it worked really well. The days of forecast heatwave were booked up quite in advance, we booked the day before, it was busy by the time we got there around midday but no queue in or out.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

We went a couple of weeks ago and they had this system, it worked really well. The days of forecast heatwave were booked up quite in advance, we booked the day before, it was busy by the time we got there around midday but no queue in or out.

Really hope they keep it once the lurgy naffs off.

 

[LDC]

That's a fab pic LynnDoyleCooper

Thanks, yeah it's been nice looking through all the old family photos after she died last year. Got them all scanned and gave everyone in the family a copy. When I get a chance I plan to go through them and get the good ones printed and framed. Maybe it'll be a winter 2021 lockdown activity!

 

[Red Cat]

I had some mates camping there a few years back, and spent a drunken night up there, yeah it's nice.

As you are looking forward to some seaside, there's 3 licenced cafes that are basically on the beach I can recommend -

Blue Bird Cafe, Ferring, sleepy village that adjoins Worthing.

Sea Lane Cafe, Goring, outskirts of Worthing borough.

Coast Cafe, town centre, short walk east from the pier, attached to East Beach Studios, small units occupied by local artists. They normally hold beach DJ/party/rave nights in the summer, but not this year.

Looking for a village pub in the town centre? Check out the Rose & Crown in Montague St, lovely beer garden, as you can see from the urban Worthing meet-up photos, from THIS POST.

We had a great holiday, coinciding with the heatwave, the campsite was gorgeous, I swam almost every day, the kids loved it. The sea was almost too warm on our last day (last Wednesday) so I had to swim quite far out for it to be cool enough to hit the spot. Went to Brighton, Worthing, Lancing, Goring and Ferring beaches and the cafes you recommended, good FEB at Bluebird and calamari at Coast cafe. My 12 year old liked the skatepark bowl at Lancing where another girl taught her how to drop in

 

[cupid_stunt]

We had a great holiday, coinciding with the heatwave, the campsite was gorgeous, I swam almost every day, the kids loved it. The sea was almost too warm on our last day (last Wednesday) so I had to swim quite far out for it to be cool enough to hit the spot. Went to Brighton, Worthing, Lancing, Goring and Ferring beaches and the cafes you recommended, good FEB at Bluebird and calamari at Coast cafe. My 12 year old liked the skatepark bowl at Lancing where another girl taught her how to drop in

Excellent, glad you enjoyed yourselves.

Did you use The Perch cafe on Lancing beach? I've heard good reports about it, but haven't been in there myself.

Did you go up on the Big Wheel on Worthing seafront? Again, I've heard good reports, but not got around to trying it yet.

I forgot to suggest Brooklands Park, on the border between Worthing & Lancing, but not sure if it & the cafe are actually open ATM, certainly the little train & go-carts have already gone. They are spending millions on exciting plans for that park -

LEARNING: Brooklands Park will become an outdoor interactive classroom and science learning resource supporting the wider STEM curriculum. Schools and families will find new opportunities for learning about habitats, ecosystems, forces and materials. The Parks department will also be piloting new planting schemes to feed into how we respond to the issues of climate change and sustainability.

INCLUSIVITY: Access to Brooklands Park will be improved through new gateways, paths and seating areas. New café and play facilities will be designed with everyone in mind, making sure that people with specific needs can enjoy the Park and all it has to offer. The aim is to create a unique landscape not found anywhere else in Adur and Worthing, allowing engagement with nature in new and exciting ways.

WELLBEING: Physical activity and exercise will be encouraged with new adventure play, walking trails and fitness route. Seating areas and a new park café will help bring people together to socialise. Developing community engagement will allow local people to play an active part in caring for Brooklands Park to ensure its future for years to come.

Brooklands Park Masterplan - Adur & Worthing Councils

Three key principles were distilled from the original concept and used to develop the masterplan: LEARNING: Brooklands Park will become an outdoor...

www.adur-worthing.gov.uk

It'll certainly be worth taking a look, if you are back down here at some point in the future.

And, there's talk of boat trips out to the wind-farm next year, they were due to start this year, but covid buggered the plans.

 

[Red Cat]

Excellent, glad you enjoyed yourselves.

Did you use The Perch cafe on Lancing beach? I've heard good reports about it, but haven't been in there myself.

Did you go up on the Big Wheel on Worthing seafront? Again, I've heard good reports, but not got around to trying it yet.

I forgot to suggest Brooklands Park, on the border between Worthing & Lancing, but not sure if it & the cafe are actually open ATM, certainly the little train & go-carts have already gone. They are spending millions on exciting plans for that park -



It'll certainly be worth taking a look, if you are back down here at some point in the future.

And, there's talk of boat trips out to the wind-farm next year, they were due to start this year, but covid buggered the plans.

We had chips and beer from the Perch but only because we go there too late for pizza. I went to Lancing with the kids one afternoon and you could smell the the pizza cos it was outside so we all returned one evening with pizza in mind, but they'd run out just before we got there around 8. I was really disappointed and did adolescent sulky face, luckily my partner was a bit more grown up and we managed to order chips

Didn't do wheel, my eldest likes that kind of thing, my youngest less so, and it was just so hot I wanted to be in the sea.

