Chasing the Tide

On 18th October 2020, I set off from Southampton for an unforgettable autumn road trip to Black Rock Sands in North Wales. Behind the wheel of my Clio Sport, I initially headed up the M4 before deliberately escaping the motorways to seek out the most scenic, winding backroads Wales has to offer. The ultimate ambition of this journey was to experience the rare thrill of driving directly onto the shoreline, and the vast coastal landscape did not disappoint. I was incredibly lucky with the weather; the skies were completely clear, and it turned out to be a beautiful, crisp day with the sun shining brightly across the coast.

Arriving out of season meant I largely had the expansive, dramatic beach entirely to myself. While strictly respecting the local beach speed limit, the sheer openness offered a profound sense of freedom. The Clio sounded amazing as usual, its engine note echoing crisply across the wide-open shoreline. With the tide far out, exposing a massive plain of firm, damp sand under the bright sunlight, it was the perfect moment to launch my drone into the air.

From above, the camera perfectly tracked the nimble Clio sweeping across the golden flats, capturing an incredible contrast between the hot hatch and the wild, natural Welsh coast. Once the driving was done, I had to make sure I thoroughly washed off all the corrosive sand and sea air from the car, giving it a proper rinse to protect the underside before finally heading back home to Southampton.

The journey back to Southampton was a long, satisfying cruise, watching the bright sunshine slowly give way to dusk as the miles rolled by. With the Clio running flawlessly and the drone footage safely stored away, the drive home gave me plenty of time to reflect on an absolute bucket-list day of driving.