Country diary: Swimming in the satin sea, suddenly it turns to filth | Amy-Jane Beer

Hunmanby Gap, East Yorkshire: It is extraordinary that, despite laws in place to protect us and the environment, the pollution keeps comingMy usual summer swim spot is on the lazy, green Yorkshire Derwent. But after school on the hottest Friday of the year, we fancy a change and head for the coast with friends. We love the beach at Hunmanby Gap for its sand, sea, views of the seabird-stacked Bempton cliffs and the almost complete lack of commodification - even the delightfully ramshackle clifftop cafe closes early.The kids spend hours enacting splashy paddleboard piracy. As the sun sinks, I swim past them, and past gentle breakers into a perfect sea of soft, blue taffeta ripples. But 40 metres out, the surface texture changes from satiny to fuzzy. At first I think it's floating seaweed, but my husband has a better view from his paddleboard. "Urrgh! Sewage slick, go back!" Continue reading...