Book a cottage and beachcomb for treasure on the UK coastline
The perfect pastime for the recession is beachcombing. It’s all free searching for interesting items washed up by the sea. You don’t need any equipment and you can turn it into a fantastic, exciting treasure hunt with younger children. Ignore the donkeys, ice creams and pier for the day and safely head up any beach to see what wonderful things you can find.
By taking part, you can also help the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) find Britain’s top beaches for beachcombing and support local ecological studies.
Cottages4you has partnered with the MCS to help them record marine wildlife sightings such as jellyfish. This can help them to understand the ecology of Britain’s leatherback turtles.
To help them compile this information, before you go, you can download some instructions and reporting forms from the company’s website. Doing so can turn your walks on the beach into treasure hunting fun, as well as being educational for your younger children.
On returning from holiday, beachcombers are being asked to log their findings online to help create the new top ten new beaches for beachcombing.
Katherine Stephenson from the MCS said: “We’re always looking for opportunities to make people aware of coastal wildlife and with so many people planning to visit Britain’s beaches this summer, it’s the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and get people enjoying our spectacular coastline.
“There is so much around our UK coastline to discover! From jewel-like anemones and giant basking sharks to leatherback turtles and grey seals our seas provide a home to truly fascinating wildlife. It amazes me that less than 1 per cent of our seas are protected when there is so much to lose!”
To help out further, Cottages4you will be donating 10 per cent of all holidays booked the the MCS to the charity to help them preserve the UK coastline.
Managing director of cottages4you, Geoff Cowley said: “With over 10,000 properties in Britain, we have plenty within easy reach of the sea.
“This is the third year cottages4you has run its beachcombing campaign and every year we receive fascinating reports of what people find on British beaches. We hope our partnership with the MCS will help with their conservation work and also support them for years to come.”
Cottages4you have a range of properties to suit different familes. For more information about beachcombing, a chance to win a holiday or book a break, visit: www.cottages4you.co.uk
Britain’s Top Ten Beaches for Beachcombing announced 2007 by Cottages4you in association with Qualitycoast.org:
Britain’s Top Ten Beaches for Beachcombing
1. Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire
2. Newgale Beach, Pembrokeshire
3. Westward Ho! Beach, Devon
4. Cowes, Isle of Wight
5. Camber, East Sussex
6. Frinton on Sea, Frinton Beach, Essex
7. Herne Bay East, Kent
8. Barmston, East Yorkshire
9. Combe Martin Beach, Devon
10. Cresswell Dunes & Foreshore, Northumberland
Ideal beachcombing packages from Cottages4you
Seacrest
Whitby
North Yorkshire
An18th-century mariner’s cottage (blue cottage in photo) is in Whitby’s conservation area, at the foot of 199 steps leading up to St Mary’s church and the abbey ruins.
With sea views from the property, a three-mile stretch of award-winning beaches, the smugglers coves of Robin Hoods Bay and Staithes there will be plenty to keep the family occupied.
Price £760 for seven nights’ self catering accommodation starting on 31st July, sleeps four people (£27.14 per person per night based on four people sharing)
Price £721 for seven nights’ self catering accommodation starting on 21st August, sleeps four people (£25.75 per person per night based on four people sharing)
Snowdrop Cottage
Gresham
Norfolk
Just minutes from the North Norfolk coastline with its sandy beaches and seals, the area surrounding the property offers woodland walks and is a haven for nature enthusiasts with many birds and sea life to be spotted. Cycling, golf, fishing and sailing are available locally, as is the quaint Georgian market town of Holt, and a steam railway.
Price £423 for seven nights’ self catering accommodation starting on 29th August, sleeps up to four people (£15.10 per person per night based on four sharing)