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A path leads from the tiny village across the fields to low cliffs above this quiet beach.

Up to the Second World War, Bacton remained a sleepy fishing hamlet.

With fewer people about on a less sunny day, the three tiers of the sea front are clearer to see, with the road and pavement to the left separated from the wide Promenade below by trim hedges.

This is a good view of one of the few places with access to a good beach for many miles of slate coast, although even then the sand is covered at high tide. Gull Rock is offshore.

Today, behind the tents and huts to the right there is a massice holiday camp development.

A typical scene on many of the beaches in the area: bathing machines are lined up along the water's edge waiting for customers.

This sandy beach was obviously popular with both children and adults. A Punch and Judy show always drew the crowds (centre), and many visitors enjoyed a trip on one of the pleasure boats.

Two Thames sailing barges discharge cargo at low water on the beach, whilst drawn higher up are some bathing machines.

This fine view of St Mildred's Bay shows how little built up it was in the early 1890s. Note the two bathing machines on the left under the low chalk cliffs.

We are looking from the Cliffe; Bleak House is prominent in the centre of the photograph. Note the small train ride in the left-hand corner of the beach.

At this time, close to the end of the Victorian era, staying fully clothed on the beach was very much the norm, with sand castles and donkey rides the prime amusements for the children; the

Mount Pleasant Inn still stands above the marshlands of Dawlish Warren, though it has changed somewhat since this photograph was taken.

This photograph must have been taken at the height of the holiday season because the shop on the right, M A Grinnall's, has a number of beach balls and inflatable air beds on display outside.

The beach is an area of outstanding natural beauty, and the dunes form a National Nature Reserve.

We are looking east along a lively Brighton Beach towards the unfinished Palace Pier at the close of the 19th century.

Here we have a glimpse of the pier through the 'fresh and luxuriant foliage' of the gardens.

Torquay has long been a magnet for holidaymakers from all over the country. Its gentle climate in all seasons has proved irresistible.

Lewis`s Beach Tea House (far right) was renowned for its cream teas.

A sign in the river warns of hidden dangers for swimmers and small boats, but ashore there were plenty of safe ways to enjoy a summer's day on this pleasant, green, riverside corridor

To the north beyond Ingoldmells, and rather more genteel, is Chapel St Leonards, where my mother used to holiday in the 1930s.

Lancing College and its chapel overlook the Adur estuary and Shoreham. In ancient times the estuary was much wider.

Beyond the line of bathing machines, waves crash against the beach in this turn-of-the-century photograph. Much of the town's architecture dating from this period survives today.

A magician entertains a crowd of well dressed Victorian holidaymakers on the beach.

Seaton is Devon's easternmost resort, with only a few miles of rugged cliffs and landslips separating the town from neighbouring Dorset.