Interest piqued?

Whisper it softly, but winter’s long spell is slowly lifting. You may have noticed the light lingering a little later, or swathes of white snowdrops dusting the verges. Perhaps you’ve heard birdsong in the frostbitten dawn, or the buzz of a bumblebee early to the party. Spring is just around the corner and, in the words of Christina Rossetti, there’s no time quite like it, “When life’s alive in everything”.

For us, the season’s youthful charms are particularly beautiful beside the sea, where watery light flashes across endless horizons. So, dusting off winter’s cobwebs, we’re focusing our dreams beyond the city and towards those places where spring liberally paints the landscape and fills us with hope. With all this in mind, let us introduce you to four of our favourites among them.

Sandwiched between the plains of Exmoor National Park and the protected North Devon Coast, Ilfracombe is connected to both by the Southwest Coast Path. Originally used by coastguards scouring coves for smugglers, it starts in Minehead, just east of Ilfracombe, and stretches some 600 miles around the south-west peninsula, all the way to Poole on the south coast, taking in craggy cliff faces, rockpools and windswept beaches along the way.

Ilfracombe sprawls out from an ancient harbour, its cobbled streets climbing towards hills of Georgian and Regency streets and standalone mansions. Chambercombe Terrace, enjoying fantastic sea views, has become one of the town’s most desirable addresses. This five-bedroom house, elevated above street level, is reached by a stone staircase, winding through a terraced garden flanked by beds of roses. Wisely, the owners have made a dining area of this sunny spot, from which to savour the stunning views over the Bristol Channel and setting sun – though the prospects from behind the handsome sash windows aren’t bad either…

There are few better places to appreciate longer days than the beach – and there are few listings that take better advantage of the beach itself than this handsome five-bedroom townhouse on Deal’s seafront. Located in the middle of the old town, the Georgian townhouse offers more than just views. Behind the seafront, hidden amid a maze of cobbled streets and fisherman’s cottages, are a raft of understated restaurants specialising in freshly caught fish, gallery spaces showing local art, and the ruins of the town’s ancient history.

Ever since the beaches of Kent were stormed by Julius Caesar and the Romans, Deal and its surrounding area have been important centres for travel and trade. So much so that Henry VIII was compelled to build three fortified castles – Deal, Sandown and Walmer – to guard against invasion. Proximity to the Continent has meant that Deal has long been a natural landing spot for armies and cultures alike, lending it a distinct cosmopolitan flavour and leading to a burgeoning creative scene. There’s a bit of everything for everyone in Deal, which is quickly losing its reputation as Kent’s best-kept secret.

Herne Bay is a classic seaside town. Connected to the rest of the Kentish coastline by the Saxon Way, it traces the south-east shore from Gravesend to Hastings, just as it did in Roman times. In these vernal months, the walk teems with new plant life. Ramblers pass Iron Age hill forts, churches and castles, ambling through the ancient Blean Wood and the North Kent Marshes on the way. As any ornithologist knows, these everglades are among the most important habitats for sparrowhawks and woodcocks in the country.

Closer to home and down the elegant Edwardian streets that make up Herne Bay, grand proportions mean houses such as this double-front red-brick beauty boast large, mature gardens that teem with life. This listing on Parsonage Road has an added extra: a generous summer house, the perfect refuge in which to enjoy the spring and early outdoor dining that comes with it.

Just a short drive from Kent’s busier spots, Herne Bay is within touching distance of important cultural sites such as Canterbury Cathedral, and all of Margate’s magic, but the town itself has plenty to offer. There’s carnival-style fun to be found on the pier, and a host of award-winning restaurants to sup at afterwards. Alternatively, discover the homely pub fare of the Hampton Inn, where unmissable sunsets stretch into the open horizon, painting the sky orange, purple and yellow.

Much has been made of Margate’s regeneration and how this once thriving, then forgotten resort town has risen from the ashes of neglect to become one of the country’s most celebrated creative hubs – and Union Crescent is right in the mix. With Tracey Emin’s studio and Carl Freedman Gallery both on the same road – and Turner Contemporary just a short walk away – the street is rightfully sought-after.

This wonderful Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse shares the town’s spirit of renewal. Extending over five airy floors, it has been carefully restored throughout to make the most of its period features, including sash windows, shutters and decorative cornicing. These markers of the home’s historic origins have been married with contemporary flare, however (note the creative colour palette, smart tiling and metallic accents) – much like Margate itself.

Right by the beach front, the house reaps the rewards of the natural world nearby. Numerous walks lead from Margate beach, including the Viking Coastal Trail – an eight-mile clifftop hike that links to Ramsgate and Broadstairs. It is, of course, at its best, come spring.

Homes

A word in your shell-like: a sea change in spring is good for the soul. Having trawled our listings for the loveliest ones, we present our shore winners

Spring by the Sea: four coastal homes that make a splash

A word in your shell-like: a sea change in spring is good for the soul. Having trawled our listings for the loveliest ones, we present our shore winners

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