A very Christmassy Hastings

On Saturday, the start of the school holidays, we promised the girls some ice skating madness! So easy to book online now, even the helper penguin, and we turned up at 11am to ice skates, gloves and 'snow'. 

Afterwards, we managed to escape to the beach, with some lunch, and hunkered down behind a wind break to enjoy the sunshine and views...

 

It was a bit breezy, which might explain why we were some of the few on the beach!

There were a couple of paddle-boarders, keen to make the most of the windy waves.

 Hastings Beach & the pier looking glorious in the December sunshine!

When you gotta go!

This way to the beach!

When the tide goes out along the Sussex coast, you get sandy beaches for miles, and when you reach Camber its all sand! But I love these pockets of sand which are the perfect pitch for the day - the girls are happy with their shells and sand, and my towel is a lot more comfortable! Always pick the right side of the groynes for perfect shelter too.

The beach was pretty much deserted, even though the sun was out! With no breeze, the sun felt so warm for December.

Ok, there were a few other dog walkers...

Groynes beaten down by the relentless waves! I particularly like the 'pick a stick' effect below, and am thanking my lucky stars I haven't (yet) put my feet down on these whilst swimming.

You can see the whole world! Or at least to Hastings... and to Eastbourne.

A beautiful morning, certainly appreciated by this fisherman, who told me it was a perfect fishing day...

Chilly, but so very beautiful...

I missed my chance to get to the beach on Saturday, a glorious day weather-wise, as I was countryside and pub lunch bound (so no great hardship!) but on Sunday, the skies cleared again.

So, we packed up the dog and popped down to Pevensey Bay. The car park is right on the beach, and is free now until March!

I always love to look at the beach side houses and their gardens. I think a lot of them are used as summer houses, so sometimes look a little lonely at this time of year, but the gardens have all been carefully planned to work with the sea air rather than despite it.

The beach was pretty empty, just a few dog walkers to admire the amazing colours as the sun set. Bruce found the perfect line along the beach with all the shells and seaweed and spent ages having a good sniff!

There is no need to get wet at the beach, said my very wise dog, who was happy to run along side the waves rather than risk a damp, chilly paw!

Finally the sun set behind the clouds which had gathered over the Downs. All of a sudden, the temperature dropped!

Throwback Thursday - sunshine and a spot of fishing!

I have continued to visit our beaches, despite the wet weather which only seems to improve to a cold greyness! I love being there, and there is just as much to discover and enjoy but its not so great on the camera! So instead, I am going back to 2004 ish to Hastings on a beautiful sunny winters day...

As well as all the fabulous things to do along Hastings seafront (crazy golf, trampolines, amusements, fair rides, sitting still!) lots of people liked to wrap up very warm and go fishing! 

It was a bit chilly waiting for the next bite, so we moved along the promenade (with buggy, in those days) to the fishing beach where all the boats were lined up, ready for action.

The all look fantastic in the winter's sunshine, from small but proud...

To bigger and magnificent!

Its easy to spend hours wandering around the boats, as there is so much to see, but mind you dont get in the way of the ropes, seagulls and fishermen!

Winter walks

In the summer, I am on the beach all the time and whenever we wake to a good sunrise, off we rush for a coffee on the sand. However, as the nights have drawn in, I haven't been quite so much. Its not the temperature that's putting me off, but the rain! Every image I looked at online always showed our beaches in sunshine (even this one, with its layer of snow!) and lets face it, sometimes we don't see the sun for a long time...

So, do I continue to rush down to the beach, dog at my heels, regardless of the weather, knowing that our beaches are fab all year round or do I admit to partial defeat till spring?! Watch this space... xx

Fancy finding a fossil then?

If you drive all the way along Eastbourne seafront, towards Beachy Head, you come to the start of the hill upwards, and the parking is free! Then, you load up and start your descent down one of the many paths to the beach...

There are lots of places to stop on the way down (and up!) and enjoy the views

If you walk past the beach towards the cliffs, you hit fossil heaven! The girls have always loved coming here, and trying to find their very own fossil amongst the rocks chipped off the cliff face. 

Once you have found your fossils, you can retreat to the cafe by the beach (cash only though!) or find your spot to look up and enjoy the blue skies...

A walk in the sunshine

It was such a glorious day on Friday (and half term!) that we decided to entice the girls out with the promise of a hot chocolate at Sovereign Harbour Marina, followed by a gentle stroll with Bruce, the new addition. 

We were not the first to have thought of this, and the marina was super busy, but we managed to bag a table outside for some hot drinks before we started our walk.

As always, the marina looked spectacular...

The outer harbour looked so peaceful in the sunshine.

Once we reached the beach, we turned right onto the very popular path to Eastbourne, which was much closer than it looked in this picture!

There was a little group of fishing boats and bits.

Finally, the pier got closer! So we celebrated our mammoth walk with fish and chips from the pier shop. Even Bruce was worn out...

Pevensey Beach with Bruce

At the weekend we were joined by Bruce, a 10 month old rescue dog! Needless to say, we couldn't wait to show him the beach, so yesterday as the tide was going out, we popped down to Pevensey Bay for some morning sunshine and a lot of charging about!

The waves looked beautiful, rolling in across the miles of sand.

The beach was pretty empty but Bruce did get the chance to meet a few other dogs who were also overwhelmed by so much space!

So lovely to see such clear water.

We managed a long walk / run / paddle with our wellies on! In the interests of dog socialising, we had to walk round to the cafe for hot drinks afterwards!

Out on the sea

Sometimes we are lucky enough to visit the beach when there is even more to see! We have been treated to afternoons of yachting, fishing boats, paddle boarding... I never get tired of watching so much activity out on the water.

There are several sailing clubs near us, including Hastings & St Leonards and Bexhill, both of which are on the seafront. In Eastbourne, for a whole range of activities including the paddle boarding here, try Spray Watersports.

 You can also go out on fishing trips from Sovereign Marina at Eastbourne. We seem to spend ages standing watching the boats sailing in and out!

As the sun rises over Pevensey Bay

We were up early this morning, and decide to make a dash for Pevensey Bay, to greet the sunrise as the tide went out. For a moment I thought the clouds might have other ideas but the sun broke through as the waves lapped gently...

The seagulls met us on the sands!

In the distance, boats were leaving the marina at Eastbourne.

We didn't stay too long, and left the sands to the dog walkers and seagulls!

And then the sun came out.

So far, October is shaping up to be very much like April; sunshine, showers and rainbows!
But, if you time it just right, you get a beautiful, sunny, warm (17 deg!) moment at the beach...

Thank you Dawn, for making it to St Leonards today!