As Spring heralds the hope of a Summer worthy of the name, what could be better than a trip to the seaside?

Let’s revisit the golden memories of the days when the sun always shone, ice cream was a taste of paradise, the water was inviting. Or perhaps the rain was lashing a deserted prom, wind was whipping up the sand as you cowered behind a windbreak, and the chittery-bite (or shivery-bite) was an essential reward for supreme courage in the face of freezing water.

How and why did seaside resorts develop and decline? When did they become a place for fun, recreation and holidays? What was the seaside experience for our ancestors? With an emphasis on the Scottish seaside, this conference also sets the scene in a UK context.

The setting is ideal – the Bay Hotel overlooks the beach at Pettycur Bay.

The conference should interest local, family, and social historians, people involved with tourism – and anyone who has holidayed at the seaside.