Shore thing: charming coastal homes for all seasons
Whether you’re on the lookout for a cosy weekend bolthole or that dream house by the sea, our line-up of coastal homes will have you packing your bags and leaving the the city behind in no time.
Relaxing strolls along the sea front, fish and chips on the beach, or even dropping in for fresh oysters and champagne on the pier are just some of the tempting reasons to live by the sea. What’s more, it’s well known that seaside dwelling is excellent for both body and mind. Luckily, we’re not short of inviting coastlines to choose from, whether it’s bucolic Cornwall, the thrills of the south coast or the brooding beaches of Norfolk. And they’re not all lined with Victorian hotels that have seen better days or cutesy cottages either – there are plenty of mid-century modern beauties or architecturally ambitious new-builds to choose from.
In with the new
Bohemian Hastings, with its charming old town, Stirling Prize-winning pier and smart art galleries, has much going for it. Not far off, the eye-catching silhouette of the angular Warrenders is surrounded by lush countryside in one direction and the coastline in the other, with views as far as the headland of Dungeness.
Meanwhile, Whitstable does a roaring oyster trade. It’s a lovely spot, with coastal walks and plenty of shingle beaches. Opposite the station (a swift train service connects Whitstable to London St Pancras) is Haddo Yard, which takes its cue from the local vernacular – its dark brick gables call to mind the timber fishing huts that line the sea front. Here apartments range from the generously proportioned garden one-bedroom to light-filled two-bedroom loft apartments.
Mid-century modern
The south coast isn’t short of striking homes. Albany Road in highly desirable St Leonards is a one-bedroom apartment in what was once a ballroom of a grand home built for a retired army officer in 1927. The double-height space, open-plan layout and parquet flooring hark back to its former designation. Filsham Road – a 1967 split-level four-bedroom beauty with a sun terrace and lush garden – is just a short stroll from St Leonards’ much-admired beach.
Further west, perfectly located between the New Forest National Park and the sailing attractions of Lymington, is the picturesque village of Sway. Here, Little Burn, a spacious 1970s brick property, has been augmented with a larch-clad extension.
Salty sea dogs and amateur yachtsman won’t be disappointed with Brixham – a historic Devon harbour town and active fishing port. It’s also the home of Sunpark, a gleaming 1930s, Grade II art deco house that’s been described as one of the finest properties in Devon by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner. Many of its period features remain intact (from a grand oak staircase and chrome bannister to original tiled fireplaces). It has been thoughtfully restored by the current owners, and Crittall bay windows and a roof terrace afford it superlative views across the Devon countryside.
Golden oldies
Historic doesn’t need to mean rustic or fusty. A two-bedroom Grade-II listed cottage in a former granary is ideally positioned in the coveted Suffolk town of Woodbridge and has been restored with modern needs in mind, as has an 18th-century Grade II-listed Georgian house in Essex. In Cornwall, the beautifully appointed 17th-century Halzephron House, which consists of four separate dwellings, is a stone’s throw from long stretches of golden beaches, smugglers’ coves and crystal-clear waters.
