A stroll along the beach

As we were staying in Suffolk, we thought we would take a drive over to Southwold.

When the children were young, we spent many a happy week at this quiet, refined seaside town, but it is 4 years since we last made a brief visit, so it was fun to go back there today. Not much has changed. There is still a marked absence of seafront hotels, gift shops, "kiss me quick" hats, etc. True, there is one games arcade, relatively small and restrained, by the pier, but otherwise just the occasional small place among the famous beach huts selling ice creams or drinks.

The pier itself, reconstructed a decade or so ago, offers a cafe, a couple of small shops and some wacky Heath Robinson machines to provide simple, quirky entertainment.

Even on a holiday weekend, the town did not feel crowded. Just an occasional visitor, like this lady, strolling along the sand. The sky was a little hazy, but the sun was still welcome, although the wind was quite chilling.

A very pleasant day before heading back home.