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The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘I broke down in the studio from all the raw emotion': Richard Hawley on making The Ocean
My wife, Helen, had driven our two young kids down to Porthcurno beach in Cornwall. It's where Rowena Cade had carved the Minack theatre into the granite cliffs. I'd been playing a gig so arrived two days later, and for a boy from a smoggy industrial city, the blue sea and palm trees felt revelatory. Roger, the landlord of the old smugglers' pub, told me everyone had gone to the beach, so I took my boots off, rolled my suit trousers up and walked towards them. I saw the silhouettes of my wife and children playing at the ocean's edge. By the time I reached them a song had popped into my head. Helen knows the glazed look in my eyes when this happens. She said: 'You're writing a song, aren't you?' I said: 'I'm sorry, dear. I am.' I bombed it back to the cottage we were staying in, got my guitar, banged out the tune and then went back to the beach and enjoyed the rest of the holiday. When we got home I jammed the idea with the band. There are only four chords in the song and one of them is a sort of special gift from my uncle Eric. He's in his 80s now, but his fingers are so swollen from working the hammer in the steelworks that he's always had to play rhythm guitar with his fingers down a semitone. That produces an A major seven, which is the first chord in The Ocean. I can laugh about this now, but at the time I was 31, which felt old for a musician. I had come through playing with Treebound Story, Pulp and Longpigs. I'd quit heavy drugs, got married, launched a solo career and been dropped by my label. I had been on tour constantly, making very little money, been brutalised by the industry to an extent and away from my family for a lot of time. All these thoughts fed into The Ocean. The emotionally edgy vocals were done in one take. People have to make their own minds up whether it's 'Still dressed in your morning suit' or 'mourning suit' because it's almost two extremes, life and death. I actually broke down during the recording, in the middle eight after I sing 'I assume, I assume'. I only just managed to hold it together. It felt like the last throw of the dice and I was trying to harness my raw emotions. I wanted to make music that would last. When Richard was in Longpigs the record company needed a single so they gave each member of the band £1,000 to record a song in a place of their choice. Richard came into Sheffield's Yellow Arch studios with me. He was a bit of a recovering mess, really, and by his own admission the song was shit. He didn't have anything else for Longpigs but said he had these 'piddling little tunes I do for myself', so I suggested using the studio time to record those. After I kept him there for a week of heavy drinking and psychotherapy we had a mini-album. He asked me and Shez Sheridan [guitar] to be part of his first solo band and we've been there ever since. The early records got good reviews but when we came to make Coles Corner it did feel a bit 'last chance saloon'. We made the album without a record deal and Richard wanted to push the boundaries. I played double bass as opposed to the usual electric. Opening the album with a string section felt brave and we also used it to great effect on The Ocean. I wanted him to sing the bit after the middle eight up an octave. He thought it would be embarrassing and didn't want to but I said: 'No, it's emotional. Go up!' It's a song that he particularly connects with, especially that section. When we play it live, people's hands go up in the air and the lighters come out. It's hard to know why it's become his most streamed song, but the opening line – 'You lead me down to the ocean' – is very evocative. Most people go to the seaside for their holidays, dip their feet in the sea, look out over the waves and it can feel as if all your troubles are behind you. There's something intangible about the ocean that people seem to connect to. A 20th anniversary Zoetrope vinyl format, a half speed master vinyl LP and an expanded two CD version of Coles Corner is released on 1 August. Richard Hawley plays Gaiety theatre, Isle of Man, on 30 August. Then tours until 10 October
Scottish Sun
02-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
The Cornish beach with whiter sand than Australia that's right next to a top-rated campsite
