Category: Cafes at the coast

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Wild Beauty: 10 Evocative Coastal Films

Crop of The Salt Path official movie image

10 Films That Capture the Spirit of Britain’s Coastline

There’s something timeless and evocative about Britain’s coastline — dramatic cliffs, windswept beaches, hidden coves, and the quiet charm of seaside towns. It’s no wonder filmmakers return time and again to the shore to tell stories of freedom, escape, longing, and wild beauty. 

Whether you’re planning a coastal road trip or just want to soak up some sea air from your sofa, these ten films capture the spirit of Britain’s shoreline in all its rugged, romantic, and windswept glory. Let’s start with the most recent first (so new it’s pending!):

1. The Salt Path (2025)

🎥 South West Coast Path, England

This film of the book of the same name tells the story of how Raynor Winn and her husband, Moth, set out to walk the South West Coast Path — one of the most stunning coastal routes in the UK — after being faced with homelessness and Moth’s terminal diagnosis.
Find The Salt Path on IMDB here. 

Official image for The Salt Path film

2. The Outrun (2024)

🎥 Orkney Islands, Scotland 

Based on Amy Liptrot’s moving memoir, this intimate drama follows a woman returning to her native Orkney to recover from addiction. With breathtaking shots of cliffs, seabirds, and moody skies, The Outrun captures the wild, healing pull of remote coastal life. This reminds us, if you enjoy remote Scottish island tales, the BBC’s Shetland TV series is an absolute must-watch, too. Find The Outrun on IMDB.

The Outrun, official film poster

3. Summerland (2020)

🎥 East Sussex coast, England 

A wartime story of grief and imagination, set on the chalky cliffs and stormy shores of southern England. The cinematography embraces the raw, windswept beauty of the sea — a perfect metaphor for the film’s emotional tides. Find it on IMDB here. 


Summerland, official film poster

4. Bait (2019)

🎥 Cornwall, England 

A bold, hand-processed 16mm film about a Cornish fisherman clashing with incoming tourists. Visually gritty and culturally sharp, Bait feels as raw and salt-stung as the sea itself — a standout of contemporary British cinema. Find details on IMDB. 

Bait, official film poster

5. Fisherman’s Friends (2019)

🎥 Port Isaac, Cornwall 

This feel-good tale of sea shanty-singing fishermen turned pop stars celebrates community, tradition, and the charm of Cornish harbours. Heartwarming and wave-lapped. Find details for Fisherman’s Friends on IMDB here. 

Fisherman’s Friends (2019) film poster

6. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)

🎥 Devon and Cornwall stand in for the Channel Islands… 

A gentle post-war drama set on an island shaped by the sea, with cobbled streets, craggy coastlines, and the comfort of books and baking. It’s a love letter to island life and resilience. Find The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society here on IMDB. 

The Guernsey film official poster

7. On Chesil Beach (2017)

🎥 Dorset, England 

This adaptation of Ian McEwan’s novel explores love, repression, and regret — all set against the striking backdrop of Chesil Beach’s shingle spit. Quiet, haunting, and emotionally charged, it captures the melancholy beauty of the English coast. Find information for On Chesil Beach on IMDB here. 

On Chesil Beach official movie poster

8. Mr Turner (2014)

🎥 Margate and the Thames Estuary 

Mike Leigh’s biopic of the great seascape painter revels in golden light, crashing waves, and brooding skies. You can almost smell the salt in the air as it recreates the scenes that inspired Turner’s most famous works. Intrigued? Find out more about Mr Turner on IMDB. 

Mr Turner official movie poster

9. Bhaji on the Beach (1993)

🎥 Blackpool, England 

This British comedy-drama is set in the seaside town of Blackpool and follows a group of British Asian women who embark on a day trip to the beach. The film touches on themes of identity, culture, and the complex relationships within the community. Find it on IMDB here. 

Bhaji on the Beach official film poster

10. The Edge of the World (1937)

A poetic early classic depicting the evacuation of a remote island. Wind-beaten cliffs, crashing surf, and the tension between tradition and modernity still resonate. It’s a time capsule of wild beauty. Find further info on this 1937 classic on IMDB.

