Eccles-on-sea...done

I had a sudden need to just get out today, so. in spite of the persistent drizzle, I resumed my trips to the coast, North Gap at Eccles-on-Sea next on my list.

I have to confess that although I'd never visited the beach there, the village has never been a favourite of mine - an odd collection of dwellings that have a slightly shabby look about them. They are grouped just behind the dunes along a network of unmade roads that could win prizes for their potholes!

Perhaps I didn't give it a very fair assessment today because it certainly was pretty bleak, but this is not the most welcoming approach to a beach...

I think this is all part of the sea defences here; when you see how close the properties are to this point I guess this is unsurprising but it did feel a bit like I was walking into Alcatraz.

It opens straight onto a sandy stretch of beach with the rocky defences off the Sea Palling coast in the distance in one direction...

and the concrete barrier supporting the dune towards Happisburgh in the other direction...

The sky had a completely washed out feel - the kind of day that drains the colour out of everything, leaving the sea looking murky. At the water's edge the beach becomes very shingly... 

with great swathes of washed up seaweed strewn across the tide line...

Sometimes these piles of seaweed are mingled with bright reds and greens but today, even this just looked dull and brown...

I have to confess that I wasn't blown away by Eccles beach. It was cold and wet and generally uninspiring. Perhaps its only redeeming feature that it is a bit out of the way so was deserted (probably because all the sensible people were in the warm at home!!). I didn't hang around, by the time I was heading back to the car my camera lens was speckled with rain but you get a feel for just how close the houses are - this is just outside the flood gates looking inland...

Looking back towards the coast, the sea is literally the other side of the narrow dune in the background - I would guess a distance of no more than 100m behind this bungalow...

I'm sure on a brighter day this place might have a nicer feel to it but I don't think I will be returning to this one, much nicer spots along our long stretch of Norfolk coast.

Sorry, Eccles, but was quite glad not to have wasted a beautiful day ticking this one off the list! And I did blow a few cobwebs away up there. Just need a bit of Spring sunshine to pick me up a bit...

Next time maybe...