When the sun came out on Sunday morning, we packed up the car and headed to the coast for the day. We visited Lymington and Milford on Sea, drove through the beautiful New Forest and had a stroll on the beach. It was beautiful, if a little bit blustery!

Mia was fascinated by Isle of Wight ferry, and kept asking whether we could go. I must add this to our list of places to see in the summer, as it’s about twenty years since I last visited.

Cobbled streets in Lymington, and lots of lovely independent shops. As it was Sunday and out of season, most were closed, but it looks like a great place for an afternoon’s browsing. We walked up the hill from the harbour to the town and found the most amazing hog roast sandwiches.

Secretly trying to feed the seagulls her lunch every time I looked away!

A very content Joe, happy with the combination of cosy buggy, cuddly dinosaur and birds and boats to watch.

As was this sight-see-er

Milford on Sea has a stunning coastal path walk and is also beach hut heaven. I’ve never seen so many huts on one beach; hundreds of different colours and on different levels with little interconnecting pathways, blissful. I had the beach almost to myself, and was happy just to watch the sun on the waves and admire the beach huts. I always feel better after seeing the sea; it’s a deeply instinctive thing…I wonder if this is universal or just island-dwellers!