Beach etiquette question

[CocktailQueen]

Aibu to expect other people to keep a reasonable distance on a quiet beach, not come and sit literally 2 feet from us and let their dc play in the castle and most my dc were building??

Because that is what happened today... Gorgeous day, kids loving being on the beach, but I felt uncomfortable that these people came and stood right by us, and also that they let their dc paddle in the canal and moat that our dc were building? Without asking us/the dc??

Ooh I have a Frisby too. Bit OTT to bring both though.

Fu canal.

What is happening in this world?!

You see you need to pack a boombox thingy so that you can play Black Lace really loud if anyone sits within hearing distance of you

How condescending of them

YANBU. It used to drive my darling dad mad. A more or less empty beach and dad would make us walk to find a lovely space. Not for long though! The ""lonely" family would always find us and pitch up next to us. Why do people do this?

No picnic necessary Cold. We will lunch like Kings at the Beach cafe.

I say chips and a choc ice. And a go on the trampoline where your legs jar as you dismount.

Can i join the beach party. Will bring winegums.

My mum moans about people who do this in deserted country type car parks. She's an old gimmer who enjoys picnics and a flask of coffee in the car. Goes somewhere deserted with a nice view. She swears 5 mins later another car will come and park next to her even though the car parks empty.

I never have this problem but maybe that's because when we go to the beach we go as a whole family which includes my adorable, cuddly soft as butter BIL.
Who just happens to be 6ft 5, covered in tattoos (including face), piercings and has some very interesting hair colours.
People and families tend to avoid us and sit as far away as possible. I wouldn't mind but he is loads of fun and kids adore him but it does mean we always get a nice quite spot on the beach.

I have a Group4 van bringing the change for the Pay and Display ticket. I've packed the metal detector for when the family right next to us go and we can see if they dropped any loose change.

Where are we on disposable BBQs?

If the beach is quiet and deserted then then don't need to be so close to you. But it's not something I'd get irate about.

However, children needing to ask other children permission to play near their sandcastles or in the moat I'm not sure about. Would depend a little on age of children and whether they were trying to play together.

Oh, their children were very young then at 3-4.

Our beach equipment was extended last year to include a shade tent. Not because of DS or us - but because of the new dog as we didn't want her to overheat. As it turned out, DH needed to sit in it - and the dog happily dug herself out a hole in the shade of the wind break.

It's the ones who basically leave their toddlers with you whilst they sun bathe that get me. Whilst you bought spare spades, you didn't bring enough for the whole bloody beach. Your also left managing a group of childrens different ideas of a sand castle. Then your trying to get your spades back as the kids leave the beach

We would have sat further away but the madthings would have migrated towards other kids to play. At which point I would go over and say hello, check it's ok and make sure my kids played nicely.

No no no to disposable BBQs TSSDNCOP. What a massive needless faff. Beach cafe has a cooker and everything.

My own particular favourite beach is Weymouth. Sarnies from M&S just iover the road.

What are we going to do to stop sand getting everywhere? I hate sand.

Some years ago my boyfriend and I went to a tiny village in the south of Crete. It had a lovely long, deserted, beach dotted with little trees here and there. We took a picnic and sat under one of the trees and within minutes some other people - about 8 or 10 - turned up. We expected them to go under another tree which was about 50 feet away. No. They came and crammed themselves under 'OUR' tree! They were noisy, jostling and took no notice of us whatsoever. It was as if we were invisible. We just looked at each other silently thinking 'wtaf'? I don't think their nationality is relevant, but just to say boyfriend started to hum the theme to 'The Dambusters'.

Ah Weymouth yes, lovely beach but its a particular type of sand isn't it? Very fine.

Right on The MN beach we need sand for the DC, but it must be sandwich repellent and fall off your body as you stand up so you can get your flip flops on without exfoliating your feet.

My own favourite beach is Joss Bay near Broadstairs. Seagulls are the enemy there. I watched one eat a whole chicken leg last summer. If it were to eat the leg on an MN chicken I fear for its posterior in exit.

Oh this thread made me laugh.

OP, have you ever holidayed in Cornwall? Specifically, St Ives? Lovely beaches. Rather busy tho :).

The situation you describe wouldn't have bothered me much, because I'm used to it. But it is annoying when the rest of the beach is practically empty and uninvited people come and join you. It is a public area though, surely you'd get similar troubles at city parks/green spaces?

I may have to get a pair of stalker-encouraging flip flops.

I must go to a very polite beach, because everyone seems to space themselves out in a quite organized fashion. The only exception is the big pontoon in the water which is a free for all and the kids tend to take it over and play Marco Polo for hours on end while the parents drink wine and take naps. The older kids are pretty good at looking after the younger ones.