Tips | Tidal Treasure-Hunting

Winter, particularly after a bit of wild weather, is a great time explore your nearest tideline. When the sea bed has been stirred up, all sorts of treasures are washed up for you to explore, from sea urchins and sea glass to garnets and even coconuts from far shores. Here’s how to make the most of a coastal winter treasure hunt.

Check tide times: The ideal time to visit is 2–3 hours before low tide. The lowest tides, when more of the beach is exposed, coincide with the new and full moon.

Be prepared: Wrap up warm and bring waterproofs. Carry zip-lock bags for your finds – and bacterial hand gel!

Be responsible: Collect natural things sparingly as they provide food and shelter for seashore creatures. There are restrictions on removing pebbles as these prevent coastal erosion.

Give something back: Pick up pieces of plastic on your visit.

Stay safe: Always check the weather forecast. Keep clear of cliffs. Don’t touch jellyfish, as they can sting even when dead.

Thes tidal treasure-hunting tips are taken from our feature, ‘Tidal Treasures’ by Vanessa Wright, in our January issue. Pick up a copy from shops or our online store to read more about exploring your nearest tideline this winter.

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More from our January issue…

More things to treasure from the coast…

Primer | Ocean Waves

Watching winter waves on a blustery beach is a surefire way to feel both calm and invigorated (and a little bit small in the universe). Let’s get to know them better. 

Whether we’re jumping over them, trouser legs rolled up, or scuttling away from them up the beach, we all love a wave. If you’ve ever found yourself saying something like “Goodness! That’s a big splashy one!” and would like to sound like more of a Wave Afficionado, however, here are a few scientific Wave Terms you can employ. There won’t be a vocab test but they are rather fun.

Crest The high point of a wave

Trough The low point of a wave

Height The distance between crest and trough

Amplitude The distance from either the crest or the trough to the still water line

Attenuation A reduction in amplitude

Frequency The number of waves occurring at a single point in a given period of time

Period The time between swell crests

Fetch How far the wave has travelled

Swash The movement of a wave up the beach

Backwash The movement of a wave down the beach

Shoaling The change in wave height as the wave moves up the beach

If this has inspired you to take more coastal winter walks, you might like to read our feature, ‘A Shore Thing’ in our February issue, which is in shops now.

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More from our February issue…

More Seaside Inspiration…

Recipe | Campfire Salmon

You don’t need to catch your fish for it to taste just better when eaten on the beach

This campfire salmon with tomato skewers is just the ticket for an impromptu day spent at the beach. It’s best eaten with windswept hair and mopped up with crusty bread after. 

Serves 4 

4 salmon fillets 

Salt and pepper 

1 lemon, sliced 

A punnet of cherry tomatoes 

Olive oil to drizzle 

1 Take two pieces of foil big enough to wrap the fish in. Place them on top of each other and place the salmon fillets in the middle. 

2 Season the salmon with salt and pepper then cover with lemon slices. Wrap the foil over the fish making sure there aren't any holes or gaps. 

3 Using wooden skewers, thread the cherry tomatoes onto the sticks, drizzle with a little oil and season with salt and pepper. Place a wire griddle over the fire – above the burning embers and away from the flames – and place your skewers on top, turning regularly until they begin to blacken. 

4 Meanwhile, place the foil salmon packet directly in the fire and flip roughly every 5 mins, cooking for around 25 mins, or until the fish is fully cooked. Serve with the tomato skewers and home-baked soda bread. 

Cook’s note: Soak your wooden skewers before using to stop them from charring and bring an old wire rack to balance on the fire to make cooking quicker. 

This recipe is part of our Gathering feature, Bright and Breezy, from our April issue, a complete guide to having an impromptu spring day by the sea. Alongside campfire and picnic recipes, it also features ideas for enjoying the beach responsibly and games to play on the sand. Photography by Brent Darby Photography and Narratives Photo Agency.

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More from our April issue…

More campfire recipes…

Walking on the edge of land

A stroll is good for body and soul but a canter along the coast is a true tonic

Why is there nothing quite like a stroll along the sea? Walking anywhere outdoors is good for you; a chance to get your heart pumping, fill your lungs with fresh air and clear your head a little. But there’s definitely something a bit special about a coastal walk, especially at this time of year.

Perhaps, as we straddle two seasons, the idea of walking in hinterlands, along ‘the edge of something’, strolling between one world and the next, is appealing: one foot firmly on land, the other lapped by waves. Autumn’s a bit like that isn’t it? 

Or maybe it’s that a day spent in the sunshine is something of a last hurrah right now. As Autumn Proper beckons and evenings get darker, managing a day out by the sea feels like an easy win against the elements, as well as a chance to bank some fresh air and sunlight before we all become just a little more home-based. 

Some 2015 research by the National Trust showed that a coastal walk also gave us 47 minutes’ more rest on average the following night. And who couldn’t do with some extra sleep as summer draws to a close? The NT has put together a list of some of the best coastal walks around the UK. Why not get out there and make the most of an Indian summer this weekend? You’ve nothing to lose and 47 minutes’ of sleep to gain (plus the possibility of squeezing in some last-minute sand-between-your-toes, pebbles-in-your-pocket end-of-summer fun). 

In our September ‘Begin’ issue, Clare Gogerty visits East Neuk for our Weekend Away feature, and walks some of the Fife coastal path. Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

More from our September issue…

More on wonderful walks…

Summer Breeze

Living needs to be easy in the summer months and that means our homes too. Our shopkeeper, Louise Gorrod, has trawled the shelves at The Stuff of Life to bring you her pick of simply crafted products.

‘This pick perfectly captures the informality of living by the sea - from soft washed linens in faded blue, tactile ceramics in washed aqua and cool enamelware in chalky white – they’re the perfect accessories for an easy breezy home this summer’.

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Images from top, left to right: Washed Blue Linen Napkin from LinenMe, £8.99 | Giant Straw Basket from Cachette, £16.00 | Cantine Plates from Home Address, £12,00 | Everyday Large Mug by Emma Lacey, £27.00 | Linen Tablecloth from Home Address, £70.00 | Water cups from Quince Living, £9.00 | Linen Bath Robe by The Linen Works, £120.00 | White Enamel Cutlery from Cachette, from £6.50 | Denim Light Wash Cushion by From Brighton With Love, £50.00.