Most of us at some point in our lives will have had fun either with a homemade or simple shop kite on a beach.
If you’ve forgotten what it feels like to have it dragging you down the sands, perhaps now is a good time to re-kindle those memories, or even introduce your kids to this very simple and very cheap passtime.
Of course there was always the problem with trying to get the kite to actually launch, but usually running down an empty beach does the trick and with a little bit of wind, most kite’s will launch pretty well.
Best kite flying beaches:
Bamburgh in Northumberland has to be one of the best areas with the brease off the north sea being pretty constant and so much beach that you’re bound to find an empty spot.
Holkham in Norfolk has both the wind and the sanddunes as a backdrop which is bound to bring back a few memories to anyone who’s tried kite flying. This is about as close to picture postcard kiting as you can find in Britain.
Joss Bay in Kent has the white cliffs of Dover as a backdrop and with the wind whistling up the English Channel and along the white cliffs, you’re pretty sure of a successful launch. This is one of the most popular areas, so maybe best when the clouds are out to keep the holidaymakers away.
Barafundle in Pembrokeshire has some of the cleanest water on Britain’s coastline, and one of the best beach views too. If kites are what you’re most interested in then there’s plenty of Atlantic wind hitting this coast, which also keeps the clouds away ensuring perfect kite flying weather.
St. Bees, Silloth and Allonby in Cumbria are two places I flew kites as a kid and as these aren’t the most popular beaches around, you’ll always find lots of room. There are numerous places to stop and access the beaches all along the west coast, so take your pick and “let’s go fly your kite, up to the highest height…”
Oh, what the heck.
With thanks to Rob Cowen and Leo Critchley for reminding us of the simpler pleasures in life.
More resources:
Tourist attractions around Britain
Self-catering cottages in the UK
British hotels and B&Bs
One Comment
Yay For Allonby! great ice creams too!