Enjoying the Blackpool Beach & Promenade

One of my favourite places in Blackpool has got to be the beach, because Blackpool boasts a long and beautiful beach.

Blackpool attracts ten million visitors a year and, without a doubt, its long sandy beach is one of the main reasons the holidaying crowds come here year in year out. To be sure, the long beach and the seafront are what has made Blackpool as it is today – Britain’s biggest coastal resort town.

The sandy beaches have been a major draw to Blackpool for well over a hundred years, in fact. It all started during the middle of the 18th century when the practice of sea bathing to cure diseases became fashionable among the wealthier classes. Visitors began making the long trip to Blackpool initially for that special, single purpose. But over time, hotels and other amenities and attractions began to be built, and since then Blackpool has never turned back.

Overall, Blackpool’s eleven kilometres long beach – which is part of what is called the Fylde Coast – stretches right from St Annes in the south and on to Cleveleys and Fleetwood in the north. Within Blackpool town proper, the sandy beaches start from the South Shore at a location called the Starr Gate. From here, going up north, would be the Blackpool Central Beach. This is followed by the North Shore. And further up to the north would be Bispham, and finally Norbreck, where I was staying.

The beaches are nothing like our Semenanjung east coast beaches, of course. I would say it is more like Port Dickson, but minus the silt and mud. It was a large expanse of flat sand. When the tide is out, in some parts you have almost a kilometre of sandy beach to walk out to the sea. As you trudge your way to the water’s edge during low tide, you could see seagulls swirling above, whilst small shells and little starfish might litter the beach after a storm.

But the number of times that I would kick off my shoes and walk out to the water’s edge could be counted on the fingers of one hand.  The simple reason was because the sea water and the wet sand were always freezing cold, except – maybe – during mid-summer.

Nevertheless, I had heard stories of how one of my dear seniors by the name of Majid Kamari who once took a dip in the sea during winter. I just wonder what was going through his mind then. This was no Batu Ferringhi, Majid, for goodness sake!

During summer, when Blackpool would be packed with holiday makers, the beach would be a hive of activities with kids on donkey rides or building sand castles, with boys playing football and the odd few taking a swim. You could see kids gorging on colourful rock with the word 'Blackpool' running through it. And there’d be rows of deck chairs with people dozing off under the sun.

Then, there were the sunbathers. And they were quite something else.

Unlike beachgoers in Malaysia who are very modest and would be all clad up, here in the UK they go for maximum exposure to ultra-violet rays as they work hard on building a tan before autumn arrives. It meant that minimum clothing were the standard, go to attire. The sight of skimpily clothed women blissfully lying around on the beach was quite a shock to some of us kampong boys initially. You could just imagine the frenzy that it created amongst us. But after a while, we just didn’t think much of it.

One thing special about the Blackpool seafront apart from the traditional piers – and Blackpool had three long, fun-filled piers – is the promenade. First built during the Victorian period, the promenade stretched on for miles. During the peak tourist season from summer till early autumn, the promenade, especially along the South Shore and Central Beach, would be very busy with people on leisurely stroll taking in the fresh air, joggers, families having lunch, and children buying and enjoying their ice creams. Some others would just be sitting on the benches watching people pass by and yet others would just stare out to the sea, listening to the waves beating against the promenade walls.

The North Shore promenade from the North Pier to Bispham, and on to Norbreck, was much quieter by comparison. Passing along slopes and cliffs and with the quaint, attractive, two to three storey bed and breakfast buildings as its backdrop on the higher grounds, this was amongst the most historic part of Blackpool's Promenade and had changed little since its construction.

During my two years in Blackpool, I would occasionally take long walks on this part of the promenade all by myself. Not so much for the physical work out. But more to relax and clear my mind whilst enjoying the scenery and feeling the cool sea breeze in my face. Most of the time I’d just be sitting there on one of the benches, staring out to sea under the typical Blackpool gloomy sky.

It was easy for me to get to the promenade for it was just about a hundred meters away from where I was staying. From my flat I would cross the main road, which was incidentally called the Queens Promenade, and head towards the Norbreck tram stop, a small shelter constructed of red brick.  Just beside the tram stop was a path leading down towards the promenade and the beaches.

From there if I looked northwards, I could view all the way to Cleveleys three kilometres away. Bispham and the North Shore would be to the south from where I stood. All I had to do then was to just decide which way I wanted to go on that particular day. Northward or southward. Or maybe down to the beaches and get my feet wet.

But sometimes, I would just stand on the promenade enjoying the sceneries and the cool breeze. For me, there was something about the sea and the shores that never failed to fascinate and effect calmness of the mind.

Another attraction of the Blackpool beach was its stunning sunset.  It was one to absolutely cherish and marvel at. So, beautiful, you’d have to see it for yourself to believe it. The twilight hues of the sunset sky in red and orange when reflected onto the sea and the wet glistening sand never failed to make for a wholesome photo. As a budding shutterbug, it was a frequent photographic subject of mine. I used to spend rolls of films on it and then shared the photos with friends and family members back at home.

But come winter, the Blackpool beach would be totally transformed.

Gone would be all the calmness and serenity. The wind and storms that thunder in from the Irish Sea could scare the hell out of you as large waves would crash over the promenade during high tides.

During this time of the year the wind would be so strong that the promenade will be all covered with sea water and it would be too cold for anyone to even think of indulging in an evening stroll. That was about the only time of the year when I would leave the beaches to its own devices and stayed at home within the warm comfort of my bedroom.

But when the sea was totally calm, even during winter, the beach would have its own charms and soothing calmness. So, sometimes, I gave in. I would answer the call of the sea, so to speak, and headed to the beaches, even at the height of winter.

Majid Kamari might not have been that crazy after all.