British beach etiquette - lighthearted

[OrangeSunset]

We are on holiday on the SW. It’s packed, beaches heaving.

I totally cannot understand how much stuff people take to the beach - and each year I swear it’s getting more. Windbreaks, tents, chairs, and now a new thing….trolleys to transport all the stuff. Plus those inflatable sofa things.

The bit I find really nuts is when people position a windbreak so they can’t even see the sea! What is the point in even going to the beach if you cannot enjoy the view. Some construct almost completely circular camps.

To me, it’s the equivalent of putting your phone up at a gig and recording the whole thing instead of actually watching it.

It’s an oddly British social practice. France - towel or beach mat, an umbrella to stick in the sand for shade if really hot. These are low level and don’t create barriers across the beach for everyone else and do for dogs, kids etc requiring shade.

If it were up to me…chairs only if you are medically unable to sit on the sand. When did teenagers need a chair!

I am really hoping there is someone out there who shares my incredulity at this madness!

Doesn't bother me in the least what other people take with them, why would it?
Is annoying if you’re at a quiet beach though and people plonk themselves right next to you. I usually move.

*If your children can't entertain themselves on a beach without loads of stuff then maybe you need to look at that.

All our holidays are spent on north Devon beaches.
We literally take towels, fishing line and nets, drinks and snacks.
The kids have always had their own bags so can only take what they can carry.

Sandy beaches with no rock pools are boring*

Do you think this makes you a better person than someone who takes a bucket and spade with them and builds some sandcastles? Because you seem really smug about it. You might think you're better than the other people on the beach because you don't need all that stuff, but fishing line is much worse than a beach ball, by the way. discarded or broken Fishing line gets trapped around sea life, and hooks cause awful injuries to fish and other creatures. Not to mention when they wash up on the beach and people step on them. You're literally throwing plastic into the sea knowing there's a high chance it's going to break in the water.

Id judge someone who is fishing a lot more than someone who is sitting on the beach with a windbreak.

@bettertimesarecomingnow

We took a blanket and a radio today. There were only about it ten people on the beach and we stayed all day.

Did pop to the shop for crisps and juice tho

A radio is the most unsociable thing ever to take to a beach, unless you wear headphones. I hate it so much when people play music that you are expected to listen to. Just wear headphones!

@Needapoodle did you see the lighthearted bit of the thread title.

Actually we spend a long time collecting rubbish from the beaches we visit.
We have never ever left any waste on any beach we have ever been on.

Don't wetsuits just detract from the beauty of the natural feel of the water on your skin? What's the point of going to the beach if you're not appreciating the natural environment around you?

We got our 6 year old a wet suit this year and it meant he could actually enjoy swimming in the sea when the temperature wasn't particularly warm.

We also take camping chairs, various beach toys, towels, snacks, drinks etc and all of this gets taken there in our fabulous trolley. Not all of this strictly necessary but it does make the day easier and more pleasurable. I'm absolutely baffled as to why people would have a problem with this 🤷🏼‍♀️

We managed to carry stuff for 3 adults and 2 kids without a trolley

Well, you had 3 adults to carry the stuff.

It's not just British,

It certainly isn’t. I have seen similar windbreak corrals in Australia. In another country we regularly visit, it isn’t unusual for families to turn up on the beach in several 4x4s with tents, gazebos, long trestle dining tables, chairs and a generator to power their fridge. Plus the obligatory sound system.

The kids have always had their own bags so can only take what they can carry.

I've tried this too but my three year and my six month old are - would you believe it - both too lazy to carry their own stuff!

I just go as i am. Go in the sea in my knickers, then air dry. Towels are for wussies. I don't know why anyone would need to take snacks, water and a rucksack. Come on people, get a grip!

You need to get a grip!

I turn up naked, swim naked, then walk home naked, and wet.

Yes ! people are bring more and more...also agree why go to the beach and position your windbreak so you can't see the sea!

biggest bugbear is others people's music. ...NO!