And there's another beach around the corner that's been compared to the Caribbean G'DAY MATE The Cornish beach with whiter sand than Australia that's right next to a top-rated campsite THERE'S a beach in Cornwall that has been called "as good as Australia" with soft white sand banks and bright blue seas. Porthcurno Beach is recognised for its natural beauty as well as it's famous outside theatre - and it's 10-minutes away from a much-loved campsite. Advertisement 5 Porthcurno Beach has been compared to Australia Credit: Alamy 5 Just 10-minutes up the hill is Treen Farm Campsite Credit: Tree Farm Campsite Porthcurno Beach is well-known for being beautiful and according to one visitor it's "as good as an Australian beach!" Someone else added: "When the sun comes out, you could be on any beach in the world. This beach is stunning. Pure white, soft sand." Another reason as to why Porthcurno has been compared to Australian and Caribbean beaches is its warmth. In fact, it's the beach is the second warmest in the UK outside the summer months. Advertisement The Porthcurno Beach boasts an average temperature of 13.1C in autumn, which is still warm enough to enjoy, but worth taking an extra layer just to be on the safe side. The town is also home to the Minack Theatre, an open-air performance space that overlooks the ocean. And just a 10-minutes walk away from the beach, is Treen Farm Campsite, and nearly all the pitches have sea views too. All pitches are supplied with picnic benches so during the summer you can eat dinner alfresco. Advertisement There are token-operated hot showers on site, toilets, washing up and laundry facilities too. On-site is a small shop for supplies like milk, eggs, bread rolls, local meats, wines and beers - as well as BBQs. Turkish resort just a four-hour flight from the UK with free child prices throughout the summer holidays 5 Porthcurno Beach is one of the warmest in the UK Credit: Alamy Every morning the shop has freshly baked croissants and pasties are available throughout the day. Advertisement During busier times of the season, there are catering vans that pull up to the campsite up to three times a week. In the warmer months, the campsite even offers a short, morning meditation class. Anyone wanting to camp at Treen Farm Campsite cannot book as it operates on a first come, first served basis. The website warns that in peak season, it's best to arrive early to guarantee a pitch. Advertisement To pitch a medium tent (3-4 man) cost £7 per night during peak season. There's an additional fee of £11 for adults during peak season, and £6 for children. The campsite is open between April 1 and October 5. It's highly-rated on Tripadvisor with visitors praising its "spectacular views" and "lovely site staff". Advertisement 5 Both beaches have blue waters and white sand Credit: Alamy Another famous beach for white sands that is just around the corner is Pedn Vounder Beach. The beach is tucked away near Land's End and used to be a hidden gem, now it's very well-known and popular in the summer. Last year, Pedn Vounder Beach was named one of the best in the world. Advertisement Ranking it 25th in the world, Big 7 wrote: "Cornwall has long been a summer getaway destination for local families, but its gorgeous coastline has caught the eye of international travellers. "Combining crystal clear blue water and white sand, it's proof that you don't need to hotfoot to the Caribbean for a tropical island-inspired getaway." Check out this Netflix-famous sandy beach an hour from London with 'excellent' water quality – and it's nowhere near the sea. And an English tidal lido right on the beach that you can only visit twice a day. Advertisement
The Sun
02-07-2025
- The Sun
The Cornish beach with whiter sand than Australia that's right next to a top-rated campsite
THERE'S a beach in Cornwall that has been called "as good as Australia" with soft white sand banks and bright blue seas. Porthcurno Beach is recognised for its natural beauty as well as it's famous outside theatre - and it's 10-minutes away from a much-loved campsite. 