The Edge of the World film poster

That’s all folks, except…

If these films have stirred a longing for sea air, hidden coves, and slow days by the shore, why not chart your own journey along Britain’s breathtaking coastline? Our lovingly curated travel guides are the perfect companions for slower, more soulful adventures. Browse our guides and start planning a journey that’s as much about the journey as the destination.


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Coastal Food Festivals

Seafood at the beach by (c) Caseyjadaw

8 food festivals at the coast you shouldn't miss in 2025

There’s something special about food by the sea. Maybe it’s the salty breeze, the sound of seagulls, or the way flavours seem to come alive when you’re just a few steps from the shore. Across Britain’s coast, food festivals are celebrating the best of local produce — from just-landed seafood to farmhouse cheeses, foraged herbs, handmade bakes, and the passionate people behind it all.

Whether you’re planning a foodie road trip or just fancy a delicious day out, here are eight coastal food festivals that serve up the best of Britain’s shoreline — with a healthy side of sea air.

1. Porthleven Food Festival, Cornwall

2-4 May 2025: A vibrant, community-led event with sea views, street food, chef demos, and a buzzing harbourside vibe. Expect everything from crab tacos to Cornish pasties — and a live music stage right by the water. Visit the Porthleven Food Festival site now. 

2. St Ives Food and Drink Festival, Cornwall

16-18 May 2025: A beachside celebration of local food with fire pit cooking, chef masterclasses, and food stalls right on Porthminster Beach. Stay for the sundowners and live music. Visit the St Ives Food and Drink Festival site now. 

3. Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival, Fishguard

9-11 August 2025: A joyful family-friendly event with plenty of sea views, good food, and music — a great excuse to make a weekend of it in this postcard-perfect town. Visit the Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival website here. 

Pembrokeshire Street Food Festival, Fishguard

4. Isle of Wight Garlic Festival

16-17 August 2025: Unusual and unforgettable — a full weekend celebrating all things garlic, with food stalls, live music, and entertainment in a beautiful island setting. Visit the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival here. 

5. North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival

30-31 August 2025: Held on the beautiful Holkham Estate, this festival celebrates the region’s best produce — from salt-marsh lamb to Cromer crab — in an elegant, unspoilt coastal setting. Visit the North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival site here. 

6. Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival, Suffolk

27-28 September 2025: Set on the beautiful Snape Maltings site, this thoughtfully curated festival champions East Anglian produce. Think oysters, cider, local sea salt, and bakery goods with a backdrop of marshes and estuaries. Visit the Aldeburgh Food Festival website here. 

7. Hastings Seafood Wine and Music Festival, Sussex

12-14 September 2025: A laid-back affair featuring locally landed fish, Sussex wines, and coastal charm. Bonus: the iconic black fishing huts and maritime history of the Old Town. Visit the Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival here. 

Dartmouth South West Coast Path sign

8. Dartmouth Food Festival, Devon

24-26 October 2025: Mixing coastal character with culinary clout, this is one of the UK’s most respected food festivals. Expect serious chef talent, pop-ups, wine tastings, and riverside ambience. Visit the Dartmouth Food Festival website here.

Want to make a meal of it? Try our guide...

Food festivals by the sea offer more than great bites — they’re a reminder of how local produce, landscape, and culture come together in joyful, delicious ways. From harbourside bites to beachside brews, these events make the coast even tastier.

Looking to plan your own road trip to Britain’s best foodie coastal spots? The Coastal Café Guide is full of handpicked, independently run gems just waiting to be discovered.

Explore the guide and our other titles in our online bookshop here.

Coastal Cafe Guide being read by woman on beach

Extra Mile Books

We’re an independent, South West-based publisher of guides to independent places to eat and drink. Our three guides have each been Amazon #1 bestsellers, and make great gifts for foodies: there’s The Coastal Café Guide, The Farm Shop Guide, and The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services.  

