St. Bees Beach Seafront

St Bees Beach stretches out along the Cumbrian coast, a photogenic mix of pebbels and sand depending on the tide. A wide promenade runs behind it and the red sandstone mass of St Bees Head stands tall overlooking the north end. This is the westernmost point in Cumbria and it looks straight out at the Irish Sea. The Coast to Coast Walk starts here, and walkers still pause to dip a boot in the water before heading east. Plan your shooting adventure to stay through sunset. Nothing stands between the promenade and the horizon, so the light comes in low and spreads along the sand with incredible colours. On a clear evening the Isle of Man appears as a long dark line to the west, and there are turbines out on the water to give you something in an otherwise empty skyline. Take a few minutes to walk to the north end of the beach for the cliffs, the sandstone is a rich red and it gets even redder in the last hour of the day. Low tide opens up the rock pools and wet sand, and the reflections down there just add to an already photogenic area. If you climb the clifftop path, you'll be able to capture the whole bay with the village behind it. Trains stop in the village a short walk away, so you can do this without a car, and the Lake District is only half an hour inland if the weather turns on you. (St Bees, Cumbria, England)