A Fresh Air Pick-Me-Up at West Wittering

New Year's Day, cold wind blasting away the past, leading you anew to what is to come. Dogs rush by chasing balls, children roll down the sand dunes, and seagulls laugh at you as you walk by. The view before you, a Lowry-esque painting of Brits enjoying the beach, an inspirational image of relaxation.

Summer or Winter, the most refreshing place to go for a walk to blast out all the cobwebs, is West Wittering Beach. Whenever I am feeling a little down or my mind is cloudy I go for a walk along the English coast. To be blasted by the frigid air rushing towards you over the sea, is the most rejuvenating experience and I always leave with a fresh mind and a smile on my face.

Even in the winter, Wittering is filled with people out enjoying the ocean. So as you can only imagine, on a gorgeous summer's day, every square inch of the sand dunes on East Head is occupied by tanning Britons. No matter the time of year, heading to Wittering you must be prepared to pay for parking. Parking costs vary by time of day and season, going as low as £1 and as high as £8 for the day. (Either way it is totally worth it!)

East Head is my favorite part of the beach, taking you from colorful smooth pebbles scrunching under your feet as you gaze down on wicked waves rushing up the slope towards you down to soft golden sandy beaches where the waves wash upon the shore enticing you to dip you to get your feet wet. Toes in the water, enjoying the view, you may even be able to see Isle of Wight off in the distance. Enjoying the beautiful views with the wind howling past your face, it is easy to forget that you are so close to civilization. The gales mixed with the sound of the waves drowns out any ambient noise from your fellow beach goers and you are able to get lost in the moment to escape. 

Wittering does not just provide a beautifully relaxing beach but is also a nature preserve. Home to various birds you are guaranteed to see a variety of ducks, geese, or waders enjoying the marshes between the dunes of East Head Beach and Wittering village. However, birds are not the only creatures to enjoy. Butterflies and dragonflies adorn the air around the marshes, as the dunes provide the perfect shelter from the wind to access the enticing flora. And if you look closely enough through the tall grasses you may find a rabbit or a wood-mouse peering back at you.