Ok will do a run down of a few of the places we found on the trip.
Heading South
Based in Bangsaphan the first leg of the journey was to follow the coast road south to Bangsaphan Noi (which is a nondescript little town) around to the next bay called Bang Berd (Boet). The whole area and beach is a Royal project so there is absolutely no development along its length aside from the occasional noodle stall or temple. The beach, as expected, was empty!
Round the headland at Pak Khlong which was dotted with tiny one-street fishing villages consisting of a couple of rows of wooden houses. The coast was quiet rocky here so no beaches to speak of. The next stop was a little bay called Bo Mao which had a great little sheltered beach with an island out in the middle. There were a few Thai-style resorts along the beach road but very few people, it seems to be a weekend bus trip place. The southern headland was comprised completely of broken coral fragments indicating that there was a thriving reef there at some stage.
Further south is Pathiu, Bang Son and the long Tung Wa Laen beach north of Chumphon. This is by far the best beach with white sand and the clearest water. It is also the most developed with a number of hotels, resorts, restaurants and internet cafes. One major problem this beach suffered though were flies - thousands of them - making having a meal on the beachfront quiet a chore.
From Chumphon we journeyed west back to the highway and Khao Po service station to stop and buy some cheap tacky holiday shirts and khanom. There was the occasional waterfall signposted off the main road but we never ventured into the hinterlands.
Photos and northern leg coming shortly.