5 5 Porthcurno Beach is well-known for being beautiful and according to one visitor it's "as good as an Australian beach!" Someone else added: "When the sun comes out, you could be on any beach in the world. This beach is stunning. Pure white, soft sand." Another reason as to why Porthcurno has been compared to Australian and Caribbean beaches is its warmth. In fact, it's the beach is the second warmest in the UK outside the summer months. The Porthcurno Beach boasts an average temperature of 13.1C in autumn, which is still warm enough to enjoy, but worth taking an extra layer just to be on the safe side. The town is also home to the Minack Theatre, an open-air performance space that overlooks the ocean. And just a 10-minutes walk away from the beach, is Treen Farm Campsite, and nearly all the pitches have sea views too. All pitches are supplied with picnic benches so during the summer you can eat dinner alfresco. There are token-operated hot showers on site, toilets, washing up and laundry facilities too. On-site is a small shop for supplies like milk, eggs, bread rolls, local meats, wines and beers - as well as BBQs. Turkish resort just a four-hour flight from the UK with free child prices throughout the summer holidays 5 Every morning the shop has freshly baked croissants and pasties are available throughout the day. During busier times of the season, there are catering vans that pull up to the campsite up to three times a week. In the warmer months, the campsite even offers a short, morning meditation class. Anyone wanting to camp at Treen Farm Campsite cannot book as it operates on a first come, first served basis. The website warns that in peak season, it's best to arrive early to guarantee a pitch. To pitch a medium tent (3-4 man) cost £7 per night during peak season. There's an additional fee of £11 for adults during peak season, and £6 for children. The campsite is open between April 1 and October 5. It's highly-rated on Tripadvisor with visitors praising its "spectacular views" and "lovely site staff". 5 Another famous beach for white sands that is just around the corner is Pedn Vounder Beach. The beach is tucked away near Land's End and used to be a hidden gem, now it's very well-known and popular in the summer. Last year, Pedn Vounder Beach was named one of the best in the world. Ranking it 25th in the world, Big 7 wrote: " Cornwall has long been a summer getaway destination for local families, but its gorgeous coastline has caught the eye of international travellers. "Combining crystal clear blue water and white sand, it's proof that you don't need to hotfoot to the Caribbean for a tropical island-inspired getaway." Check out this Netflix-famous sandy beach an hour from London with 'excellent' water quality – and it's nowhere near the sea. And an . 5
National Geographic
19-06-2025
- National Geographic
7 unmissable UK beaches to visit this summer
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Don't believe anyone who says the United Kingdom is a poor comparison to the likes of Australia, or South Africa when it comes to beaches. What the country lacks in palm trees or exotic wildlife, it makes up for in the sheer variety of its coastline. Somewhere in its four nations, your perfect beach awaits: places with birdlife or wild beauty and destinations where fish and chips with your feet in the sand is an essential part of the beach-going experience. You may need a windbreak but what could be more British than shrugging off a bit of weather? 1. Porthcurno, Cornwall All of Cornwall's magic is concentrated in these couple of acres. The sand is a deep wedge, which expands at low tide, the sea is of a blue that would make a peacock blush and pillar-like granite cliffs ripple along the coast like fortifications. There's culture, too, at the open-air Minack Theatre, where the backcloth is the horizon of the Atlantic. The price of such beauty is crowds in the summer months — traffic jams on the approach lane are legendary. Arrive early- or mid-afternoon or try the quieter sister-beach, Pedn Vounder. It's accessible on foot around a headland at low tide. Porthcurno beach is located at the very tip of Cornwall, in southern England. Photograph by Getty Images, John Harper 2. Weymouth, Dorset For 12 years, George III holidayed at Weymouth, transforming a fishing village into a resort for flaneurs — then, in the late-1800s, for the public arriving on the London train. Come for a classic English seaside experience — deckchairs on the promenade, donkey rides on the pampered beasts of West Hill Donkeys, pedalos, Punch and Judy shows twice a day and sand perfect for castles. Factor in toddler-friendly shallows and you have a favourite with young families. And for fish and chips? There are over a dozen options in town but there's a reason why family-owned Marlboro has been around since 1974. (Welcome to Weymouth, the British seaside resort with a twist.) 