STOKE BEACH

This is the most special place in the world to me for many reasons.

I spent many weekends as a child and in my teens having lots of fun at this place.

Stoke Beach is an uncommercialised caravan park where local people holiday in static caravans.

I remember when I was about 10 years old going down to the beach with friends and spending the day swimming and basically having loads of fun. My Mum used to make up a packed lunch for me which would have my favourite sandwiches (egg mayonnaise) or crab paste.

The beach played a very big part of my child and teenage years. I even did a study of the beach for my Geography O Level, the only coursework I actually completed and enjoyed.

I felt I have been priveleged to have lived in such a beautiful place for many years of my early life.

Many people holiday in Devon which speaks volumes about the place, however when you are a local there are very few places that you can visit in the summer without bumping into the foreigners as we used to call the tourists (I apologise in advance to anyone who has visited Devon in the past for that comment).

Stoke Beach was the get away place. Very secluded and unspoilt. My Mum, Dad and I used to visit every weekend between April and October. Also I would stay there in the summer holidays. I had many friends and best of all lots of freedom.

When I was older , 16 years, I used to stay with friends from school. We'd visit the local pub, The Ship in the village near by called Newton Ferrers. Its setting is so picturesque overlooking the river Yealm. Im hoping to spend some time there next summer with my husband and son Danny.