One of the things I love about where we live is being able to pop to the beach whenever we want to.
And while the coast is gorgeous in the warm, summer months, there’s something I really love about visiting the beach in the winter.
Whether it’s Christmas breaks in Cornwall or brightening up January with a trip to Brighton, you can’t beat the coast for a holiday destination in the colder months.
If you need a bit of convincing though, here are 6 reasons to visit the beach this winter.
1. You could have the beach all to yourself
The cold weather doesn’t quite attract the crowds to the beach the same way hot, summer weather does.
So if you do head to the beach in the winter there’s a good chance you’ll have the place to yourself. And there’s something about wrapping up warm and strolling along a deserted beach that’s good for the soul.
2. You can most likely take your dog with you
A lot of beaches let dogs on the sand during the winter months when the beaches are quiet.
So if you have a dog in the family take the chance to mix up your walks with a trip to the coast.
3. You’ll sleep better
Have you ever noticed that you seem to sleep really well after spending time at the beach?
A study carried out for the national trust found that people who went for a good walk along the coast slept, on average, 47 minutes longer than those who didn’t. In contrast, people who did a similar walk inland only slept 12 minutes longer on average.
4. It can help you feel calmer
The soothing sound of the waves at the beach can help calm our brain wave frequency, and even put us into a gentle meditative state.
Spending five minutes watching the waves and listening to the sounds of the water can leave you feeling much calmer. And the benefits are easier to get in the winter when there are no crowds to drown out the sounds of nature.
5. The sea air will boost your mood
That lovely salty air at the beach is full of healthy negative ions, which help to boost our ability to absorb oxygen as well as balance our serotonin levels.
Serotonin is the feel-good chemical that regulates our moods and boosts our sense of wellbeing and happiness.
6. It’s a great way to get some exercise
On a cold winter’s day you won’t really want to stand around for too long at the beach, and walking on the sand is great exercise for your whole body.
If you want to you can take things a step further and go for a cold-water swim.
A study on cold water therapy found that immersing yourself in the water on a chilly winter’s day can boost your dopamine (the happy hormone) levels by 250%.
Do you love going to the beach all year round, or do you normally only visit during the summer?
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post