3. Sanna Bay, Ardnamurchan The Highlands are an idea of isolated beauty as much as a real destination. Enter Sanna Bay, the most westerly point in Britain. To get there, you take a pretty drive snaking along the shores of Loch Sunart. Beyond Kilchoan village, you're on a single-track lane — over moors and past white smallholdings, sheep and Highland cattle — to reach a remote carpark at the end of the road. Even so, you won't be prepared for the impact of walking through dunes to these icing-sugar sand arcs before turquoise shallows. Smaller beaches notch beyond headlands and sunsets are otherworldly. Better still, there's usually a breeze, which means none of Scotland's infamous midges. The isolated beauty of the Scottish highlands is what makes the beach at Sanna bay so appealing. Photograph by Getty Images, Simon Hodgkiss 4. Bamburgh, Northumberland There's a debate to be had about the appeal of cosy coves versus epic beaches. If you lean towards the latter, this is your spot. Bamburgh beach is vast: four magnificent miles from Seahouses harbour to a monster castle at Bamburgh, all backed by silver-green dunes and dotted with rockpools to poke at with a shrimp net. Walk the lot and you can stop for king prawn chilli burgers at Creel & Reel food truck at the carpark in Waterford. You will also deserve a pint of Bamburgh Blonde at the Bamburgh Castle Inn back at Seahouses. 5. White Park Bay, Antrim A public campaign raised £15,000 to safeguard this beauty for the National Trust. Now, otters gambol at dusk (a sure sign of eco-health), 17 species of butterflies and countless rabbits flit in the grasslands behind. Not forgetting the most-photographed cows in Northern Ireland, known for grazing on the beach, swaying along sands whenever a local farmer moves his herd. The squeaky 'singing sands' (the sand is known to produce a humming or buzzing sound) hold fossils — bullet-like squid and the shells of extinct mollusks, commonly known as devil's toenails. The absence of people will put you in mind of Australia rather than Antrim. Just be wary of swimming: the current can be vicious. 6. Holkham, Norfolk On summer weekends, when up to 1,000 cars fill the parking area, it can seem like half of Norfolk has arrived. Through a fuzz of pine trees and a small sea of dunes, you will wonder where they all went. Holkham is big — two-miles long and 1,640-foot wide at low tide. Co-ordinate a visit for that time because it's the scale that wows at Holkham. This is a beach for cricket and kite-flying, to throw balls for madly excited dogs or to lie behind a windbreak and watch vast cloudscapes roll past like galleons under full sail. The beach at Holkham is one of the longest stretches of sand in the country. Photograph by Getty Images, Jackie Bale (How to spend a weekend in North Norfolk, UK.) 7. Whitesands Bay, Pembrokeshire Wales has bigger beaches like the Gower's Rhossili and pretty coves like Mwnt or Porth Iago. This stretch of coastline near St Davids wins because it has all you need from a beach. The pale sand gets emptier the further you go from the carpark. There's surfboard rental to ride friendly summer waves, plus seasonal lifeguards. Footpaths track to St Davids Head, the Land's End of Wales, marked by a neolithic tomb or to the rocky ridge of Carn Llidi hill, which rises above the beach. Save an ascent till dusk to see islands scattered in a sheet of golden sea. To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
The Sun
06-06-2025
- The Sun
I make £10,000 each summer renting my house to rich tourists – I live with my daughter in a caravan in mum's garden
LIKE many mums, I'm already planning the summer holidays in Cornwall. I'm budgeting carefully to make my money stretch as far as possible but unlike many of my mates, I'm not just watching the pennies this summer - I'm making them, too. 6 So as my daughter Mabel and I splashing about at Jubilee Pool in Penzance, watch a kids' show at the Minack Theatre and wander around the Eden Project, we'll be earning while we're relaxing. I'm renting our family home in Cornwall to tourists, so we can earn an extra £10k over the peak summer months. To make it work, Mabel, 7, and I are swapping our house for a caravan at my parents' farm in north Cornwall. People tell me that I'm mad to give up our comfy home to live in a less-than-glam caravan for six weeks with a small child. PRECIOUS TIME But while they're glued to laptops or forking out for childcare, I'll be bringing in enough money to cut back my working hours and spend more precious time with my daughter. I'd much rather give up my sofa and Wi-Fi than work flat-out all summer, feeling like I'm failing my boss and my child. My daughter and I live in a standard