Beach huts

Another grey, grey day and another long walk around Walberswick National Nature Reserve - a wild mix of heathland, reedbeds and shingle, but unfortunately with very little visible wildlife. For Alex the highlight of the walk was finding a very old rusty and abandoned tractor which had the key in it. He turned the key and amazingly the engine turned over - I don't think I've ever seen him leap off something so quickly!!

We'd planned to do a circular walk, but when we reached the beach we found out that the path leading us back had been closed. This necessitated a walk along the full length of the beach into Walberswick village, quite a trial, as Gemma's paw was sore and she couldn't walk on the shingle, and was uncomfortable even on the rough sand. We left the younger generation and ancient dogs in a pub garden while Pete and I went to fetch the car...

Afterwards we had a quick visit to Southwold - a perfect genteel English seaside town, full of wonderful Georgian and Victorian buildings. We paid homage to the Adnams brewery and bought a selection of beers to take home. On our way back to the car we walked past the famous beach huts - and as they were by far the most colourful thing in my day they got blipped!

The following description is an extract from an article by BBC Suffolk:

The town has 300 beach huts, which stretch along the shore like the brightly coloured beads of a necklace. The beach huts in Southwold evolved from fishermen's huts and bathing huts. From there they progressed to huts in use on a daily basis and for the holiday season. Quite often a hut was linked to a property and if a house was sold, the beach hut came with the house...

...Beach huts can change hands for vast sums of money, some have been known to sell for around the £35,000 mark, either way they get snapped up very quickly. The price of the huts depends upon the position and condition. Those with a more southerly aspect seem to command a greater price. The ones in the Gun Hill area are at a premium, whereas those to the north of the pier, particularly as there's no beach there are the moment, tend to go for a lower price...

...For most owners the huts form an integral part of their lives and they are something to be cherished. They are kept within the close family, to be handed down through the generations. Parties are sometimes held at the huts and passers-by are met with the sight of guests in ball gowns and black tie drinking champagne on the prom!