 

[The Octagon]

Got a holiday to Tenby booked for next summer, looking forward to it based on what I've read here and heard elsewhere.

we turned around and went to Hayling Island, park on the beach and no queue, pebbles but I’ll take that.

Spent the ages of 12-17 almost every weekend at a static caravan park in Hayling Island, wouldn't say it's good but I have a certain fondness for it, does feel like going back a few years in time (good and bad). Always enjoyed the drive down from Surrey though (Devil's Punchbowl and a cute bridge across to the Island).

 

[Red Cat]

Ferring. Look how clear the water was! Also really enjoyed diving off the wooden thing at high tide (although my daughter told me I wasn't diving but pushing off )

 

[LDC]

Ferring. Look how clear the water was! Also really enjoyed diving off the wooden thing at full tide (although my daughter told me I wasn't diving but pushing off )


View attachment 227245View attachment 227250

I do really miss that bit of the south coast when I see photos like that. Wooden thing is a breakwater or groyne btw. Great fun jumping or diving off the bigger ones, and sometimes you get crab hunting pools at low tide around the uprights.

 

[cupid_stunt]

Ferring. Look how clear the water was!

It's a nice quiet & unspoiled beach, just the cafe, nowt else.

 

[kebabking]

I do really miss that bit of the south coast when I see photos like that.

Do you know, despite being very old, and having spent the first ten years of my life in the SE, I don't think I have ever had a holiday on - or even visited - a beach east of Poole or South of Great Yarmouth...

 

[ska invita]

was planning to go back to Goring by Sea this Saturday but strong southerly winds forecast (40mph gusts on friday!) - hoping that north facing Reculver is more protected

 

[cupid_stunt]

was planning to go back to Goring by Sea this Saturday but strong southerly winds forecast (40mph gusts on friday!) - hoping that north facing Reculver is more protected

I am in Goring, so if you ever fancy meeting for a beer.

 

[brogdale]

was planning to go back to Goring by Sea this Saturday but strong southerly winds forecast (40mph gusts on friday!) - hoping that north facing Reculver is more protected

If you're heading that way...you might like to check out the bleak, marshy beauty of Seasalter as you're heading past?



If you wanted to/had time you could turn left off the Thanet Way (A299) (about 1km after going under Brenley roundabout at the end of the M2) head West, towards Faversham, for a couple of hundred metres, the take the right onto Head Hill going through the hamlets of Goodenstone & Graveney before getting to the marshes & Seaslater. Parking anywhere behind the beach is free & plentiful.

Take your binoculars to look West up the Swale estuary towards the Medway, out over to the Isle of Sheppey and East towards Whitstable & the Kentish flats wind farm. You might even see the Redsands forts?

If the weather is with you, the views can be great, not forgetting the views inland, back across the marshes towards the Blean ridge, Boughton hill and the ever-present dip slopes and ridge of the North Downs.

To get out, the easiest thing is to tootle along towards Whitstable and take a right when Joy lane meets the Canterbury road, go up Borstal Hill and then along the old Thanet Way for a couple of hundred metres and then take the right onto the 'new' Thanet Way (A299) to zoom along to Reculver?



I'm massively biased, but I love it down there.

 

[cupid_stunt]

You might even see the Redsands forts?

* pulls on anorak*

As used by the 60's offshore pirate stations, firstly the unsuccessful KING Radio, and later the very successful Radio 390.

 

[brogdale]

* pulls on anorak*

As used by the 60's offshore pirate stations, firstly the unsuccessful KING Radio, and later the very successful Radio 390.

Indeed.
Had a mate who was an engineer on Caroline, and had many a tale of the transfers & supplies that sometimes went in and out of the Bay!

 

[cupid_stunt]

Indeed.
Had a mate who was an engineer on Caroline, and had many a tale of the transfers & supplies that sometimes went in and out of the Bay!

I've known engineers & presenters that worked on the Caroline ships, much smuggling of staff & supplies were done from that part of the Kent coast, and also out of the likes of the rivers Blackwater & Crouch on the Essex side.

 

[brogdale]

I've known engineers & presenters that worked on the Caroline ships, much smuggling of staff & supplies were done from that part of the Kent coast, and also out of the likes of the rivers Blackwater & Crouch on the Essex side.

Yep.
For a while, back then, the coast from Whitstable to the Bay had quite a reputation for (Sea) Water Skiing...those boats sometimes had income streams other than pulling idiots at speed!

 

[cupid_stunt]

Yep.
For a while, back then, the coast from Whitstable to the Bay had quite a reputation for (Sea) Water Skiing...those boats sometimes had income streams other than pulling idiots at speed!

Likewise with fishing boats. And, of course, even Greenpeace ships were used for bulk supplies of diesel & fresh water.

 

[brogdale]

Likewise with fishing boats. And, of course, even Greenpeace ships were used for bulk supplies of diesel & fresh water.

That's right; personnel mostly moved by speedboat (weather permitting).