A Dull Woman's Van Life

Where to begin?

We are spending the Easter Weekend at Beadnell Bay where the wild life is breathtaking.

I started well, with a chance meeting with my first hedgehog of the year on Thursday night. We regarded each other for a moment before it took off into a garden, without so much as a brief pose. They are fast!

A wander up the coast on Friday evening saw much activity from Dolphins out in the bay. Of course, I had no camera so you’ll have to take my word for it on both the hedgehog and the dolphins! Hubby was skeptical too; he was standing next to me for the dolphins but did not have his glasses on! (“Are you sure it’s not waves on the rocks?” 🤬)

On Saturday we walked into Seahouses to forage for local crab for dinner at https://www.swallowfish.co.uk/

I could have spent a fortune in here! We went with dressed crab for Saturday night, and some claws for Sunday.

I also found some local chocolate. I’m partial to Turkish delight and this was certainly a delight!

Along the beach, the sand martins were busy flitting around their burrows. They are nesting right alongside the path and do not seem to mind the hoards of walkers passing as they dance across the skies.

Along the costal path, the long grass was filled with meadow pipits and stonechats flying around the air, with constant chatter as we walked alongside the beach

When we reached the golf course, the cliffs below are home to nesting fulmers and kittiwakes. Again, despite the crowds of walkers, they were calmly sitting below us.

Into Seahouses, the harbour was busy with boats leaving for the Farne Islands trips. Around the walls were a large number of Eider Ducks. Signs along the beach asked visitors not to feed them; apparently they have developed a taste for chips, which are obviously not good for them, but I like their style! Who doesn’t like chips at the seaside?!

Below the harbour walls, the exposed rocks were playing host to a number of larger birds foraging in the rock pools. I spotted Rock Doves, black headed gulls and oystercatchers. They were all being bullied by the much larger black backed gulls, who were even driving off the herons.

We headed back through the golf course towards the beach and the gorse was in full flower, filling the air with the scent of warm coconut. I spied this white wagtail sitting in the flowers, isn’t he lovely?

Walking back to Beadnell along the beach, I spotted Ruddy Turnstones foraging in the rock pools. They were hard to capture and the focus is not the best, but it was a first for me to see these lovely little birds.

We finished up the Saturday afternoon with a glass of wine and some lunch at the Craster Arms, before heading back to the van for the evening, where the dressed crab will be the star of the show for dinner. Pepper has had enough of the beach for one day and retired early to her chair for some much needed sleep!

We had the dressed crab served with salad and homemade bread (care of the hubbys secret no-knead recipe). If I can winkle it out of him, I will share it here.

We still have 2 days to go, so I will post part 2 later this week.