Have you ever stared longingly at the waves on the last day of your holiday, and made a desperate plan to relocate?
Oh, to live in a house by the sea, and enjoy a life of complete simplicity with only the seabirds and dolphins for company.
It all sounds rather romantic, but it turns out there are some real benefits to be had with coastal living.
It’s no secret that the sea can do wonders for your mental health, and a dive into history proves that sea air was once seen as the cure for all manner of ailments.
Healing qualities
Sea air can help you sleep better, and there’s no denying that listening to the waves can be incredibly relaxing.
That glorious salty sea water can even help your body heal, due to the anti-inflammatory effect on your skin.
Is sand and surf nature’s very own fully stocked pharmacy? We visited the coastal town of Newtonhill, near Stonehaven, to find out.
Proud residents Steven and Julie Wilson have lived just 100 yards from the shore for more than a decade, and enjoy stunning views of the North Sea 365 days a year.
The couple fell in love with the coastal community of Newtonhill, and settled into life at a gorgeous cottage, which dates back to 1808.
They aren’t the only ones to be beguiled by the location, having just sold their home within a matter of days.
Taste for the outdoors
The tide has a firm grip on them however, with the current carrying the family to nearby Muchalls – which is also a former fishing village complete with a beautiful beach.
“We’ve stayed at Newtonhill for just over 12 years,” said Steven, who is a kitchen engineer, while Julie is an occupational therapist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
“I remember when Julie looked out the bedroom window at the view and that was it. I knew we were going to have it.
I think for Julie in particularly, it was always her dream to return and live by the sea. She grew up on the Fife coast, and she always wanted to go back to that way of life
“I think living by the sea can make you quite outdoorsy; we always see people paddle boarding. It’s just part of life here, and I’ve always loved wildlife.
“There’s always something happening, and everyone tends to know each other, even if only by sight.”
Spotting a dolphin can be an everyday occurrence, and Steven has almost grown used to seeing them in the water.
“We see dolphins or seals most weeks,” he said.
I remember when we first saw a dolphin and I thought to myself, wow
“Now it’s almost normal.
“We had a whale not so long ago, but by the time I got out the house to go and have a look, I’d missed him.
“It’s 100 yards from our path to the beach; we’ve taken my daughter down to the shore since she was a baby.
“I’ve always said that throwing stones into the water is the cheapest form of entertainment.
“Now she throws stones for our miniature Labradoodle, Bella.
“Bella loves paddling, she’d bide in there all day if we let her.
Although the popular hobby of wild swimming is not all that appealing to Steven, he enjoys being part of a coastal community.
“I’ve put my feet in, but I haven’t braved swimming,” he said.
“Plenty of people do though.
“It’s a great community; we see the same fisherman every day going out in his boat to get crabs and lobsters.
I think it’s a great education for my daughter. We see the razorbills migrate and there’s cormorants here as well
“We only get a bad storm once in a blue moon, and we love seeing the water change in all the different lights.
“We don’t actually eat seafood, as Julie is allergic to shellfish.
“We know we’ll never leave the sea behind though.”