BEACH CRICKET

Bring your own old wooden stumps, an old bat and a ball. If ball goes into water, it is 6 and out! Alternatively, use any rubbish you find on the beach for stumps and bat, and then take it with you when you leave. Play cricket and clean the beach all at once!

CASTLE BATTLES

Split into two groups with a mixture of ages in each. Each group builds a big sandcastle about twenty metres apart. On each sand castle a 'flag' (or beach towel) is flown. The aim is to stop the other team from stealing your team's flag and flying it at their own castle.

DRY LAND FISHING

A bandana is tucked into the backs of clothes or swimsuits. In a confined area, the players must 'live' as long as possible without their bandanas being taken while trying to get other players' bandanas.

SAND DARTS

Draw a large circle in the sand and then smaller circles inside of it. Give each circle a points value. Collect some shells or stones and take turns throwing three 'darts' at the 'bulls eye', add up the points scored and write them in the sand.

BEACH BOWLING

Dig some holes in the sand big enough to fit a tennis ball in, in the shape of a triangle. Stand back a few of metres and try to get a tennis ball in one of the holes.

DRAWING GAME

One player sits with their back to the other players and describes a scene from their imagination. The other players have to draw the scene that they are describing in the sand – the one that is closest to the description wins.

BATTLE LINES

Build a sandcastle fortress near the water's edge when the tide is on its way in and then protect it from flooding by the sea – build a dam, a moat or see what else you can come up with to protect your castle.

BEACH JENGA

Build a big sand castle quite high and then each person takes a turn a digging out a handful of sand from the bottom until it collapses.

LIMBO

Use a long stick, a broom handle or a tightly suspended rolled up towel as the limbo stick. Starting with it quite high, each players takes a turn to bend backwards to pass under the stick without touching it. After each person has had a try, the stick is gradually lowered with people who touch the stick or fall over 'out'. Keep lowering the stick until only the winner remains.

WATER EXPERIMENT

Collect some sea water in a large bowl. Place a small, plastic cup in the centre of the bowl (right way up), making sure the cup is not taller than the bowl, but is taller than the water line. Cover the bowl and cup tightly with plastic wrap and place a heavy rock or shell on top of the cup, on the plastic. After a few hours in the sun, the water will begin to evaporate, creating condensation on the plastic wrap and then filling the cup with fresh water while the salt is left behind.