We asked glossy holidaymakers to tell us what (and where) is on their beachy Bucket Lists. From meditating on the beaches of Goa, whale watching in the Azores, Portugal to enjoying a perfect summer’s evening in Barleycove, Cork …
GOA, INDIA
Erica Bracken, Yoga Teacher and PR professional. As a yoga teacher, India, the home of yoga, has long been a dream destination. I’d head south to the beaches of Goa. The ocean is a natural meditation tool. It’s comparable to the mind – turbulent on the surface, but as you move beneath, you will find stillness for miles and miles until you hit the ocean floor. Whenever I gaze out at sea, it reminds me that this stillness is within all of us, readily available should we simply create the conditions to draw our attention inwards. @erica_bracken
DENMARK
Helle Moyna, Owner, Nordic Elements, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Having lived away from home most of my life, I still long to go back to the white sandy beaches of the west coast of Denmark. I spent my childhood holidays there, playing in the sand dunes, jumping off the remnants of World War II bunkers, swimming in the sea and eating shrimps and fish from the local fishing boats. With over 500km of coastline, with sandy beaches and fjords, nature trails, thatched summer houses and the wild North Sea, this where I love to walk, feel the wind in my face, and truly switch off. @helle_moyna @nordicelementsstudio
AZORES ARCHIPELAGO, PORTUGAL
Jessica Weimer, Graphic Designer. I set myself a Bucket List task a few years ago – to see 30 countries before I turned 30. I am happy to report I achieved that goal last December, when I visited country number 30 – Sweden. (I had an amazing time there and would definitely recommend it.) When looking for a new place to move to, or travel to, being close to the sea is my main requirement. Swimming, kayaking and sunbathing are my favourite things to do, so I could write forever about coastal activities still on my Bucket List. However this one is on the top of the list: Whale-watching in the Azores, Portugal. These islands in the Atlantic Ocean have been on my Bucket List since I read The Unknown Islands by Raul Brandão, a Portuguese writer. The magic and remoteness of the islands are described as magical and the residents, humans and animals, unique and incredibly captivating! My dream activity on the islands would be to sail to Ilhéu de Vila Franca, a crater formed from a submerged volcano, which has become a natural pool. Followed by, if in luck, whale and dolphin-watching – the region is one of the largest whale sanctuaries in the world. @weimerjessica
PUNTA SOL, PERU
Mandalei Kuhn, Founder Magic Earth Cacao which supports indigenous families in Peru. My mom is from Hawaii, so I spent my childhood playing on some of the best tropical beaches. Now, I live between Ireland and Portugal and though I get to enjoy picturesque Atlantic beaches almost every day, on my list to visit is Punta Sol, Peru. It has the whitest sandy beaches and smoothest swimmable waters, and no big resorts, so Mother Nature reigns here! It’s not far from the Amazon jungle where Magic Earth Cacao comes from. @mandalei.medicine
THE AMALFI COAST, ITALY
Judy Gilroy, Stylist and Founder of Clossy. Top of my Bucket List, swapping a spade for a Limoncello, has got to be the Amalfi coast. I visited this part of Italy briefly before and fell in love with its beauty, charm and glamour. On the agenda: Lunch with a view in Positano, a day exploring the quaint town of Ravello and a boat trip to the Faraglioni di Capri (a rock formation perfect for photo opps) for a dip in the sea with dolphins. @judygilroy
THE BLASKET ISLANDS, CO KERRY
Frances Fogarty, Founder, circular fashion brand Lily Mais. Top of everyone’s Bucket List should be a boat trip to the Blasket Islands off the coast of West Kerry. I am biased: My husband Feargal’s people came from the Great Blasket in the late 1800s. The rawness of the landscape continues to inspire artists of every genre to this day. The Island offers so many emotions to visitors – I have yet to meet someone who hasn’t been touched in some way by the energy of the place. Both the beauty and the rugged wilderness inspire the designs of Lily Mais, from swim ponchos and hoodies, to beach dresses and bucket hats. Even on days when I can’t go to sea, I have the perfect view from my studio in West Kerry of Inis Tuaisceart, the most northerly of the Blasket Islands. @lilymais.dingle
BARLEYCOVE, CO CORK
Aishling Moore, Chef, Goldie, Cork City. As this is a Bucket List, I’ll shoot for the stars. I dream of a summer’s evening on Barley Cove beach (or pretty much any of the gorgeous beaches we have around the coast of Cork), cooking a very large paella over a wood fire with my Goldie colleagues on a night off. Bomba rice in a saffron-scented stock rich with the flavours of alliums and fi h bones, bejewelled with plump mussels, fillets of red mullet, chunks of ling and maybe some turbot if we are lucky enough to get it. I’d serve it simply with a green salad and garlicky aioli, and some perfectly chilled sparkling wine. @goldierestaurant