three-bedroom house at the edge of Cornwall's Roseland Peninsula. It's not in one of the posh tourist hotspots like St Mawes or Portloe, where the seafront rentals go for between £4k and £8k a week. But it's definitely close enough to the sea to tempt holidaymakers looking for a more affordable base. A 10-minute drive gets you to the fairytale-like Caerhays Castle or the long stretch of sand at Carne Beach and Pendower. The seaside town of Newlyn in Cornwall has been dubbed as one of the 'coolest' places to relocate 6 Go a little further, around 20 minutes, and you've got the Lost Gardens of Heligan and Mevagissey's working harbour and quaint shops. I've teamed up with a friend who owns several holiday cottages nearby. Her properties get snapped up early, mostly by returning guests, so when someone misses out, she recommends my house. Holiday costs in Cornwall have shot up since lockdown, and many people are pleased to find somewhere peaceful for well under half the price of a typical seafront stay. Getting the house up to scratch for paying guests is the most labour-intensive bit. I charge £2,000 per week and pay my friend a 10 percent commission, which works out at around £200 a week. In return, I get lovely, respectful guests and none of the marketing and admin stress. Our bookings for this summer are confirmed, and Mabel and I will be making the most of the great outdoors by July. Anyone can rent their property out - you just need to ensure you have fire doors fitted and check the terms of your house insurance and mortgage. In London and some other places, you're limited to a maximum of 90 days rental. Most people I speak to assume that the hardest part is living in a caravan. But honestly, getting the house up to scratch for paying guests is the most labour-intensive bit. It's no small task, so I do odd jobs here and there. Though it's only May, I'm already repainting scuffed walls and doors, booked a plumber to replace the shower, and filled the flower beds with marigolds and petunias. In all, I'll spend around £1,000 on repairs that probably need doing anyway. It's the thought of guests arriving that motivates me to get them done, instead of endlessly putting them off. As for our own summer living quarters, the 20-year-old caravan isn't exactly boutique. 6 It's been sitting, mostly disused, between an outhouse and polytunnel at the bottom of my parents' garden for years. But it's got everything you need for an outdoorsy summer. There's electricity, a toilet and sink in the outhouse. And I've kitted it out with a kettle, microwave, a second-hand fridge-freezer and a cheap double electric hob. We're bringing bunting, solar-powered fairy lights, an inflatable paddling pool and a fire pit for marshmallow toasting. HOLIDAY HACK I love to give the place a proper holiday vibe, even if there's no fancy hot-tub or Instagrammable outdoor pizza oven. We'll venture into my parents' house to make the most of the shower and bath, but even though mum asked us to live with them for the holidays, our different approaches to parenting make this nearly impossible. A caravan seems like a healthy compromise, as we all get our own space, yet they will be close by on the farm. Plus, my mum is happy to help with Mabel a couple of days a week, so I can keep my freelance business going. Every Saturday, I'll make the one-hour drive back to the house to clean, wash the sheets and towels and tackle any urgent maintenance issues. Last year, I took a month off work and also paid off a chunk off the mortgage with the extra cash. I first tried this money-making trick back in 2011, when I was a grad student in Devon living on a £14k a year grant. Each summer, I'd rent out my waterfront flat for up to a week at a time, while working at residential summer schools and sleeping in student halls. Instead of spending the extra money, I saved it up and eventually used it to put down a deposit on a second property in Cornwall. But now I'm a single parent and mortgage interest rates are high, I've found myself relying on this holiday hack for the last few summers. Last year, I took a month off work and also paid off a chunk off the mortgage with the extra cash. It's not always smooth sailing as caravan life does have its challenges, especially when it rains. Come September, we'll be grateful not to dash outside to use the loo in a downpour. I would love to put the cash towards a summer spent abroad one day, in a place with guaranteed sunshine. For now, a rustic British summer with my little one will do just fine. 6
