Our week that was: Family weekend, sand spray and fruit picking

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We had a visit from Justin’s sister this weekend; it’s been in the diary for ages, and we’ve been really looking forward to having her come to see us again.

Adelle and Rachel at Hafod Estate

Rachel’s visit

Rachel lives in Greater Manchester – a 4-hour drive away. She’s the one we stay with when we have our dentist appointments up in Todmorden, so we’re taking our turn in acting as hosts! We’ve been keeping our fingers & toes crossed for good weather while she was here. The weather forecast wasn’t great, but we did manage to enjoy a few dry and sunny spells when we were out walking.

We took her to the nearby Hafod Estate as she’d not been there before. We cobbled a walk together that took us through steep woodland, fields with highland cattle grazing and above and along the winding river Ystwyth.

River Ystwyth winding its way through Hafod

Another trip to the coast

Whenever she’s visited in the past, Rachel has enjoyed going for a walk along the beach. So, even though the forecast wasn’t great, we took a drive out to Ynyslas. As usual, we timed it so we would be there at low tide; the dog went completely bonkers, galloping along the long, wide sandy expanse.

Although it was really windy, there was a great, big, blue sky. It was so windy, in fact, that there was sand spray all the way along the beach; that’s how the famous sand dunes were formed!

Blackberry picking

The local hedgerows are currently heaving under the weight of blackberries. They’re like little glistening jewels crying out to be plucked and made into jam, jelly or apple & blackberry pie or crumble. I’ve already picked around 2 kilos and have put them into the freezer while I decide how I’m going to use them.

Blackberry bush Picked blackberries in a colander

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: 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

Designer Desire: Harry Riley

Montage of Harry Riley travel posters

Harry Riley (1895-1966) was a watercolourist, cartoonist and commercial artist. However, he was best known for designing travel posters to English & Welsh seaside destinations for British Railways.

London-born Riley attended Hammersmith and St. Martin’s Schools of Art. He cut his teeth in Fleet Street where, as a junior artist, he created cartoons for inclusion in the Daily Mail, Punch and other publications. Later, he was commissioned to create figurative works for the likes of luxury department stores, Fortnum & Mason and Selfridges.

He was elected member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour and, in the late 1920s, president of The London Sketch Club.

His advertising posters are all 50s Technicolour with smiling, happy, healthy couples and families. All blonde bobs and pigtails. Summer dresses, swimsuits and cravats. Bright blue skies, sweeping golden sands and azure seas.

Harry Riley self-portraitcredit

Additional image credits:
Travel Posters Online