Why the beach life is the best life
A subject on which opinions at home strongly diverge is coast versus mountain holidays. For me, the sight of the sea stretching over the horizon, the sunlight refracted off the waves and the sound of them rolling onto the shore are mesmerising.
My husband, however, is from a family of non-swimmers, so his childhood summers were spent in the Alps, walking, examining wildlife and having his international education ‘saved’ by English schoolmasters moonlighting as tutors. It amazes me that this experience failed to disrupt his love for the landscape. This summer, he’s won the argument and we’re off to Austria’s Tyrol, where, I’m promised, there is a microclimate.
According to a report published in the Journal of Research in Personality last year, this division of opinion is not uncommon. We can all be split into beach and mountain tribes, say the study’s authors, psychology professors from the University of Virginia. Extroverts prefer sand and sea; introverts are drawn to peaks and streams. Their theory is that beaches are noisier, with more people to watch and socialise with, whereas mountains offer seclusion and isolation.
I agree that large tracts of the Mediterranean in August are a misanthrope’s worst nightmare, but, for a holiday home, a house with a coastal outlook has to win. As a place to transport oneself away from the day-to-day grind, the seaside has no equal. You sleep better, in cleaner air that has higher levels of oxygen (sorry, altitude). The sound of waves can be soothing (where does howling mountain wind feature on anyone’s meditative soundtrack?).
The vastness of the sea and ebbing of the tides can wash away a day’s niggles, whereas, although the permanence of mountains can be reassuring, it can quickly give way to claustrophobia, particularly if you’ve overdone it on the Savoyard cheeseboard the night before. Finally, there are the endless opportunities to swim; there are only so many times a year that I feel like waking up and climbing a mountain. Arabella Youens
Coastal property hotspots: Five great places to buy a house by the beach
- Pollensa, Mallorca
- Palau, Sardinia
- Ile de Ré, France
- Cape Town, South Africa
Why you should head for the mountains
I grew up next to the sea — the Channel, to be exact, specifically the stretch that laps at the fringes of Brighton. In the summer, it was heaven — we had calm, blue waters that looked as if they’d been ironed and twinkled in the sun and the merest whisper of a cooling sea breeze.
But the winters. Oh, the winters! To this day, I shudder just thinking about them. With nothing between us and it, the sea wreaked unrestrained havoc. Paint peeled, there was ice on the inside of the windows of the room I slept in and everything planted to jolly up the place died almost instantly.
Early on, I resolved that, when I grew up, I would live as far inland as I could without actually becoming a Hobbit.
Mountains, by contrast, are lovely all year round. Winter? Blankets of snow and festive forests (lovely). Summer? Lush pastures and clanging cowbells (lovely). Spring and autumn? More of the same, but with streams swelled by the thaw and coppery leaves respectively (lovely — you get the picture).
If you’re going to invest in property, it’s better to buy in a place that has something to recommend it for more than eight weeks a year. Also, sand gets everywhere.
How wonderful to be able to walk out of your back door and, as Thoreau put it, spend a couple of hours ‘sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements’.
Whether you’re in the Alps or the Rockies, there’s no barrier to entry. Outside the New Testament, walking on water is a non-starter and boats are hard to come by, not to mention sea-sickness. With the mountains, anything is possible — and isn’t that how you want to feel when you’re at home? Emma Hughes
Mountain property hotspots: Five prime locations to get a mountain home
- Megève, France
- Joshua Tree, California
- Swartberg Mountains, South Africa
- Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee, USA
- Snaefellsbaer, Iceland
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of themBrithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallistPenny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heartFor sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews housesFrom birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courtsFords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agentsSavills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
