I don't ever remember weather quite like we've had this summer. Perhaps too warm to work comfortably but never better for long days taking it easy outdoors. How long it will last is anyone's guess but we're enjoying making plans to soak it all in while it does.

Herefordshire based photographer, Lydia Harper is never happier than when travelling, so it seems fitting that when we asked her to capture a Simple Day in the UK she chose to explore somewhere new.  Lydia drove with a friend, along the South East coast, stopping off at a few places along the coastline from Birling Gap to Dungeness.

Although the images are beautiful, it's Lydia's words that have inspired us to take some time this summer to walk with friends, as lovely sights are definitely enjoyed more with good company...

Back last month with a friend who was visiting from overseas, I took a trip to the South East coast. We started in Brighton at sunrise and headed eastwards, stopping off at Beachy Head, Camber Sands and Dungeness. It isn't a long drive, but as the miles pass, the coastal landscapes change dramatically. 

Birling Gap and Beachy Head were the first stop on our day out by the sea. Our early morning walk lead us up to the highest cliff edge, looking down on the lighthouse and with a vantage point over the rolling rural landscape. We sat for a while at the top of the chalk cliffs, watched boats pass by and got lost in the movement and textures of the water below.

A little further down the road we called in at Camber Sands, maybe the name gives it away but unlike Beachy Head with its rough and rocky shores, Camber is a sprawling sandy beach with grassy dunes and a gentle tide. We walked for what felt like miles, with our feet in the ocean and nobody else in sight. 

Our final stop was at Dungeness, a nearby nature reserve just around the corner from Camber Sands. It’s a funny place, a flat shingle landscape dotted with tumble down sheds, wooden houses, and a somewhat out of place power station. It felt a little bit like we were on the set of a western movie, if it hadn’t been for all of the abandoned boats and fishing nets giving the game away. 

It was a slow day of endless chatter and coastal wandering, we didn’t take many photos but simply made the most of the places we visited and each others company. I don’t live near the sea, but I know that I am super fortunate to live on an island surrounded by such a varying coastline. This trip was a welcome reminder to make more time for days like these.

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www.lydiaharperphotography.com