I've walked the whole UK coast and this often-mocked island one hour from London is the friendliest seaside town
WHEN Quintin Lake travelled for five years around the UK, he encountered all sorts of coastlines, and people too.
For his new book The Perimeter, Quintin ventured across entire coastline of mainland Britain which covered 6800 miles and found what he called the "friendliest place I've ever been."
7
7
Talking to Sun Travel about his coastal adventure, Quintin told us: "I thought Canvey Island in Essex was the friendliest place that I'd been.
"I wouldn't knock places like that either because it's really easy to get to from London."
The Essex island in the Thames Estuary near Southend-on-Sea that's separated from Essex by a network of creeks.
The island's main attraction is an abandoned oil refinery which has since been turned into a nature reserve.
It's now home to thousands of rare insects and plants, as well as nightingales, lizards and adders.
Almost surrounded by water, it's no surprise that Canvey Island has lots of coastal spots that are popular with tourists.
Concord Beach is a hotspot for crabbing, and there's even a tidal swimming pool.
Just along the coast is Thorney Bay Beach which in 2021 received a Blue Flag award.
The Canvey Seafront is a classic seaside resort, home to museums, cinemas, bingo halls, and a miniature railway.
For kids, there's also Fantasy Island attractions, with rides and rollercoasters.
Scotland's number one secret beach revealed
7
7
It's now the only theme park on Canvey Island after the closure of Leisure Island Fun Park.
One of the biggest buildings on the front is Labworth Cafe, dating back to the 1930s, has been renovated and remains a beachfront dining area.
To get to the island, visitors can get the train to Benfleet train station which takes 40 minutes from London Fenchurch Street, and then a bus from there, taking around 45 minutes.
It wasn't just Canvey Island that Quintin was charmed by, he even went so far as to say that Essex was the most "underrated" county in the UK.
He added that during his trip, he bumped into locals who were "really fun."
He said: "It makes me laugh because all the counties next to each other have a real rivalry.
"Everyone in Suffolk says Essex is horrible, and everyone in Suffolk says don't go to Essex.
"But I find it quite endearing that every single county reckons that theirs is the best."
7
Photographer Quintin travelled through Wales, Scotland and England, finding incredible and sometimes hidden coastal spots.
All in all, he took 1,300 pictures and spent a lot of time wild camping.
Along the way he found some incredible spots like
Achmelvich Bay which he said looked like it belonged in the Bahamas.
There's white sands and bright blue seas - the only big difference will be the weather.
Quintin's book, The Perimeter is out now and available to buy here.
7
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Airlines are changing plans as conflict escalates in the Middle East. How will it affect Australian passengers?
Passengers are facing delays, scheduling changes and even cancellations as airlines recalibrate their plans to avoid a large chunk of Middle Eastern airspace. Since Israel launched missiles at Iran on 13 June, airlines have been taking alternative routes in order to stay away from parts of the region including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel and parts of Jordan. The conflict is escalating as many Australians prepare for trips to Europe during the northern hemisphere summer. If you're one of them, how will the airline disruptions affect you? It all depends on the airline you plan to fly with, and which route your flight is taking from Australia to Europe. Aviation expert Prof Rico Merkert says airlines that stop over in the Middle East, such as Qatar, Emirates and Etihad, are likely to be affected. 'For sure there will be quite a bit of delays and possibly the odd cancellation,' Merkert, deputy director of the University of Sydney's Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, says. 'Getting to the Middle East is probably still OK but once you get there it might be a bit hectic … with the potential for detours and delays. 