Cleethorpes: A Deserted Beach

September 20, 2020September 20, 2020 ~ beetleypete ~ 56 Comments

(All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them)

A trip north to the once genteel resort of Cleethorpes delivered something of a shock. Despite being end of season, the town was absolutely packed with tourists, and it took a very long time to find a car-parking space.

Dogs were not allowed on the beach until the end of the month, so we had to walk along the busy promenade with Ollie. Although the streets were full of people, the beach was almost deserted.

In the distance, I spotted what was left of some wartime fortifications.

The pier that once served as an elegant entertainment venue is now just a gigantic fish and chip shop.

It was a sunny and warm day, and we were able to find a good place for a delicious lunch later.

A Trip To Yarmouth

September 12, 2019September 12, 2019 ~ beetleypete ~ 50 Comments

Great Yarmouth is a traditional seaside resort on the East Coast in Norfolk. Always popular, it is unashamedly ‘down-market’.

(The photos are large files, so please click on them for detail)

But it does have a long seafront, a nice old pier, and a big sandy beach.

In late 2011, before we lived here permanently, and before we got Ollie, we went for a day trip with Julie’s identical twin daughters, and their dog, Baxter.

Julie with one twin.

And with her sister.

Baxter is a Mastiff cross, and enjoyed playing on the beach.

Sadly, he now has cancer, and his prognosis is not good.

We didn’t go on the Carousel, but I love the old style of such rides.

And on the pier, I insisted Julie pose for photos in the reproduction Victorian cutouts.

Baxter is still holding his own, despite the diagnosis. He is a great dog.

A Southwold Birthday

March 18, 2017 ~ beetleypete ~ 75 Comments

I always like to visit the seaside on my birthday. This week we were blessed with excellent weather for the 16th, so we decided to venture south-east, and to see somewhere in Suffolk, instead of Norfolk. Southwold is a genteel town on the East Coast. Recent popularity with visitors from London, and others buying second homes there, has also made it a desirable destination, as well as prohibitively expensive to buy property in the town.
(The photos all look better if they are enlarged)

The pier was built in 1900, and is as popular today as it ever was. Unlike some coastal piers in this country, it conceals its commercial side very well.

Along the pier is the famous water-powered clock. The metalwork is suffering a little from exposure to the elements, but it still tells the correct time!

Further into the town, you will discover the imposing St Edmund’s Church. It was built in 1430, and is considered to be one of the best examples in the county.

Unusually, Southwold’s lighthouse is in the town centre, rather that at the edge of the coast. It still operates today, and has been seen in many films and TV series too.

The town is dominated by Adnams Brewery, which still operates in its original premises there, brewing Suffolk’s famous beer. There is a popular Brewery Tour, run every day. As well as a small market, held in the old Market Place, the town has a wealth of small shops, delicatessens, and restaurants. Most are of the ‘exclusive’ kind, catering to the many wealthy new residents. A visit there is highly recommended, as it will give you a snapshot of the British Seaside, almost unchanged for over 100 years.

Cromer: A seaside town

January 16, 2016 ~ beetleypete ~ 15 Comments

At the end of April, 2011, we were not living permanently in Norfolk. During a visit to the county, we enjoyed unusually good Spring weather, so went for a day trip to the coastal town of Cromer. This is on the North Norfolk coast, twenty-six miles from where we now live, in Beetley. I took a few photos that afternoon, and four are posted here. They are large files, and can be clicked on, for more detail.

First founded in the 13th century, Cromer developed as a crab-fishing town, later becoming a popular seaside holiday resort during Victorian times. It retains a very ‘old world’ feel, and still attracts holidaymakers seeking the traditional British style of holiday, whether based in nearby caravan sites, or in small hotels in the centre. The turn of the century (1901) pier is one of the main attractions, with its seasonal live shows, and five-hundred foot promenade. Most people are content to spend the day on the beaches below the cliffs, splashing in the sea, making sand castles, and eating traditional foods. The town offers little else in the way of tourist amenities, trading on its beaches, and relative peace and quiet.

Colourful beach huts, close to the sand.(And stones)