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Beach Yoga in Cornwall

Image of people doing yoga on the beach, by Nick Fewings

Beach Yoga in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Here’s our quick guide to beach yoga studios, on-the-sand yoga sessions and sea-view and coast-view yoga in Cornwall. Any we’ve missed? Let us know. Do always check ahead as things can change, such as a given class’s availability, style, instructor, or venue.

Gwithian Beach Yoga

Experience the magic of the sea with Gwithian Beach Yoga, where ocean views meet mindful movement. Flow with the waves, breathe in fresh sea air, and unwind with their memorable silent disco yoga for an immersive, music-filled practice. Perfect for all levels, it’s a unique and restorative way to connect with nature in Cornwall. Visit Gwithian Beach Yoga. 

Ocean Flow Yoga Studio: Beach Yoga in Newquay

Oceanflow Yoga Studio offers a variety of classes, including Vinyasa, Hot Yoga, and Yin Yoga, all with panoramic views of Fistral Beach. Their Silent Disco Yoga events on the beach combine movement with music through wireless headphones, creating a unique and immersive experience. This approach allows participants to connect deeply with their practice while enjoying the natural beauty of Cornwall’s coastline. Visit Ocean Flow Studio online. 

Shine Yoga: Beach Yoga in Newquay

Experience the serenity of Shine Yoga in Newquay, where instructor Jen Austin leads beach yoga sessions amidst Cornwall’s coastal beauty. Classes are held on Lusty Glaze Beach, offering a harmonious blend of Vinyasa flow and the soothing sounds of the sea. Embrace the elements and rejuvenate your practice in this unique seaside setting. Visit Shine Yoga online. 

Mawgan Pause: Coastal Yoga in Mawgan Porth

Experience tranquility with Mawgan Pause in Mawgan Porth, Cornwall. Led by qualified instructors like Billy, Mawgan Pause offer personalised yoga sessions, including Flow, Yin, and Somatics, as well as sound baths. Private classes are available at your location, providing a tailored approach to your wellness journey. Embrace the serene coastal environment to deepen your practice. Visit Mawgan Pause Yoga here (and discover their Yogary Treats, no spelling mistakes there!).

Wavehunters: Beach Yoga in Polzeath

Experience invigorating beach yoga with Wavehunters at Polzeath and Watergate Bay. Their all-level classes, set against Cornwall’s stunning coastline, offer a blend of fitness and relaxation. Join their sessions to connect with nature and enhance your well-being. Discover more about Wavehunters beach yoga and coastal fitness classes. 

Beach yoga relaxation image by Chelsea Gates

Elm Yoga: Beach Yoga in Carlyon Beach

Experience the rejuvenating Beach Yoga sessions with ELM Yoga at Carlyon Bay Beach in St Austell. Led by instructor Emma, these classes (often on Saturday at 10am) offer a blend of gentle flow and relaxation surrounded by the soothing sounds of the sea. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mat or towel and consider a sea swim post-practice. Please check their online (their Facebook page is the best bet) for weather updates before turning up. Find Elm Yoga online. 

The Zen Den: Beach Yoga in Watergate Bay

The Zen Den offers a unique yoga experience in a cosy yurt overlooking Watergate Bay in North Cornwall. They provide a variety of classes, including Hatha and Yin yoga, suitable for all levels. The space is open daily from early summer until late autumn, welcoming both beginners and experienced practitioners. All equipment is provided; just bring yourself. The Zen Den is also available for private hire. Located at the Top Field Car Park, Watergate Bay, Cornwall TR8 4AA, it’s easily accessible from Newquay via a short drive or a scenic walk along cliff-top footpaths. The venue offers private, safe, and free parking. For more information or to book a class, visit the Zen Den online.

Yoga Ro: Seaview Yoga in Trebah Gardens

Yoga Ro, led by Ro, offers a variety of yoga classes in Falmouth, Cornwall, including Dynamic Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yoga, and Pregnancy Yoga. Ro has been teaching since 2016 and completed her 500-hour advanced teacher training with Quantum Yoga. She also offers live-streamed classes, 1-1 sessions, and corporate yoga/meditation. Additionally, Ro organizes retreats in various locations, providing opportunities to reset and recharge in new landscapes. For info and to book, visit Yoga Ro online. 

