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Original poster

Moving to the seaside. What do I really need?

114 replies

Chipsahoy · 26/07/2021 08:41

Having spent all my life living as far from the beach as you can get in England, in two weeks we move to a ten min journey from the sea! To say I am excited is an understatement.

What do we need for regular beach use? Water shoes, specific towels, something to sit on? Talc for sand? Rash vests?

I’d like to just have this stuff ready in a bag to shove in the car for my many many many trips to the beach that will definitely be happening at least when we first move.

If you live at the seaside, what do you own for the beach?

Oh and it’s north east so don’t suppose there will be much sea swimming in the chilly North Sea…

OP posts:
Cait73 · 26/07/2021 15:07

Sun shade - tent or windbreaker, the exposure is too much sometimes

Heartofglass12345 · 26/07/2021 15:09

To take me with you Grin

wombatspoopcubes · 26/07/2021 15:12

Crocs because they don't get ruined by the salty water and sand like normal shoes.

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Original poster
Chipsahoy · 26/07/2021 16:15

Wow so many replies.

I definitely don’t have a big enough car for all the supplies. We take so much when we travel for the day so I guess being nearer means we don’t need to do that.

Kids range from 3 to 13. Will definitely get a bigger spade, the tiny sand pit ones are no good.

OP posts:
Neondisco · 26/07/2021 16:19

I live in the North East. It can get very cold op so think about how you will stay warm while enjoying the beach.

TSSDNCOP · 26/07/2021 16:59

I have a wagon that I bought from Amazon for £50 that lives in my boot, in it are two bags for life, fold up chairs and a small metal bbq stand (so sand does not get hot)

In the bags:

  • foils back blanket
-beach towels
  • big dig spade
-cricket bat, ball, stumps -small purse with £1 coins -sun tan lotion -other bag is for picnic

DS has a paddle board which are great fun

markmichelle · 26/07/2021 17:12

Suggest enrol on RYA Courses to learn sailing and powerboat handling then join a club.
If you live near the sea you will get far more from it if you have at least the basic skills. In children they build confidence and all family meet people. Kayaking, rowing, crewing and helping on yachts.
Perhaps start at Kielder. Clubs on Tyne and at Shields.
Roof top or small trailer, canoes and rowing boat.
It doesn't have to cost a fortune.

overtherainbo · 26/07/2021 17:35

I'm from Hartlepool, which is the north east. We always go in the sea when it's hot haha.

We simply have.

  • Picnic blanket, picnic bag (for foods)
  • Camping chairs, privacy screen (mallet)
  • Towels
  • Bucket, spade and fishing nets (for the rock pools)
  • Swim vests (for the little ones)
  • Talc (gets the wet sand off you)

We definitely store them in the garage to grab in a big plastic container

overtherainbo · 26/07/2021 17:43

I really should add. I take this if we are spending the whole day there. Small trips are simply a towel, toys and change of clothing 😂

HerRoyalNotness · 26/07/2021 17:48

Collapsible cart to cart everything from the car to the beach.

Ideasplease322 · 26/07/2021 17:56

I am another who grew up on the coast and never owned anything for the beach😂.

We walked along the beach most weekends. Paddled in good weather.

Keep a towel in the car? Learn to live with sand in the car and in every bag you own.

Unless you are into sailing it really doesn’t need any equipment.

starfishmummy · 26/07/2021 17:58

Seriously though; I lived right opposite the sea in the south and I rarely went to the beach. I used to walk along the promenade but in the summer was an absolute nightmare and in the winter too many dogs on the beach for me so there you go.

Phew. I was beginning to think I was the only one who had lived near the sea (not as near as you) and rarely got to see it!

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 26/07/2021 18:31

We use the beach alot, my parents moved when I was younger and it used to be a 4 hr drive to Bournemouth so we had to spend the whole day. Now we can walk there in 15mins or drive in 3 if taking stuff with us.

