To go to the beach alone?

[smartcarnotsosmartdriver]

It's a lovely day here today and I quite fancy a trip to the beach. It's about 30 miles away so not round the corner. DH is at work and DMum is keeping an eye on her cat who's not doing so well. Would it be strange to go on my own? I'm thinking make a sandwich, take plenty of water and a book?
I'm 26 weeks pregnant and know I won't have much time to myself in a few months but I'm thinking if it's full of families I might look a bit odd just sat on my own?
I'm also suffering from PGP/SPD so couldn't really manage a walk or anything when I get there so is it worth the trip?

Not strange at all. No idea why anyone would think it was.

I don't think anyone would notice tbh and if they did they probs just assume your family were in the water or getting an ice-cream or something. Do it. It's not odd. I go with my camera to get shots of the rock pools and the cliffs etc. No-one bats an eyelid as far as I can tell.

My nearest beach is within walking distance I often go by myself and so do lots of others. Go and enjoy, in the next few years you won't be able to have a swim by yourself.

Well I live near the beach, so I do this everyday when the weather is good. Off you go and enjoy yourself. Make sure you know here the loos are and take a good book

I live in Australia so possibly slightly different but about 40 minutes from the sea. Spend most of my days off in the summer down there and usually alone and LOVE it. Couple of towels, drinks and books and I am set. Have a lovely time

Sure, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with going to the beach on your own at all. Depends on the beach as well though maybe, it is a hot bank holiday, so it will probably be packed - I don’t know how relaxing I would find that if I was on my own trying to read a book.

It's not strange but it doesn't sound much fun. How close to the beach do you think you'll get parked at half 1 in the afternoon on a roasting bank holiday weekend? Then it will be rammed, some little twerp will kick their ball into your book, the toilets will be manky and miles away, and you'll be worried about sunburn. Then another hour sitting in traffic to get home.

Have you honestly never seen an adult sat alone at the beach?

If not, you probably just haven't taken a blind bit of notice, so that answers your question really.

You won't look odd at all.

Enjoy

? I’m presuming you’re in the UK where lone females are not required to have an escort? You’ll be fine!

Actually, Avenger makes a good point about parking as you've left it rather late in the day for a hot bank holiday weekend.

Go, have a nice day (please ensure the car is in good working order (tyre pressure, oil & water levels are topped up etc), make sure you've got breakdown membership, some cash & your phone is fully charged)

Why would anyone know or care you were on your own?

Nope, not weird at all.

Fair point about having left it a little late, it's my first summer driving so not something I've been able to do before, might leave it until later in the afternoon?
Car is checked regularly as I commute 50 miles a day for work.
I think my nearest beaches are in Ayrshire and if I remember from when I was wee they were always pretty packed.

Why is this a question? Yes go. I wouldn’t even think is it strange to do things alone. Enjoy your day at the beach and don’t overthink things

To be honest, you’ll probably struggle to get parked near the beach on such a lovely day. Irvine has the biggest car parks near the beach that I can think of. I’m going to Largs later and I know it’ll be mobbed.

I can't think of anything that you can do with other people that you also can't do alone, perfectly reasonably.
Well it might be hard to play monopoly I suppose.
Why not?

Thank you people of Mumsnet! I've decided I'm going, worst case scenario I've had a drive on a lovely day with my tunes on.
As far as being not sure about doing things alone I've never been a particularly confident person but I've got this!

Why are people in this country so afraid to do normal things on their own? This week alone on here I've read posts from someone afraid to mow their own lawn and there was another one that was so trivial I can't even remember what it was. Enjoy the beach OP, but I am honestly baffled by stuff like this.

Equally baffled.

It is quite baffling, especially things like the cinema and theater.

Both completely normal places that make some MNetters anxious about going to alone.

Yet they wouldn't bat an eyelid at going to the library or Asda alone.

That sounds like heaven. Go!

I often go to the beach by myself. I am lucky and only live 800 mtrs from the beach. Sometimes I just walk. Sometimes I walk, paddle in the water , sit and read my book. I don’t stay longer than a couple of hours.
If I go to the beach 10km away I’ll get myself a coffee and sit and watch the world go by.

Ahhhhhh bless you.
Go for it and have a lovely day.
And congratulations on forthcoming happy event.