The Great British Seaside is such a contradiction: it swells and swarms with people all summer long and yet, when the first frost sets in, these swathes of beautiful coastline become virtually deserted. Fossilised. Forgotten. Which is a shame, given the myriad benefits of bracing sea swims — or simply being close to a body of water — for our immune systems, metabolism and general mood. In search of this holy trifecta of wellness (Christmas is coming, etc) I find myself heading 250 miles south-west of London to Bantham Beach.
The frothy swell and waves that lick this stretch of the South Devon coast have earned Bantham a reputation as one of Europe’s finest beaches and an area of outstanding natural beauty. It’s part of the sprawling Bantham Estate (all 750 acres of it, owned by the same family who are connected to the Great Tew Estate in the Cotswolds) and where we chose to spend a positively balmy November weekend with our two mini-mes in tow. While the majority of properties in the village are privately owned, there are a few holiday homes that are available to rent.