Love Cornwall? You'll love The Coastal Café Guide

Here at Printslinger books (home of The Coastal Café Guide, The Farm Shop Guide, and The Extra Mile Guide: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services), we love sending our readers to memorable, independent and often family-run and seasonal places to eat and drink across Cornwall and indeed the whole of Britain. To browse The Coastal Café Guide or our other books, visit our online shop today. 

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CHRISTMAS DIPS, BOXING DAY SWIMS AND NEW YEAR DOOKS IN THE UK: 2024

Once upon a time the New Year’s day swim was the preserve of the crazy or the hardened, lone sea swimmer. But since the national awakening about wild swimming, sea dips, and cold water swimming, they’ve boomed in popularity. And there is something magical about sluicing away the end of the year with an exhilarating communal dip.

This list is far from exhaustive. There are swims – formal and informal – right across the UK so check local listings for your favourite. And given they’re at the mercy of the elements, it’s always worth checking they’re going ahead before setting out.

Remember to stay safe. The Outdoor Swimming Society publish some Festive Swimming Dos and Don’ts and they’re well worth a quick look.

Photo by Big Ladder Photography https://www.bigladder.co.uk/

Photo of Bude by Big Ladder photography

Christmas Day Swims

A charity fundraiser at Boscombe Pier near Bournemouth. Pre-register on the website.

Founded in the late 60s by a group of friends and now one of the county’s largest.

  • Sennen Beach – Cornwall, 11am

Hundreds of dippers descend on one of Cornwall’s prettiest coves.

Make your way to Crooklets beach for 11am for a swim with the Bude Surf Life Saving Club. Wetsuits prohibited! (Throw a tenner in the bucket to support the club.)

  • Polzeath – Cornwall, 11am

The Cornish have a particular penchant for Christmas sea swims, but this Polzeath one is a fairly new addition to the scene. Wet suits are also forbidden but it’s worth checking to see if the sea sauna is open for a warm up before or after.

An actual ‘swim’ where participants cross the harbour and back. The RNLI are on hand to supervise but it’s organised by the local Lions Club.

A party-like sea swim on South Wales’ Coney beach that’s been going since 1965. Meet at the Hi-Tide Inn.

One way to kick off your Christmas. It’s a charity fundraiser so dig deep for the local hospice.

Supported by the Coastguard and various local charities, this one features a warm-up on the prom before a bracing dip.

Boxing Day Swims

Head to Porthminster Beach to join the throng of sea swimmers. Donations to charity.

Held in Bridport’s West bay and celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, this fancy dress swim is followed up with carols round the community Christmas tree.

Inaugurated in 2018 and rapidly amassing followers. Register in advance for a discounted ticket.

Head to the esplanade of the UK’s sunniest shore to join the dippers.

Burn off the turkey excesses with a dook in the North Sea at Cromer.

  • Portreath Beach – Cornwall, 11am

Leave your wetsuit at home – they’re not allowed here. This Boxing Day swim is arranged by the local life saving club and the entry fee covers warming mulled wine and mince pies after the event.

  • Charlestown Harbour – Cornwall, 11.30am

Run by the local rowing club near St Austell, and fancy dress is encouraged.

A ‘walk into the sea’ but most like to run and get it over with! £10 entry which goes to the local Lions Club.

A local institution with a bonfire on North Beach and hot soup for warming up afterwards. There’s a ‘superhero’ theme for fancy dressers this year.

Make your way to Cefn Sidan beach for the Boxing Day swim and you can claim a certificate to prove you were hardy enough.

Organised by the Lions Club, you’ll need to pre-register for this charity fundraising dip.

Registration for this one is mandatory and fancy dress judging begins the proceedings.

Open to anyone over the age of 12 with fancy dress encouraged. Organisers recommend bringing an old pair of trainers for the road crossing before the big wet.

The fearless swimmers here have to hurl themselves from the harbour wall into the waters.

New Year’s Day Swims

An RNLI fundraiser just outside Ilfracombe.

