Property spotlight: Beachfront homes

Port Cottage, Torcross, Kingsbridge TQ7 2TQ

Last week, we looked at beach huts that were available to buy. This time, we’re looking at similar, but altogether more substantial properties; beachfront homes.

The UK is famously an island nation, so has an abundance of this type of home relative to its size. Sandbanks near Poole in Dorset is the Millionaire’s Row of beachfront homes – one of the most expensive property spots in the world. But fear not, you don’t need to be filthy rich to be able to wake up in the morning, look out of your bedroom window and see, hear & smell the sea!

Ty Gwyn, Victoria Parade, Pwllheli LL53 5AN

Ty Gwyn, Victoria Parade, Pwllheli LL53 5AN

Ty Gwyn, Victoria Parade, Pwllheli LL53 5AN

Ty Gwyn, Victoria Parade, Pwllheli LL53 5AN

£280,000 – Ty Gwyn, Victoria Parade, Pwllheli LL53 5AN

Gulls Way/Min Y Mor is located on the sought after Pwllheli promenade and is within 100 metres from the beautiful sandy beach. Views over Cardigan Bay to St Tudwals Islands, Llanbedrog headland and Meirionnydd Mountains are just breath-taking.

• Beachfront location
• Three bedrooms
• Garage & parking
• Stunning sea & mountain views
• In need of modernisation

 

£700,000 – Port Cottage, Torcross, Kingsbridge TQ7 2TQ

Walking along the promenade of the beautiful Torcross Beach, with it’s (sic) row of chocolate box cottages and Insta-worthy houses, there is one property that stands out. With it’s pretty shutters and quirky porthole, Port cottage is as delightful as it is distinctive. Many a passer-by has stopped to admire this characterful 400-year-old property…

• Detached cottage
• 2 bathrooms
• Large beach front patio
• Uninterrupted panoramic sea views
• Private rear courtyard
• Renovated throughout
• Desirable beachfront location
• Parking for three vehicles

£1,600,000 – 154 Old Fort Road, Shoreham-by-Sea BN43 5HL

• Beachfront home
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 bathrooms
• First floor terrace
• First floor living space
• Amazing coastal views
• Private driveway
• Double garage
• Huge potential
• Superb address

Property spotlight: Beach huts

Beach Hut 3, The Beach, Wells-Next-The-Sea

Two council-run services that you can be certain will have waiting lists as long as your arm (and your leg!) are allotments and beach huts. In some places, people have been known to have their name down for 5 years or more, just to have somewhere to grow flowers and fruit & veg.

I remember signing up for one of the beach huts on Brighton seafront when I used to live down there. That would have been at least 25 years ago – I wonder if I’m nearing the top yet!

Just like regular properties, beach huts can vary hugely in value depending on… location, location, location. As well as the purchase price, don’t forget the ‘extras’ like licence fee, renovation fee, ground rent, solicitor’s fees and insurance. Added to all the financials, there may be all sorts of codes, rules and regulations to which you’ll need to adhere; specific colours you’re allowed to paint the exterior, the right to sleep in it overnight or not, the permission (or lack of therein) to sub-let, the stipulation that you need to be a local resident… many hoops to jump through and many boxes to tick!

Some huts have electricity (even solar-powered), some don’t. Many are located right on the beach and have uninterrupted views of the sea, others are set out in ‘tiers’, so you may have rows of huts in front of you allowing you barely a chink of blue to be seen. Some have steps up to the door, others have a front deck or verandah. Still others are multi-storey, with three floors of living space.

Puckpool Park, Seaview PO34

Puckpool Park, Seaview PO34

Puckpool Park, Seaview PO34

£17,500 – Puckpool Park, Seaview PO34

Situated in the seaside Victorian town of Ryde, this is a wonderful and rare opportunity to purchase a traditional wooden beach hut situated overlooking the award-winning expansive sandy beaches of Appley & Puckpool. Appley and Puckpool beaches are located towards the eastern end of Ryde’s famous long stretch of fine golden sand, and are regarded as being one of the nicest and most popular stretches of beaches on the Island.

