Covehithe Beach - A special place

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is quoted as saying - ‘The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone’ . I am reminded of this quote as I walk along Covehithe beach. It’s not that this place is without the presence of others, but I would wager that those here are largely introverted or reflective souls, enjoying this quiet and deserted stretch of beach, holding it dear as a place to think and to dream. These travellers should not be viewed as depressed souls , they are like us probably, feeling more alive than in any other place. This is make no mistake a special place . You don’t see Covehithe , you feel it.

The best place on the beach is where it reaches the Benacre Nature Reserve , a strange but powerful sense of renewal over decay exists here. The presence of dead trees on the beach , victims of savage coastal erosion is contrasted against the picture of nesting birds. Oyster Catchers swooping in a warning to those approaching too close. The old against the new some would describe , although the causes of erosion of the coast require a more in depth assessment than I am either qualified to give or have the time to do justice in this blog. Needless to say it is and has already been disastrous for the East Coast of England,

 

Access to this location is on foot , parking in the village of Covehithe and taking the 30/40 minute walk to where the beach reaches Benacre Nature Reserve. It is hard to image how anyone with physical accessibility issues could access this location which is a shame, but the remoteness also protects it from the excesses of human behaviour. The video below gives a sense of the walk approaching this place.

I really don’t know long Covehithe will remain as a physical place to visit , so we always walk this way every time we are in Suffolk , each time with a prayer of conservation in our hearts. It feels like visiting an elderly resident who though physically frail still beams a smile your way which warms you to the bone.

Photographers hold this place in reverence, as the statue like trees hold themselves perfectly still as a subject in a composition greatly enhanced by the big Suffolk skies, especially at sunrise. When you stand here and look at the trees you do get a sense of the ecological battle for the world, with humanity asking what it can do in the face of such brutally destructive natural power.

I am no great photographer, I take great comfort in the fact that I don’t need to be. I do however like being out with my camera on this beach. It changes every time ,bringing a rich variety that forces a digital comparison from each visit to track the changes.

So until the next time dear friend , we keep returning despite your receding nature, with the hope that we age a little faster than you.

Thanks for reading

Kindest regards

Helen and Martin