Lyme Regis’ fancy dress fundraiser, organised by the local Rotary Club.

  • Camber Sands Festive Dips – East Sussex, tide dependent

Also held on Boxing Day; the hardy can do both. Tide times affect timings so check in advance for the latest updates.

A charity event with prizes for fancy dress. £5 to join in and a fabulous way to sluice off the Christmas excesses.

Safeguarded by the RNLI, this new year’s cleanse takes place on Morfa Nefyn beach.

A hardcore dook in the North Sea off the Edinburgh coast. One for the brave!

Hundreds of dookers turn up for this one in a tradition that comes from the fisherfolk of the town. Spectators are welcome but mankinis aren’t.

Like sea swimming? You’ll love our Coastal Cafe Guide! Every salty sea swim demands a warming hot chocolate afterwards. (Click to buy.)

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FIND THE BEST SEA SAUNA NEAR YOU

Sea saunas in the UK are popping up all over the place: hoorah for sea saunas! They’re great for surfers, sea swimmers, and those who like to stay firmly on shore. Invigorate your senses and boost your wellbeing with a trip to a seaside of coastal sauna: the UK’s hottest trend. It’s perhaps no coincidence that the Finns, inventors of the sauna, are consistently voted the world’s happiest nation…

If you know some who loves a sea sauna after wild swimming, they’ll love our best-selling foodie travel book, The Coastal Café Guide. Take a look and perhaps buy a copy now for their next birthday. They might repay you with a voucher for a sea sauna… 

With sea dipping also on the rise, boasting an impressive list of health and wellbeing benefits too, sea saunas are seeing a significant rise in popularity.  What better way to warm up after a dip in the surf?

Here are a few of our favourite sea saunas. Grab your cozzies and go get some yourself some Vitamin Sea. 

Sea Scrub: the sea sauna in Margate

The first commercial Saunum Cube Sauna in the UK. With bluetooth speakers and adjustable lighting, the Sea Scrub sauna is the best place to enjoy the stunning views of the Margate coast line. Offering private or social sessions, depending on your preference. 


Visit Sea Scrub Sauna in Margate 

Sea Biscuit: a sea sauna in Aberdeen

Calling sea-swimmers in Scotland (or those who like to stay warm and on shore): here’s your ideal wood-fired horsebox sauna at Aberdeen Beach. Take five friends along to soak up views of the North Sea. Treat yourself to a Sauna Spa Platter with face mask, body scrub, fruit platter, ‘Nosecco’ (booze and saunas don’t mix, kids), flannels, and scented oil for water. 

Visit Sea Biscuit Sauna, Aberdeen

For a sea sauna in Worthing: head to Fire Salt Sea

An authentic wood-fired sea sauna on the beach in Worthing with a 200kg wood-fired Estonian stove and Finnish olivine rocks. Enjoy unbroken views out to sea through the full width window. Prices haven’t been increased since 2020 to keep it affordable for all. Perfect for wild swimmers, morning dippers, and those who just love a sea sauna on the Sussex coast.


Visit Fire Salt Sea

For a sea sauna in Padstow or Polzeath: hit up Saunas by the Sea

Two first-rate North Cornwall beaches, two golden sea saunas: you’ll find Saunas by the Sea in arguably two of the most desirable beach destinations in the UK: Polzeath (one sauna’s in the village centre and one’s hidden in Baby Bay, just along the beach) and Padstow. Cosy up in the wood-fired cabins before a plunge in the sea, or warm up after as you catch some waves in the rightly-famous surf. If you’re looking for a sea sauna in Polzeath or Padstow, look no further. The Wild Spa and Wellness Centre (part of the central Polzeath offering) adds outdoor classes, yoga, workshops, and a cold plunge pool to the sauna experience.


Go to Saunas by the Sea

Seek a sea sauna in Poole? Head to The Salt Water Sauna

The Salt Water Sauna invites you to a Nordic bathing experience. It was set up by Arlene, a Finn living in the UK, who wanted to create an authentic sauna experience. Through Tree Era, for every sauna booked a tree is planted, off-setting the wood used to fire the sauna. Aficionados can also check out their winter wellness retreats, hosted in Helsinki.