Beach Hut 3, The Beach, Wells-Next-The-Sea

Beach Hut 3, The Beach, Wells-Next-The-Sea

Beach Hut 3, The Beach, Wells-Next-The-Sea

£80,000 – Beach Hut 3, The Beach, Wells-Next-The-Sea

Number 3 is a superb beach hut conveniently located only a few minutes walk from the beach car park to the west of the Coast watch Tower and the Lifeboat Station with fine views across the sea towards the East Hills. The hut is of painted timber construction with a timber door. To the front a verandah with wide steps leading down onto the sand. Inside there is a fitted base cupboard with a laminate worktop and bench seating.
A water tap for drinking and cooking use is close by as is the beach lavatory block with a path from the pinewoods behind the beach making access to the hut with the day’s provisions easier than across the sand. The site is sold under an annual Licence Agreement through Holkham Holiday Parks Limited trading as Pinewoods and may be used for rest, recreation and bathing but not for overnight stays. The Licence is reviewed annually and full details of the Agreement are available for inspection at Belton Duffey’s office. A commission is payable by the purchaser to Pinewoods on completion of sale of 15% of the sale price (plus VAT) but this is included in the guide price.

Porth Mawr, Abersoch, Gwynedd LL53

Porth Mawr, Abersoch, Gwynedd LL53

Porth Mawr, Abersoch, Gwynedd LL53

£250,000 – Porth Mawr, Abersoch, Gwynedd LL53

To be sold by “informal tender” with offers to be submitted in writing for the vendors consideration by 12PM on Friday 30th June 2023.
A rare opportunity to acquire a freehold double unit Bathing Hut being one of the largest on the much sought after Abersoch Main Beach, closer to the Yacht Club end and a couple hundred yards from the Beach Café and Sailing School.
The present owner acquired the site some years ago and replaced the original hut with a modern steel framed construction, measuring a total 8m x 3m externally with two separate roller shutter entry doors. To the interior the hut has timber panelled walls and a wooden floor and two mezzanine storage space. Behind the outer shutter doors there are 2 sets of double glazed doors. The unit could be sub divided if required by erecting an internal party dividing wall. The hut is subject to Council Tax rates, for 2023 /24 the rates payable are £722.
A great family location to relax and play on these golden sands and to take in the wonderful views across Cardigan Bay to the St Tudwals Islands with the backdrop of the Cambrian Mountain Range.

Property spotlight: Lighthouse homes

St. Anne's Head, Dale SA62 3RT

Many moons ago, for Justin’s birthday, I booked us a stay in a lighthouse cottage in Kent. It was a beautiful building and a memorable experience watching the comings & goings in the English Channel.

A surprising number of lighthouses and lighthouse homes are available as holiday lets; and there are even a few currently on the market if you’ve always dreamed of living in one!

We’ve selected three of them and have shared the details of each below.

The Engine Room Strathy Point, Strathy, Thurso KW14 7RY

The Engine Room Strathy Point, Strathy, Thurso KW14 7RY

The Engine Room Strathy Point, Strathy, Thurso KW14 7RY

Offers in excess of £90,000 – The Engine Room Strathy Point, Strathy, Thurso KW14 7RY

• Spectacular panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean
• Peaceful remote location
• Fabulous scenic walks
• Close to a beautiful award winning beaches
• Oil fired central heating

The Engine Room is a cosy one bedroom mid-terrace home, converted from the former engine room, and has amazing views. It’s one of three unique homes on the market situated in the remote Strathy Point Lighthouse complex – there are six properties within the Lighthouse, which was decommissioned in 2012.

