The stunning stretch of coastline around Sand Point and Middle Hope sits north of Weston-Super-Mare. It’s one of the most beautiful parts of North Somerset, and it’s a wonderful place for a picnic, as the views are spectacular.

And so we took a picnic (or at least a few sandwiches and some fruit from the local  supermarket).

We were so confident of the weather that neither of us took a coat. And so good was the weather (sunny all day and at least 16 C – as high as the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain) that as I write this blog I can even feel the effects of sunburn on my face

No coats needed today

I was surprised that I did not see much vegetation to reflect the lovely weather (as I had seen in our local urban park the day before) but I suppose this peninsula is generally very exposed to the elements and nature knows what’s best for itself. Nor were there many birds but fortunately we did see a pair of stone chats and 2 rock pipits and regularly heard skylarks. At sea there were a pair of herring gulls and a dozen or so black-headed gulls. The only thing to reflect the warm weather was a Red Admiral butterfly (much too quick for my photographic skills).

The sea looked like the Mediterranean

Wonderful sunshine all day, but misty at sea; so we were deprived the views of South Wales

A herring gull was the first bird we saw

Mr Stonechat

Mrs Stonechat

One of two rock pipits

Rock pipit

Black-headed gull

Back at the (sheltered) car park there was a blue tit feeding off a tree which was beginning to blossom.

Catkins at the car park

Gorse on the peninsula