Go to The Salt Water Sauna, Poole

Looking for a sea sauna in Dover? You need Rebels Sea Sauna

A café and sauna set below the iconic white cliffs of Dover. More than just a sauna, but a community hub, where you can swing by for a sauna session, Tea and Tarot, or an art exhibition – check out their socials for more info on events.

  
Visit Rebels Sea Sauna in Dover

Need a sea sauna in Bude? Seek out Ocean Soul Sauna

Set right on Crooklets Beach, you can enjoy the views across the wide sandy beach as you invigorate your senses. If you’re looking for a sea sauna experience in Bude, you have come to the right place. Peer through the half-moon window straight out to sea.  


Visit Ocean Soul Sauna, Bude

Looking for a sea sauna in Oxwich Bay, Swansea? Try: Ty Sawna

This was Wales’ first beach sauna. Wood-fired and barrel-shaped, this sea sauna is right next to the sea at Oxwich Bay. Enjoy beautiful views of the ocean through the panoramic half moon window. 


Visit Ty Sawna, Oxwich Bay 

Need a sea sauna in Portsmouth? Visit Southsea Café

An independent bistro café right on the water’s edge in Eastney, the Southsea Beach Café now has a sea sauna. The sea sauna opened at the beginning of March 2024 with daily sessions bookable on their website. Ladies only sessions are often available and are bookable online, check ahead. 


Sea sauna at Southsea Beach Café

Sea Sauna, Saunton

Looking for a This Nordic wood-fired sauna on wheels fits up to 12 comfortably. Set right by the water on the North Devon Coast’s renowned Saunton Sands, it allows you to  take in the stunning beach in total privacy (its huge window is tinted).  

Visit Sea Sauna

A great gift idea for sea swimmers and surfers, our UK coastal café and food guide makes a great gift. So if you have friends who do like to be beside the seaside (all that surfing and sauna-ing works up an appetite) buy The Coastal Café Guide, a best-selling guide to 150 brilliant cafés on the coast and at the beach. 

 

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OUR TOP SEASIDE LIDOS AND MARINE LAKES IN THE UK

Seaside lido in the UK coastal swimming

The 1920s and 1930s were boom decades for Britain’s seaside lido. Having fallen out of favour for a few years, the UK’s beloved lidos are back in vogue, with many being restored and reopened to the public. Now that wild swimming and cold-water swimming are surging in popularity (and, let’s face it, the coast never goes out of style), here are some of our favourite spots for enjoying sunshine and an open-air dip without being at the mercy of the waves. Love an open-air or sea swim while at the coast? You’ll love our best-selling and eminently giftable book: The Coastal Café Guide. 

Meet The Coastal Café Guide

1. Looking for a lido in Plymouth? Head to Tinside Lido

A classic Art Deco complex right on the harbour under the stripey tower of Plymouth’s Hoe, the Tinside Lido is an iconic spot to splash in the water or bask on the sundeck. At 55m wide, there’s plenty of space, even on hot days. The perfect spot for some near-sea swimming in Plymouth.

2. Seeking an al fresco dip in Brixham? Shoalstone Seawater Pool, Devon

Brixham’s answer to Bondi, this seawater lido dates back to the 1890s with views over Torbay. Entry is free but please do be generous with donations – a campaign is currently underway to fix a growing crack in the 1920s foundations. Pop into the Shoals restaurant alongside to enjoy fresh seafood, or take a picnic poolside. 

3. The UK's largest seawater pool: Jubilee Pool, Cornwall

This is the UK’s largest seawater swimming pool, and is now geothermally heated (although not the main pool). It was built by the good people of Penzance to commemorate King George V’s Silver Jubilee, and what a way to mark it. We recommend trying the plastic-free café, booking in for a twilight swim, or warming up with a sauna session. 

