Coast

There truly IS something about Cornwall, isn’t there? I live in Devon and yet, despite the somewhat light-hearted ‘rivalry’ between the two counties, I am forced to admit there is definitely something magical and distinct about the Duchy. Maybe it’s the Cornish elements in my DNA. In recent years I have discovered family links with Cornwall and, more significantly, the Isles of Scilly, stretching back to the 16th century. Indeed, my great-great-great-grandmother Eliza Nicholas is buried close to the pretty St Mary’s Old Church on St Mary’s. Perhaps this explains why I have such an affinity with the county. Whether it’s strolling on the sands at Carbis Bay, watching the world go by at Fowey or driving along the road at Widemouth Bay and marvelling at the breakers, Cornwall’s coast always offers…

JADE BRAHAM Jade Braham is a travel writer and photographer specialising in Wales-based and heritage-focused features. She grew up in South West Wales and with the nation’s 870-mile-long coastline she developed a passion for exploring its lesser-known ruins, myths and coves. In this issue, Jade explores St Davids - Britain’s smallest city. EMMA DEWHURST Emma says being a dog walker gets her out exploring the incredible south Cumbria and north Lancashire coastline, taking in in all weathers, against seascapes ranging from the apocalyptic to the sublime. She says it was a delight to meet a local guide to the area, Gemma Wren, and to write about her and her business for this issue of coast. KATHRYN LEWIS Kathryn is a food, drink and travel journalist. Editor of the Independent Coffee Guide series since 2017, her…

A familiar figure has returned to the shores of the UK, in the form of a humpback whale which has been spotted off the Isles of Scilly. As can be seen in this stunning image, the whale was spotted around 300m offshore from St Mary’s. And the animal is believe to be Pi, the humpback who spent around ten weeks around the islands after Christmas 2020. Gareth Tibbs, of Above & Below Imagery, who took the images from Tolman Point, near Old Town on St Mary’s, explains: “Whilst at home I received a WhatsApp message via our wildlife group that there was a whale spotted a few hundred metres away. “I grabbed my drone and headed to the point and could see it immediately. It was about 300 metres from the shore. I…

1 THIS TEA COSY Keep tea warm while it brews with a cosy created by Poppy Treffry. Based in Penzance, Poppy’s drawn sketches are transformed into sewn motifs, such as this Seagull small tea cosy, £49. (poppytreffry.co.uk) 2 THIS CUP AND SAUCER Sip a hot drink from a glazed, handmade ceramic set created by potter Lars Soendergaard Gregersen in his Suffolk studio. Made from insulative porcelain, the glaze is Denim Blue. (£28, abodeliving.co.uk) 3 THIS TEA TOWEL Illustrator Corinne Alexander’s fun homeware range captures the essence of objects, flowers, fruit, veg and animals. ‘Plaice’ is one of her British-made cotton tea towels. (£14, corinnealexander.co.uk) 4 THIS FLOWER VASE With spring flowers filling the shops, Dartington’s range of high-quality glass vases in contemporary shapes ticks all the boxes - shown here is a medium Cushion Vase in Ink…

Keen conservationists and birdwatchers, Liz and Steve Harris were drawn to the unique landscapes and rich birdlife of the Norfolk coast in the 1970s. For many years they pursued careers in teaching and wildlife conservation respectively. Then came the opportunity to create a wildlife art gallery. After a year of designing and creating a gallery space in a converted barn near Holt, BIRDscapes opened its doors on October 1, 2005. Joined, since then, by son Peter and daughter Emma, the gallery, one of the largest in the area, has two spacious rooms, one dedicated to original prints and the other to paintings, with sculptures dotted throughout. The gallery works with over 80 painters, printmakers and sculptors, the vast majority of whom spend a great deal of time in the field, and 25…

A TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT It surely has to be one of the most novel staycation venues to open in recent times…a former Napoleonic signal station on the Devon coast which has been converted into a quirky and luxurious rental retreat. The Lookout Tower stands on top of Beer Head cliffs and with views stretching from Portland Bill to Start Point, it’s an amazing spot to tuck yourself away in. The coastal fishing villages of Branscombe and Beer are just a short walk away. Records suggest the site has been inhabited since the late 1700s, first as a signal station for the Napoleonic war, and later to look out for smugglers and as a coastguard lookout. The original structure of the building has been almost entirely preserved, and an extension added. The makeover has been done…