I think living by the coast gives you options, today we just took a fiver for some ice creams and went for a walk along the beach. A couple of days ago we decided to pop to the beach after picking up a parcel from the post office, changed into our rash vests and surf leggings which are kept in the boot and spent an hour in the sea went home wet - doesn't matter as we have waterproof car seat covers. Last weekend we planned a trip with a picnic, wetsuits, buoyancy aids and paddleboards, camping chairs etc and spent several hours there, we tend to go early and leave by lunchtime. The random trips are more frequent than the highly planned ones but it's good to have that flexibility.

RandomDent · 26/07/2021 18:34

I live on an island with lots of beaches. I rarely have any specific beach stuff in the house/car.

GimletGal · 26/07/2021 19:05

I've lived within 10 minutes walk from the beach for over 50 years and have never owned anything special for beach visits. I'm a little amazed at these lists. It sounds so much work.

MadMadMadamMim · 26/07/2021 19:12

@GimletGal

I've lived within 10 minutes walk from the beach for over 50 years and have never owned anything special for beach visits. I'm a little amazed at these lists. It sounds so much work.
Yep, me too. A little startled by all the gear some people seem to think you need.

A pair of old shoes you can kick off if it's warm enough to wander barefoot. An anorak and a pair of wellies if it's not. An old towel in the car, generally.

I would suggest you check out advice from the RNLI on "Float to Live" and be very wary of tides, etc. Please don't use inflatables on the sea - and never let a child in the sea without an adult with them.

Qwerty789 · 26/07/2021 19:21

@Ideasplease322

I am another who grew up on the coast and never owned anything for the beach😂.

We walked along the beach most weekends. Paddled in good weather.

Keep a towel in the car? Learn to live with sand in the car and in every bag you own.

Unless you are into sailing it really doesn’t need any equipment.

There's a few of these posts, seem a little judgy about people needing "stuff"....but they seem to me to be by people who live by or grew up by the beach but didn't actually ever use it! I mean, paddled in good weather? Hardly making the most of it! Some of us have "stuff" because we swim, kayak, paddle board, surf, row etc....we USE the beach fully.
Qwerty789 · 26/07/2021 19:22

@GimletGal

I've lived within 10 minutes walk from the beach for over 50 years and have never owned anything special for beach visits. I'm a little amazed at these lists. It sounds so much work.
You've never owned a swimsuit, neoprene shoes, a changing towel? Well I suggest you get some and go for a swim!
garden4569 · 26/07/2021 19:27

Snorkel, flippers, wet suit for when it's cold.

Suncream 😎

Callmecordelia · 26/07/2021 19:50

I was there for four hours today. I need my chair and thermos of coffee!

For a quick walk by the sea I don't take my stuff, but we're there for hours several times a week in the summer holidays.

Theworldisquiethere · 26/07/2021 19:57

Might sound silly but if it’s a touristy area stock up on food with a long shelf life/frozen food before the summer holidays! A friend lives in a seaside town and the roads are so busy that getting to a supermarket is almost impossible, when she does manage to get there the shelves have been almost emptied!

Original poster
Chipsahoy · 26/07/2021 20:18

Lots of advice thank you all.
My older boys are keen to paddle board and surf. Fully intend to book them into a club for this as I’ve no idea.

OP posts:
GimletGal · 26/07/2021 20:25

@Qwerty789 I've never bought swimwear or a towel specifically for the beach and until a minute ago I'd never heard of neoprene shoes. I wasn't being judgy, I was genuinely surprised. Perhaps living so close to the beach means I need less stuff since visits aren't all day affairs. It's not something I'd thought of before.

Hellocatshome · 26/07/2021 20:28

I live by the beach, we don't go very often at all. When we do we don't really take anything cos we can just walk home again to get dry, eat etc. My kids usually cycle down in their swim shorts and sliders and then by the time they have cycled home again they are dry.

Worldgonecrazy · 26/07/2021 20:30

Neoprene shoes may depend on whether you live near a coastline where weever fish are rife?

Only a non local would go barefoot paddling in those areas!

Also useful for those cursed with pebble beaches instead of sand.