Buy The Coastal Café Guide

4. Looking for a lovely lido in North Somerset? Portishead Open Air Pool

One of our locals at Coastal Café HQ, the Portishead lido has a special place in our hearts as the host of many a childhood summer day’s adventure. It was originally opened in 1962 and was renovated in 2008, adding jolly colours to the original concrete. It’s heated… except in winter when hardy souls can try the cold water Popsicle. With sea swimming made difficult by challenging tides around these parts, the lido is the ideal place to get an outdoor swim in at any time of year. If there’s someone in your life who loves visiting the coast, have a copy of The Coastal Café Guide in reserve for their next birthday. Coffee and cakes are on them! 

5. Cold water swimming in Scotland at Stonehaven Open Air Pool, Aberdeenshire

Outdoor swimmers love this Olympic-sized seawater pool that’s strung with bunting and edged by a colourful pavilion. The paddling pool and water chute were added more recently, and it’s heated, so it’s fun for all the family.  This is a lovely spot to pass sunny summer days for everyone who loves nothing more than an outdoor swim. 

6. A vintage lido experience at Lymington Sea Water Baths, Hampshire

Proudly one of the oldest lidos in the UK, Lymington Sea Water Baths traces its history back to 1833. Today, they are council-owned and offer swimming, inflatable obstacle courses, and stand-up paddle boarding with views over to the Isle of Wight.

7. Fancy outdoor swimming in Brighton? Saltdean Lido, Brighton & Hove

An elegant seaside lido that has been recently restored to its former glory. Swim in the 40m heated pool, let the kids loose in the splash pool, or loll on the lawn alongside for a spot of sunbathing. Dogs are not normally allowed, but check at the end of season when a special ‘Dogtember’ day is run for furry water lovers. When the renovation is complete, the main building will also offer a café, library, and co-working space.

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SURF, TURF, AND TARMAC: THE CAFÉ GUIDEBOOK TRIO WE ALL NEED

Three books on a table

The ultimate guidebook trio for foodies

If you’re getting ‘gift-giving anxiety’ about what to buy the discerning, book-loving foodie in your life, look no further than this unique foodie present. Our trio of foodie travel guides covers off-motorway cafés, farm shops, and cafés at the coast, with a total of around 600 memorable places top stop. This makes it the ideal gift for road-trip lovers seeking something different, or those seeking dog-friendly and family-friendly cafés and farm shops while on the road. Not only that, they’ll help you avoid motorway services and boring, big-brand food chains, helping you find, support, and enjoy Britain’s wealth of smaller, independent, local food and drinks businesses instead. 
 
Our three British travel guides for foodies are outlined below. Order today and in a few short days, you could be planning your next road trip avoiding the motorway services, sea-view seafood stop-off, or family-friendly farm-shop experience. Low-food-miles and more ethically minded eateries, here you come. And what’s even better? Buy the trio (which we’re dubbing ‘Surf, Turf, and Tarmac’) and you’ll get the three for cheaper even than Amazon – while supporting a small, independent publisher while you’re at it. Win, win, and thrice win! 
 
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The Extra Mile Guide: an Amazon #1 travel bestseller in 2023 and 2024

The Extra Mile: Delicious Alternatives to Motorway Services (4th edition.) is packed with independent cafés. It was one of 2023 and indeed 2024’s best-selling and ‘Most Gifted’ travel guides online, and it featured on BBC Breakfast TV, many BBC Radio channels, and elsewhere in print and online. It’s packed with over 275 delicious places to stop and eat just off junctions and near motorway and A-road junctions, to help you avoid motorway services and avoid chain food and find instead the best food stops on your British road trips. Use the foodie guidebook’s handy maps to find local farm shops near you, cosy cafés near motorway junctions, dog-friendly pubs or unusual places to eat just off junctions, while supporting the local, independent food businesses along your route. Covering areas just off motorway and main road junctions in mainland England, Scotland and Wales, it features:

  • Over 275 places to eat and drink with times, descriptions, images, contact details
  • 11 motorway-based maps to help you find places to eat just off motorways and junctions
  • Map showing cafés with EV chargers and restaurants with EV chargers
Different images of The Extra Mile book
Discover The Extra Mile here