'And, obviously, flying to Iran at the moment is not possible.' For example, Emirates typically flies from its home airport in Dubai into continental Europe using Iranian airspace, Merkert says, 'so they'll need to detour'. 'It's not just Iranian airspace, it's also Iraq, Syria and part of Jordan as well,' he says. 'Essentially, everything that's between Israel and Iran, because they do keep sending missiles to each other.' Emirates was contacted for comment, but did not respond by deadline. Qantas, which operates flights to London direct from Perth or via Singapore from Australia's east coast, has indicated it is monitoring the situation and says it will alter its flight paths if necessary but has not made changes yet. As Merkert points out in one example, a passenger on the daily QF1 flight from Sydney to London via Singapore would avoid Middle Eastern airspace, as those flights go over central Asia. However, the national carrier only flies from Australia to London. If you book with Qantas and want to go elsewhere in Europe, you're likely to be flying with Emirates, its international partner. Virgin only recently launched international flights, after entering into a codesharing agreement with Qatar, similar to the one between Qantas and Emirates. Qatar is headquartered in Doha, not far from Emirates' base in Dubai. As well as a partial ownership stake for Qatar, the alliance includes a so-called wet lease deal, whereby the Gulf carrier provides planes and crew to the Australian airline to operate weekly services to Doha under the Virgin brand. Virgin on Monday indicated its wet-leased service to Doha remained unaffected but has not ruled out scheduling changes. On Monday, a Qatar Airways spokesperson said the 'evolving situation in the region' would 'require some schedule changes'. The airline did not elaborate on what those changes involved but advised passengers to check its website for the latest information. 'We are continuously monitoring and assessing the situation, and reacting in real-time to ensure we operate under the safest conditions possible at all times,' the spokesperson said. 'We have some of the best people in the business working behind the scenes to keep our network strong and secure, and to ensure we remain the airline you can trust and rely on.' Etihad, another Gulf carrier, has suspended all flights between its base in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until 15 July. 'This remains a highly dynamic situation, and further changes or disruption, including sudden airspace closures or operational impact, may occur at short notice,' a spokesperson said on Monday. 'Etihad continues to monitor developments closely in coordination with the relevant authorities and is taking all necessary precautions.' Merkert says he expects Turkish Airlines flights to face similar problems, as the carrier typically uses Iranian airspace. The airline, which flies from Sydney to Istanbul and then onwards into Europe – with a stopover in Malaysia – has plans to further expand into the Australian market. The carrier did not respond before deadline to a request for comment. Guardian Australia contacted more than a dozen airlines on Monday asking them what their plans were. Singapore Airlines had cancelled eight flights between Dubai and Singapore, 'following a security assessment of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East'. Thai Airways, which flies from Australia to Europe via Bangkok, said its services were not affected by the conflict. British Airways indicated its flights to Australia were operating as scheduled. While airlines have assured passengers they are making plans to avoid Iranian airspace and other danger zones, Merkert says there are options for people who would prefer not to fly over the Middle East at the moment, pointing to airlines that fly to Europe via Asia without stopping over in a Gulf country. 'My daughter is currently en route to Europe,' he says. 'But she flew with Singapore Airlines and so she flew via Singapore and from there to Frankfurt. That's a route that takes you about an hour north of Iran.' Merkert says another option could be flying to Europe via Japan. 'The problem at the moment though is the Ukrainian airspace is blocked too,' he says. 'It's probably safer, but it also takes additional time.'
