A delightful day at Walton-on-the-Naze

Today, we set out on a spontaneous trip to Walton-on-the-Naze, leaving Ipswich just after breakfast at 9:45 AM by car. The weather was a bit unpredictable — starting with a hint of sunshine, then shifting to rain, and then clearing up again. We parked at the main road, there is plenty of non restricted parking places, just please be sensible not to block anyone’s entrance or gateways, specially in main summer season this tiny seaside town can be packed.

As weather was playing up, we decided to make the most of it by heading straight to the pier and trying our luck on some 2p machines, hoping the weather would settle down.

Within an hour, the clouds parted and the sun shone brightly, transforming the seaside into a lively, buzzing scene. We couldn’t resist the call of delicious fish and chips, which made for the perfect seaside feast. After our meal, we headed to the Naze Tower. Our last visit was during the pandemic when the tower was closed, so this time, we were thrilled to finally explore inside and climb to the top. The art exhibition on every floor kept us busy until we reached the top. The panoramic views from the top were absolutely breath-taking.

Before heading home, we treated ourselves to some ice cream at the base of the tower, soaking in the vibrant seaside atmosphere. Then, embracing the simple joys of the outdoors, we took out our kite — a timeless classic, back to basics: earth, sky, wind, and a bit of skill. Flying a kite may look easy, but mastering it is a delightful challenge.

It was especially special because my wife has recently learned the basics, making kite-flying even more enjoyable for us to do together. It’s wonderful to disconnect from devices and media and just spend quality time immersed in nature, feeling the wind and sharing a simple, joyful activity.

Today was a perfect reminder that sometimes, the simplest things bring the greatest happiness. We look forward to more days like this, full of adventure, laughter, and fresh air.

Here are some photos from today. Click and scroll to see them in larger format.