The Coastal Café Guide: a 2024 Amazon #1 Hot New Release 

The Coastal Café Guide is the ideal travel and café guide for anyone who loves food, loves the coast, and wants to find cafés on the coast, coffee at the beach, and seafood near the sea! An Amazon No #1 Hot New Release in July 2024, it’s also been featured in The Times Weekend, The Sun, and The Scotsman. It’s the perfect gift for beach lovers, coast-path walkers, surfers, paddle-boarders, seafood fans, water sports enthusiasts, holidaymakers, and those travelling with families and dogs. It’s perfect to help wild swimmers find a post-swim coffee by the sea, too. Inside The Coastal Café Guide, find:

  • 150 cafés, restaurants, beach bars, seafood cabins, and pubs at the coast
  • Dog-friendly and family-friendly places to eat at the coast, often with a sea view
  • 10 striking regional maps to help you find a café on the coast near you
  • Independent, smaller cafés and places to eat on the coast
  • Features on a dozen marine- and coast-relevant charities including (and with a donation per book to) Surfers Against Sewage
  • Places in England, Scotland and Wales (inc. Isles of Scilly, Isle of Wight, Isle of Man, Isle of Skye)

The Coastal Café Guide also features 12 coastal charities, including the RNLI, the Ramblers, The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), The Marine Stewardship Council (MCS), the Open Seas charity, The John Muir Trust, The Wave Project, the National Trust for Scotland, City to Sea, The Outdoor Swimming Society, and The South West Coast Path Organisation. Not only will you be supporting local food businesses and local communities, you’ll be helping raise the profile (and raising money) for some tireless UK-based charities. 

Man at campsite holding the Coastal Café Guide
Gift a copy of The Coastal Café Guide here

The Farm Shop Guide: as seen in The Times and Waitrose Weekend

This is the ideal food, travel, and farm shop and farm café guide and directory for anyone who loves fresh food, farm-to-fork experiences, and farm-focused events and activities. It became an Amazon #1 bestseller following some fab coverage in The Times Weekend, Waitrose Weekend, The Scotsman, Cotswold Life, and more. If you love farm-fresh food and local flavours and are keen to locate a farm shop, to shop seasonally and avoid flown-in food (while supporting Britain’s farmers and growers), this is the book for you. The Farm Shop Guide will help you find farm-fresh food and independent farm shops and cafés across Britain: perfect places for a weekly shop, an eat-out treat, or a family-friendly or dog-friendly day trip to a farm. In the book you’ll find:

  • First-rate farm shops, farm shop cafés, and farm restaurants
  • Farmers’ markets and food festivals
  • Dog-friendly and family-friendly places to stop, eat and shop
  • Farm shops with EV chargers for your vehicles
  • Farms and farm shops offering PYO (pick-your-own) fruit, veg, flowers, Christmas trees, and pumpkin places
  • Striking full-colour maps and full-page features per farm shop
  • Spotlights on food, farming, and environmental charities including: Pasture for Life, the Sustainable Food Trust, Buglife, RSPB Fair to Nature, the Permaculture Association, Community Supported Agriculture, and the Soil Association.
For local farm shops, farmers markets, this farm shop directory has all the information you need on Britain’s best farm shops, organic farm shops, artisan food shops, and family-friendly farm experiences. 
 
Order your Farm Shop Guide here

Buy the ultimate trio of foodie guidebooks today for just £42 

If it’s a foodie gift or foodie book you seek, our guidebooks really will put a smile on the most discerning food lover’s face…treat yourself and they’ll have the same effect.
 
The three guides (either alone or together) make great gifts for gourmets, and those who love to avoid motorway services and big-brand chain food because they prefer farm shops, fresh food, local food, or perhaps food with a view. Our foodie travel guides also make great artisan food gifts for chefs, cooks, and Masterchef fans, who like to go the extra mile themselves when it comes to eating out, entertaining, and cooking. 
 
Support local, smaller food growers, producers and businesses, and easily locate independent cafés and farm shops near you and at the coast, wherever you live and wherever you travel around Britain. 
 
Order the three-book bundle today
Three book covers in a row