If you live at the seaside, do you go to the beach often..?

[LieLikeALoungeroomLizard]

Or is it something after a while you take for granted?

I can’t actually remember the last time I was ON the beach in my hometown.

Maybe less than 10 times a year I’d walk along the seafront.

Live about 2 mins away, think I've been on 3 times in the last 18 months

My mil lives by the sea, it’s at the bottom of her road, she goes for a walk along it every day. Keeps her fit at 75.

We are 5 minute drive or about 20 mins walk from the beach. We are there most weeks, more in the summer. DS goes with his mates in the school holidays all the time and DH runs on the beach so yes lots. It's the North Sea so I never go in the water but lots of people do

I live a 35 Min walk, 5-10ish mins drive from the beach and go probably once a week.

Absolutely taken for granted I think we only went about 4-5 times last year and about 5 times so far this year. We live a fifteen minute walk from beach, lots of tourists in the summer in normal times so a bit off putting but we would usually find a quiet spot if we go beach in peak season.
Definitely something we take for granted and can't be bothered to go half the time tbh I do hate the sand everywhere after!!
I know I know! When I moved here I was full of ideas on how we'd be at the beach every day! And we were for the first few days but doesn't the novelty wear off with everything eventually?!

The beach is at the end of my road, I barely go down. I don't take it for granted, it's beautiful but I'm a country girl at heart and much prefer that to the beach. Comes into its own in the summer though. Free swimming pool and teenage hangout. Then my kids live there.

5 mins from home. We tend to go once a week for a walk. From May onwards I keep the car loaded up with body boards, wetsuits, watershoes and suncream and if we have some spare time we pop down there for an hour or so. I suppose its our version of going to the park. There is a childrens paddle/body board club so Dd does that in the summer on a Saturday morning.

We never really go to the local beach for a full day, normally do a half day and head home for lunch. We'll drive further a field for a full day trip just for the novelty really.

I grew up in London where a trip to the beach meant a 6:00 wake up and 4 hours in the car, my parents moving to the town I now live in when I was a teen is the best thing they ever did.

DBro & SIL have the beach about 10 min walk/3 min bike ride away and treat it like an extension of the garden. They'll make a coffee and take it down there; go and spend a couple of hours down there of an afternoon etc. I think this is partly because, when they first moved there, their flat didn't have any outside space so that was where they went. It possibly helps that they don't have children too so they just go... and then come back when they want.

Five minute drive away, but it’s been so crowded there, that we haven’t been for ages. We used to go at least weekly and walked along the prom to a lovely cafe for breakfast quite often. I’d like to get back to that.

Nope.
Lived on the seafront until 3 years ago. Now live behind a petrol station which is a million times better. Parking spaces, peace and quiet.
And I don't want the same kids I see in a classroom from Mon-Fri seeing me in my bikini on a Saturday.

We’re on a beach, literally moments away. We spend part of every day there and it never gets old. DC feel they grew up on it (overseas though so the weather is warmer).

A fascinating thread for anyone thinking of moving to the seaside (me one day).

We live within walking distance and go for a walk fairly often - I’m heading down shortly. We spent virtually the whole summer down there last year, it was glorious.

I also think depends what kind of beach it is. Flat water isn't particularly exciting. Or a crowded one wouldn't be nice. Dark water isn't pretty.
The one I go to has plenty of palm trees where I can sit and have a nap listening to huge ocean waves - it's the most relaxing sound.

I think it depends how close you are. I live in a seaside town and people (like those on this thread) who are a couple of miles inland often don't bother. If you have to drive then you might as well drive in a different direction.

I cross one road from my house and am on the prom. We go to the beach in one form or another nearly every day! And I don't have a dog!. Run along it, walk along it, paddle board or kayak on it, swim in it, play on the beach...

I live 10 mins walk from the sand. I've never got bored of it. I'm there most days I would say. Although obviously recently there's been nothing else to do and nowhere else to go!

Used to go down for a swim after school/work when the weather was warm, so sometimes daily. Also went for walks in winter, and would go even when it was busy. Rockpooling and fossil hunting, too. I am currently an hour from the sea, so harder to pop down after work, but I do miss it.

@SwimBaby do it! 😁 Do your research and choose somewhere that doesn't get too many holiday makers, or find out if there is a 'locals' beach. We have a big seaside resort in the next big town with lots of arcades, mini golf, piers, large sandy beach etc completely decked out for holiday makers which we avoid like the plague. It can take over an hour to get in to the town in the summer season and only 10 mins in the winter.

Whereas our nearest beach has a small arcade, shops, car parks, toilets and a nice pub one end, a huge sandy beach but nothing other than an ice cream van and carpark the other. So locals tend to go the quieter end but even the busy end doesn't get that busy as the beach is large.

So if you are looking to love to the seaside that is something to lookout for.

a few people said, it won't be as special when you live there and you'll get bored of it etc

I moved to the coast 15 years ago and I'm not bored with it yet! I walk on the beach most days, and swim in the sea regularly. It's a five minute walk from the house.

If it's busy (weekends or hot days during school holidays) I go to the beach early or late in the day when it's quieter.

Obviously how busy it is depends on where you choose, we are out of town and the only attraction is the beach.

I agree with those who say if you have to drive to the beach you're less likely to go.

I'm a seven minute walk, and go to the beach year round, either for a walk or a little sit down to watch the boats and the happy dogs. On a howling winter's day it's lovely to be on the wild, empty beach, just me, the ever present seagulls and maybe one lolloping dog and its bundled up owner. In summer I usually go down in the evenings, when it's emptied of people, the light softens and the sea turns a lovely rich blue. Sometimes I'll go down on a summer's afternoon amidst the hordes and pretend to be a daytripper - take a towel and a book and have an ice cream, and then wander home again when I've had enough. It's a nice novelty, and I like the change in the town that the seasons bring. I loved driving home after work and seeing the sea as I crested the hill, and feeling like I was coming home to being on holiday, with people wandering down the road with buckets and spades and fish and chip boxes.

Sometimes I'll be lazy and not go for a week or so, but it's lovely knowing it's there. I'm always grateful to live here - it feels different, knowing that at the end of the road the land runs out, and any time I want to I can wander down the road and have a magnificent sense of space, while still living in the middle of a town with everything I need outside my front door.

I’ve lived within a mile of the beach since 2008. Still love it and am there regularly. Avoid tourist excesses (but there is 7 miles where we are so easy to do). That said 1 in 4 house buyers are outside of the area so we’ll how the town changes in the year ahead.

Oh, and totally kept me sane during assorted lockdowns. Would have been lost without it.

@LieLikeALoungeroomLizard

Yes I am, I'm trying to think ehenwoulcbe the best time to make the move as one child year 9 and one year 2

Oldest child is looking likely to be going to uni, so I'm wondering when would be the best time to make the move

And a few people said, it won't be as special when you live there and you'll get bored of it etc

I think a concern would be if there was anything for young people to do. If you choose remote so that the beach you move to be be near isn't too crowded then there'' be nothing for teenagers and public transport might not be great.

Equally if you move close to a beach that is busy and full of visitors that will also bring other problems/concerns.

How do your DC feel about it?

We have the beach at the end of our road and bizzarely rarely go!