The beach

[Overthemoon2020]

Just wondering are there really crowds of people going to the beach or is it social media making it something it is not ? It is ok to go to the beach or not ?

I don’t know but I want to go!

Beachy dweller here - well stone's throw away..
Wednesday was absolutely stupid. Today there was 1 family, 2 ddog walkers and 2 joggers on the beach.
Council have closed off more parking spaces so it's harder to park. According to posters this week some beaches are human toilets...
not envy.
.

Roads were gridlocked here heading to the beaches according to the local police. Most of the cars were not locals but people who had travelled several hours to get here.
I know the government has said you can travel to exercise but spare a thought for the locals who just want to stay safe. This influx of visitors from all over the place is only going to increase the chance of spreading the virus ☹️

We went yesterday, it was fine. BUT our local council have been sensible about it - limiting car parking spaces to allow for social distancing; toilets open but cafe nd play area closed.

I wouldnt go to a beach with unlimited parking and no toilets. Somewhere very touristy like Bournemouth or Weymouth would probably be rammed this weekend.

I would really like to take DPuppy to the beach to see the sea for the first time

But we won’t be going, as we don’t live anywhere near one, and although you can travel for exercise, I don’t think it’s right to go that far for what is essentially a nice day trip.

(Also I’m shielding, but I can dream....)

I live in large coastal city with looong beach. Sunny days have been busy in that there are people out enjoying the beach, but people are being careful to distance. Nobody sits closer than say 5m from each other, and parents with little children playing in the waves hold them by the hand to stop them going up to each other.

I think most people are sensible, it's just social media hysteria.

I work in the NHS and we won't be going to any beaches etc.

I'm still keeping our family to limited to the park as there is no need to drive all the way to the beach.

Surely it is about using your local knowledge and judgement. I have existing health conditions but have been to the beach twice this week. The reason - we are on the coast and if you steer away from the tourist spot beaches they have quite literally been empty. And I mean empty. I am closer to human contact in my neighbourhood by half a mile. My neighbours are a few feet away and the closest human I saw on the beach was a dot on the horizon.

The first time we went we were unsure, so drove the 15 mins fully prepared to return home if it were busy but there was nobody there, ample free roadside parking etc. We drove there, exited the vehicle, saw nobody, walked on the beach, touched nothing, got back in the car and drove home. We wouldn't have considered using local shops etc for our own safety anyway. There is no risk to 'locals' in this. At 15 mins drive we are locals anyway. We fill up at our nearest petrol station only, done by a key worker in our household who uses the vehicle as they have been working throughout lockdown anyway.

I think it depends where you live and what ypu know of it. I'd avoid any beaches that are well known or have a name and wouldn't stay long enough to require use of local resources.