Aibu to not know how to go to the beach?!

[Heartofstrings]

And to ask for help!

I live in north Hampshire and am desperate to take my kids to the beach tomorrow. We've hardly been anywhere for 12 months so I just don't know procedures. I guess I can go almost anywhere as most places will be a drive of at least an hour.

Do I have to book anything? Like parking? Am I allowed to go?

One boy is also coeliac which doesn't help. If I can get fish and chips on the beach that would be awesome but not essential.

I just don't know how to go about all this anymore.

If you're stressed about parking, have a look at JustPark -- private parking spaces, reserved just for you. I use it regularly when going somewhere unfamiliar and worrying about finding a space. Enjoy!

Pre order your gluten free fish!

I had to book two weeks ago for West Wittering. The fish and chips are great though.

We went to Littlehampton today. It was bloody cold in the wind but also very lovely. It wasn’t remotely crowded and lots of parking. We missed the cafe but it had been open. There’s a lovely playground behind the beach.

Just go, have snacks in case the food isn’t suitable and wrap up.

West Wittering will be too full. You’d spend an hour in the queue from the road.
Stokes bay is lesser known but not sandy. Loos are open and clean. Cafe but no fish and chips.

I’d still be tempted to go for Southsea as there is so much for little ones. Parking can be a challenge, but we’ve always managed. Lots of fish and chips from kiosk to bistro affairs serving homemade fish fingers.

If you're going alone, pack light. 1 change of clothes left in the car, a blanket or big towel to sit on and dry off with and plenty of water. Bring some snacks- some for the car and some for the bag you take onto the beach. Be prepared to park a little further away from the beach for cheaper parking if you're all able to walk a distance. Make sure you take screenshots of google maps in case you lose signal. Also if you can, plan to go to a backup beach if your first one is too busy.

Treat it as if you're just driving to a park. The food near to the beach will be pricey so maybe bring a picnic type lunch- sandwiches, cut up fruit, easy to eat finger food.

Right so I'm at the supermarket. I've bought a mini grill and some bottles of water, a cool box and a thermos. My picnic bag broke last year.

Hopefully that's ok. I've asked dh if he can come. He wants to come but said if it's crowded we will leave straight away. He's very hot on social distancing. I'm good but he's a whole nother level

Don't forget the buckets and spades! We did and our DC commented sadly on it whenever he saw another child with them (despite having a ball, a truck and an ice- cream) .

Which beach are you going to? I'm in North Hampshire too. I'd recommend Highcliffe or Avon Beach (Christchurch) or Boscombe (next to Bournemouth). No need to book, just turn up and pay to park. All the toilets are open, coffee/ ice cream shops, fish and chip shops , etc open.

West Wittering is lovely too but you need to book online.

Is the mini grill fire-based?
It may well not be allowed in some beaches (I may be totally ignorant of what it is!)
Something to sit on, warm clothes (the sea breeze can be chilly), towels, change of clothes, food and drink, and sunscreen are the basics.

Ooh, and any games that are suitable for a beach, so ball, bats and ball, kite etc - as well as the obligatory buckets and spades as previously mentioned!
A container for collected shells is always good too.
Have a lovely day.

@DancesWithDaffodils

Scroll right to the bottom of this article and you will find a map of places that do gluten free fish and chips.

Round here, the beach is operating as normal - although I'd expect it to be heaving tomorrow, as the weather us predicted to be nice.
Queues for fish and chips were massive last time we went.

OMG Thank you for this link - revolutionary!

@Heartofstrings mini grills not normally allowed on beaches I’m afraid.

I get the panic. Pre lockdown 1 I used to take my 2 all over the place on trains and even planes (lived a short flight away from family and friends for a bit). We did loads of trips last summer but always with the car and booked parking at national trust and the like. Planned a trip to the coast last week to meet a friend and had a panic that I couldn’t cope with a short train ride and a picnic in a bag. I gave myself a talking to, gritted my teeth and got on with it. We had a lovely time. Loos and cafes all open and pretty busy but not so much that we couldn’t stay apart from people.

If you're coming to Christchurch I would recommend parking in the steamer point carpark, it's least likely to be full. The beach hut cafe nearby is my favourite spot for reasonably priced food and ice creams, I'd avoid the noisy lobster and the cafe on the quay. Everything is open as normal.

I live there so I'm there all the time, had a chocolate brownie on the beach this afternoon in fact!

I live near a South Hampshire beach. It's not too busy as long as you get there before 10:30am. However...bring plenty of warm clothing or rugs. The sun has been lovely for the last few days, however the wind has a real nip in it and it's been pretty strong.

Go early, take towels and picnic blankets.

A ball, toys for digging in the sand, hats, sun cream, plenty of drinks and snacks, a deckchair or two.

Enjoy 😊

We haven't made it to the beach yet but have visited lots of NT places. Take antibacterial wipes with you so you can wipe down toilet seats & handles before using them.

I don’t see anyone’s mentioned the tide but I always check the tide times particularly if it’s a beach that is complete covered at high tide, or the sea is miles out a low tide. And watch how quick it comes up on your own with 2 little ones!

westwitteringestate.co.uk/

This beach is nice and not too far but I'd book parking.

Take antibacterial wipes with you so you can wipe down toilet seats & handles before using them.

What's the point? Just wash your hands afterwards instead. Presumably you won't be touching your face in a public toilet. And pretty sure you can't catch covid from touching something with your bottom! Those wipes are made of plastic and last hundreds of years.

@SnackSizeRaisin

Take antibacterial wipes with you so you can wipe down toilet seats & handles before using them.

What's the point? Just wash your hands afterwards instead. Presumably you won't be touching your face in a public toilet. And pretty sure you can't catch covid from touching something with your bottom! Those wipes are made of plastic and last hundreds of years.

Mainly because people don't clean themselves properly and make a mess.

I’m North Hampshire - you have to book parking at West Wittering but if you drive round to East Wittering or Bracklesham then you don’t. Toilets are in both car parks and open. The beaches are stoney but sandy when the tide goes out. Plenty of parking at Hayling Island - also stoney. (Has a great ice cream shop!) Southsea is lovely - lots of parking and toilets and cafes do gluten free options. Lots of parking along the front.

You would be allowed the grill at East Wittering but not West.

No issues with social distancing at East Wittering last year - we went down early and as it’s a long beach there was plenty of room to spread out. Southsea is busier as lots of people walk along the front but lots of room on the beach itself.

Go early. I live by the beach, I take my ds early morning and we head home just after lunch when its starting to get mad. A lot of car parks you can pay on your phone if you don't have enough loose change. Hope you have a lovely day!

Get a grip. Just go. It's the bloody beach, not a warzone.