coast WHAT’S ON
SU CARROLL rounds up the very best activities to do and things to see close to the coastline this month
1 FAIRGROUND ATTRACTIONS
Caravanserai is Brighton Fringe’s newest pop-up outdoor festival site - built out of repurposed caravans, with vintage fairground waltzers and where hoopla stalls and shoot-out galleries become bars. It’s the vision of artist Pete Bateman and was established at Camp Bestival in 2013.
With free admission, there will be street food stalls, a dedicated family area for children and lots of secret spots to be uncovered. Caravanserai will host two theatre venues – the big top, Luna Parc, with theatre, circus and cabaret and a late-night music and comedy programme and the bespoke 50-seater bandstand venue, Junk Poet’s, with intimate comedy, spoken word and theatre events. Caravanserai runs throughout the Fringe. caravanseraibrighton.com
Caravanserai is part of the annual Brighton Fringe Festival which this year runs from May 5 to June 4 and is the UK’s biggest arts festival. There are events, performances and workshops from a vast array of acts. Full details at brightonfringe.org.
2 IN THE FRAME
The Fleek Gallery, close to the harbour in the North Devon town of Ilfracombe, has some impressive names (old and new) in its spring show. Established in 2017, the gallery has a reputation as one of the most exciting contemporary fine art galleries in the West Country with regular exhibitions of new work by emerging and established contemporary artists.
Ilfracombe is known for its progressive art scene. Damien Hirst, who donated his statue Verity to the town in 2012, features in the spring show alongside work by Illuminati Neon, Daniel Hooper, Raffaella Bertolini, Emma Gibbons and others. The exhibition at Fleek Gallery (fleekgallery.com) runs until June 30.
Take one of the tunnels carved through rock during the Victorian era to access the Blue Flag beach. Close to the town, it feels like you are many miles away as you dip into the tidal pool. Privately owned but worth the admission for the dramatic, rocky landscape. tunnelsbeaches.co.uk
3 WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
The South West Coast Path, Britain’s longest National Trail, is celebrating its golden jubilee this year with a number of events, including an incredible relay walk along the entire 630-mile route, a photography exhibition, the launch of a new podcast series, and a commemorative Coast Path Passport to inspire a South West Coast Path journey.
The Trailblazer Walk starts in Minehead on May 12 and is due to finish in Plymouth’s Royal William Yard on June 15 where the charity has its HQ. It’s also home to Ocean Studios where the South West Coast Path Photographer of the Year Exhibition will open on the same day