Hornblower Lodge, Hawsker, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO22 4JY

Hornblower Lodge, Hawsker, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO22 4JY

Hornblower Lodge, Hawsker, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO22 4JY

Guide price: £525,000 (plus fees) – Hornblower Lodge, Hawsker, Whitby, North Yorkshire YO22 4JY

‘Hornblower Lodge’ stands on just under 1 acre of land between Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay along the ‘Cleveland Way’ a historic trail popular with walkers and tourists alike. This property offers flexible accommodation and currently comprises a spacious four-bedroom family home and self-contained one bedroom holiday cottage.
The land was purchased by the Trinity House Corporation in the 1850s and by the end of the decade the plot on which Hornblower Lodge sits housed one of two neighbouring lighthouses. At the turn of the century the lighthouse was demolished and replaced with Whitby Foghorn Station.
Auction date: Tuesday 14th February 2023.

St. Anne's Head, Dale SA62 3RT

St. Anne's Head, Dale SA62 3RT

St. Anne's Head, Dale SA62 3RT

St. Anne's Head, Dale SA62 3RT

St. Anne's Head, Dale SA62 3RT

£750,000 – St. Anne’s Head, Dale SA62 3RT

• Being sold by GOTO Online Auction
• Buy-it-now option available
• Buyer’s fees apply
• Unique opportunity to own a lighthouse
• 360 degree observatory
• Six bedroom main lighthouse & two bedroom cottage
• Dual living
• Five reception rooms
• Pool, sauna and games room
• Excellent revenue from holiday let business

A truly one off, historic building. One of only a handful of privately owned Lighthouses. The dream property to own.
This gorgeous and unique home sits nestled among beautiful cliffs and high above the sea near Dale, Pembrokeshire, with unbeatable views and the absolute perfect location.
St. Ann’s Head Lighthouse was built in 1844 to guide shipping bound for Milford Haven, replacing two leading lights established in 1714.

Property Spotlight: Whitby

Church Street, Whitby

A few weeks ago, we shared a Property Spotlight post about one of our favourite little coastal areas, North Norfolk. Another of our favourite little coastal areas is North Yorkshire – Whitby in particular.

Map of the UK highlighting WhitbyWe’ve posted about the town before – we’ve spent long weekends there in the past; walking up to the Abbey and along the coastline, eating chips in the harbour and popping into quaint pubs for a pint or two.

When we’ve been in Whitby, we’ve often thought that we could happily move there. It gets very busy with tourists in the summer months and during the famous, twice-yearly Goth Weekend. Much of the residential property in the town centre – which is divided by the River Esk – is given over to short term rentals. That means that during the low season, it sadly becomes a ghost town – and not in a good way.

Here are three properties near the town centre that are currently on the market. The first is a tiny little bolt hole tucked away in the centre of the old town. The second is separated into two properties (one to live in and one to earn an income from) and located right on the harbour front. The third is a 6-bedroomed guest house in a pretty crescent with sea views, garden and spacious owners’ accommodation on the lower ground floor.

The Rockpool, Whitby

The Rockpool, Whitby

£199,950 – The Rockpool, Carrs Yard, Whitby

• Period cottage tucked away in the heart of the old town
• Beautifully presented with period features and coastal themed interiors
• 1 reception room with a fitted kitchen with integrated appliances
• 1 bedroom with bespoke cabinetry & a modern bathroom
• Currently a successful holiday let that is being sold fully furnished & with bookings

Church Street, Whitby

Church Street, Whitby

Church Street, Whitby

£365,000 – Church Street, Whitby

• Generous townhouse currently converted into two separate holiday lets
• Grade II listed
• Stunning views over the harbour
• Could be easily converted back into one residence
• Sold with ongoing bookings if desired as a business
• Ideal town centre location

5 East Crescent, Whitby

5 East Crescent, Whitby

£750,000 – 5 East Crescent, Whitby

• A substantial Victorian townhouse offered as a well established guest house
• Prominently situated on Whitby’s East Crescent
• Beautiful sea views
• Private owners’ accommodation
• Large garden to the rear