We used to go to a place called Eccles - which was out to sea, in reality after a big storm in the C18. Hempstead was where we technically went. We pretty much lived there all summer as my parents had a small, static caravan. My Dad went off to work, with my Uncle who drove, every morning, while we kid ran wild all day, swimming in the sea, long walks, kit flying etc.
Nowadays, I live on the N. Norfolk coast, can see the sea from the end of the road and it’s a 7 min walk (dawdling with the dogs) to the cliff tops, it‘s more like 20 min walk if I want to feel sand between my toes as I am not leaping off the cliff to get there. We did have a set of steps, but with erosion, they are closed as not safe to use. There have been a few falls in recent years so being dismantled.