There's so much to see, hear, touch and smell on a visit to the coast. There's no escaping the smell of fish at a seabird nesting colony, and the racket created by thousands of shrieking birds is something else.
Looking out to sea you could see seals, whales, dolphins, or even a basking shark at the right spot. But if all else fails, there's always the sensory delights evoked by a walk on a beach. Imagine sand between your toes, waves washing towards you and maybe fish and chips (sustainable of course!)...
Our coasts are internationally important for breeding seabirds. Gannets are the biggest and perhaps most spectacular - they're the size of a goose and striking in black and white - and can be seen diving headfirst into the sea after fish. Guillemots and razorbills often crowd cliff faces, and everybody loves to see puffins.
On western coasts, you might be lucky enough to see choughs - glossy, black crows with bright orange beaks and legs.
Exploring the contents of a rockpool, or picking up shells and seaweed are brilliant ways to get to know nature.
