The Isle of Wight has been a favourite holiday destination for our family over a number of years, either camping for a couple of weeks or on day trips from the mainland. The island has some wonderful stretches of coastline, and away from the gaudy towns with amusement arcades and tacky souvenir shops there are some truly beautiful villages and beaches.

One place we always try to get to is Alum Bay, home of the famous coloured sands.

Sadly they don’t let you gather it yourself - it is a private beach, with barrier tape positioned round the base of the cliffs to stop you getting at it yourself.

I suppose I don’t blame them - there would be no cliff left at all if we all took a few scoops! But it is a bit galling that up at the top, where the other attractions are, you have to pay quite a bit to fill a small, clear plastic shape with the sand to take home as your memento.

But for all my griping, I know full well that, God-willing, I am very likely to go back to this place again and again!