Three o'clock light

In the middle of December the sun in Falkenberg sets a little after half past three in the afternoon. It never climbs far above the horizon, and for most of the day it stays low in the south, skimming across the water and lighting the coast from the side.

That low angle is the whole point of winter here. Textures that disappear in summer — ripples in the sand, the grain of weathered wood, every tuft of dune grass — suddenly have long shadows.

Working with short days

• Start early. Sunrise is late, around half past eight, so a morning walk does not mean an early alarm.
• Watch the south. The sun’s path is short and low; anything facing south-west catches the best of it.
• Stay for the blue hour. After sunset the sky holds colour for a long time. On clear days the half hour after the sun goes down is often better than the sunset itself.
• Mind the cold. The wind off the sea makes a few degrees above zero feel much colder. Gloves are not optional.

Snow on the beach

Snow is not guaranteed on this coast, and it rarely lasts. When it does fall, it usually lies longest in the dunes, where the grass traps it, while the beach itself stays bare. A morning after snowfall, before the wind or the first walkers have disturbed it, is one of the few times the beach looks completely new.

Grey days are common, and they have their own quality: flat light, no shadows, and sea and sky in almost the same colour. They are a good excuse to walk further.