Have you seen what Spanish families take to the beach - gazebos, chairs, massive cool boxes! It's not country specific

We have a beach trolley but we live a 10 minute walk from the beach, so it's easier to use the trolley then carry everything.... and if it means people actually walk rather then drive to the beach surely all the better.
DD can also sit in it if she's tired.

We were in Newquay recently, had a lovely spot with view to the sea. A family of about 20 people then plonks themselves less then 2 metres in front of us. So all we can see is the back of their wind breakers.
Every time we go to the beach this happens.... massive expanse of beach but no we will sit right next to you! Drives me mad!

I once spent the best day at the beach. It was a French nudist beach (didn't realise that until quite some way in and sat at the front with knickers resolutely on) watching 4 totally nekkid people getting into and out of a rubber dinghy.

Bodyboards are fun at the beach and, if ours are an example, last for years and years.

@DupontsLark

Spanish family (several generations) set up several collapsible tables to make one long dining table and chairs on the beach and had a full blown feast last time we were in Majorca. The younger ones played volleyball. Lots of equipment, no suncream

DH and I still giggle about the family near us on a British beach who were brewing up on a camp stove and had a silver coffee pot with them!! Its become a bit of a family joke now and we always ask each other "have we packed the coffee pot?". We share a battered water bottle. (If we want anything else we go to a cafe!)

You need to get a grip!

I turn up naked, swim naked, then walk home naked, and wet.
@Etulosba

I take nothing to the beach! Not even myself!

I know what you mean op. Going to the beach is almost like and expedition nowadays. I do cover those trolly things though. I saw someone pulling their small children along in one; certainly beats the whining at the end of a long day. I did see one poor woman trying to get one down steep steps leading onto Rhossili a few weeks ago. Goodness knows how she got it back up!

We got our 6 year old a wet suit this year and it meant he could actually enjoy swimming in the sea when the temperature wasn't particularly warm.

Oh i don't have an issue with people taking whatever they want to the beach. That was in response to the op saying that if you take stuff with you you can't enjoy the natural environment around you.

*Needapoodle did you see the lighthearted bit of the thread title.

Actually we spend a long time collecting rubbish from the beaches we visit.
We have never ever left any waste on any beach we have ever been on*

Ermmm no i didn't miss that, but there was nothing light-hearted about your post so I'm confused as to why you're relying on that.

I don't think the odd litterpick cancels out literally throwing plastic into the sea to deliberately stick a hook into a fish - but you do you.

#lighthearted

DH and I still giggle about the family near us on a British beach who were brewing up on a camp stove and had a silver coffee pot with them!! Its become a bit of a family joke now and we always ask each other "have we packed the coffee pot?".

That was probably us. We are about to go on holiday and the silver coffee pot and camping stove is packed.

I don't know how people can be arsed to buy, pack, unpack and store all this stuff unless you live at the beach and use it daily. It would put me off going, I loathe making packed lunches never mind dicking about with tents and wetsuits.

Even my Mum has gone over to the dark side and bought a beach tent, inflatable kayak and wetsuit. She was annoyed I wouldn't buy wetsuits for my kids, I reminded her of my childhood where we went in the sea until shivering, put a jumper on for a bit then went back in.

Yes ! people are bring more and more...also agree why go to the beach and position your windbreak so you can't see the sea!

Erm... to protect themselves from the wind.

And surely a wetsuit is pretty much essential if you plan to swim all day.

@Ridiculousradish

It's madness. I bloody hate windbreaks. I live by the sea and go regularly. Even when my boy was little we managed it with just a rucksack. All I need is my swimmers, a towel and some snacks/water. Get a grip people!

Colonising all that beach space with a rucksack? And all that stuff! Just dry yourself off with sand aka nature’s towel. And water and snacks too- just wait until you get home to eat and drink! Get a grip people!

@seasonalremarks. well we were on the same beach and managed it