The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Fashion fans rave about ‘gorgeous & comfy' Hermes sandal dupes from New Look – they're £739 cheaper & good for wide feet
FASHION fans are going wild for a 'gorgeous' pair of sandals from New Look. Not only are they really 'comfy' and stylish, but they look strikingly similar to an eye-wateringly expensive pair from posh designer brand Hermes. So if the thought of spending £760 sends shivers down your spine (and don't worry, it does for us too), then you've come to the right place and won't want to miss this. And particularly if your purse is feeling the pinch more than ever before, you're sure to be overjoyed when you see the price tag of these Mink Suedette Flat Sandals. The jaw-dropping sandals were once priced at £27.99, but have since been reduced to just £20.99. They've been hailed as "good value for money" and are sure to be a staple in your summer wardrobe this season. Not only do they look almost identical to the posh Chypre Sandal from Hermes, but they're also £739.01 cheaper too. According to those at New Look, these sandals are made with cushioned padding, soft linings and flexible soles. The nubuck-look sandals are said to 'combine function with style' and are vegan-friendly. The adjustable strap shoes are perfect for a comfortable and casual look. They're sure to turn heads when paired with a floaty summer dress for a pub garden look, but are also great when styled with denim shorts for running errands. And the slip-on shoes have clearly proved a hit with many shoppers, as they have quickly racked up an average rating of 4.3 out of five. The newest items in F&F you need this summer Shoppers eagerly raced to the New Look website to share their rave reviews of the designer-inspired shoes, which are suitable for those with wide feet. One person said: 'Gorgeous colour, so comfortable and light.' Another added: 'Perfect dupes, I've been after these especially with wider feet and they are comfy!' A third New Look shopper commented: 'Lovely sandals, very comfortable and look stylish. Great colour matches lots of other neutral tones. Good value for money.' How New Look reinvented itself from a teen shop by Fabulous fashion editor Clemmie Fieldsend "REMEMBER on a Saturday you'd meet up with your mates in your local town or city centre for a nosey around the shops? Well, if you were like me you'd end up in a New Look." says Clemmie Fieldsend. "New Look was always one of those shops that when all else failed you could rely on them for whatever you needed. Your college uniform, night out or disco outfit - whatever was required you could count on New Look to meet your style needs." Clemmie says: "I felt myself growing out of New Look and thought of it as a younger brand that wouldn't have what I wanted but a quick scroll through their website or look through stores has proved me wrong. This summer they are serving up some on trend delights from clothing to accessories and of course their comfortable footwear. Recently they've lured in Girls Aloud's Nadine Coyle for an exclusive Spring Edit plus fashion influencer Georgina Lennon. They're providing quality basics, elevated stables and trend lead designs that echo the New Look we all once loved but just a bit more grown up." Meanwhile, someone else beamed: 'I absolutely love the look and quality of these sandals. They're so comfortable and are a summer staple!' And that's not all, as another fashionista explained: 'So comfy and secure to wear with the velcro strap. Perfect for dressing up or down.' But the sandals are selling out fast online, so you'll need to race down to your local New Look store if you want to nab them. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club 5
The Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Sun
Adorable £2.45 buy from Dunelm adds a ‘touch of woodland whimsy' to your garden & lasts all year round
A BUDGET buy can add a fun touch to your garden while also helping your plants thrive. Dunelm shoppers can now pick up this "adorable" item for cheaper than ever. This garden decor item proves to be both fun and functional for your plants. The Single Resin Hedgehog Pot Feet are now available for just £2.45, reduced from £3.50. According to the product description, these pot feet "bring both cuteness and functionality to your plant display". Described as "tiny, spiky friends", these buys are weatherproof and easy to clean. As well as adding personality to your space, these items will "elevate your pots for better airflow". They add over five centimetres of space between your plant pot and the ground. This is a crucial step for preventing waterlogging and root rot in your plants. By elevating your pots, you are allowing for better drainage of the soil. This prevents excess moisture from accumulating around the plant's roots. It helps to maintain healthy root systems and avoids the issues associated with overwatering. Watch the moment home owner walks over their new-build's lawn and shows how landscaping turned it into a water bed This can include everything from fungal diseases to nutrient deficiencies. "Whether indoors or outdoors, they'll add a touch of woodland whimsy to your décor," said the product description. And a £4 Home Bargains buy will also help to add a "whimsical touch" to your garden while lighting it up. And another Home Bargains buy will brighten up your space while making it look like something out of Bridgerton. Plus, a tree helps to add privacy to your garden and it's now cheaper than ever. Or you can add a fast-growing flower to cover eyesore walls and fences in your garden. Meanwhile, Amazon has a £14 privacy buy that is described as "perfect" for summer. Another privacy fence is also available from Amazon, for just £5. B&Q has an affordable privacy fence currently on sale, and you can put it up yourself. And a £10 B&M product adds inches to your fence, elevating your garden's privacy. You can also add a stylish touch to your privacy fence with another B&M buy.
