A few years ago, I wrote a post about my favourite walks (footpaths) in the UK - today, we bring you the counterpart to that post: UK beaches! So, you're looking for a beach holiday but don’t want to splurge on flights abroad? Or simply craving a day out surrounded by sand and the atmosphere of the coast? A beach trip never fails to be fun for all members of the family, and if you’re taking children there are so many great beach toys that you can bring along to make the day even more memorable. The UK is home to some lovely beaches that many people still don’t know about. It’s just a case of knowing where to look. To give you some inspiration, here are four of the best beaches in the UK:
#1. Kynance Cove, Cornwall
Based quite far along the peninsula on the southern coast of Cornwall, Kynance Cove is one of the country's most beautiful beaches. It’s on the Lizard Peninsula and is a straightforward drive. The cove is shaped like a round inlet, bounded by serpentine rocks and grassy cliffs. The sand is luxuriously white, and the water is clear and turquoise.
This beach is looked after by the National Trust, who have ensured there is a sizeable, manned car park and overflow. This is a popular destination, so it’s wise to get to the beach early to secure a spot during peak season. If you’re a member of the National Trust, the parking will be free.
#2. South Beach, Swanage
South Beach is located near Swanage on the south coast of England, about a 20-minute drive from Poole. It offers safe, shallow waters, perfect for those who just like to paddle, while also offering great conditions for kayakers and paddleboarders. There’s a café that is open all year round here, serving hot and cold snacks between 11am-4pm. There is also a village pub nearby serving traditional pub meals.
It’s also a popular hub for wildlife, designated a Marine Conservation Zone for this reason. This beach is a great location for finding eelgrass, seahorses, and pipefish. As far as birdlife goes, you can glimpse oystercatchers in summer and Brent geese and grebes in winter.
#3. Blue Lagoon, Pembrokeshire
This Welsh beach is in an unexpected location — an abandoned slate quarry. It’s the result of flooding that engulfed the quarry in the early 20th Century.
The water has a tropical greenish hue, owing to the mineral properties of the slate. This lagoon is a popular tourist spot and various coasteering companies offer watersports tours of the lagoon. The lagoon is quite deep, so it’s best to only swim if you are an experienced swimmer, and only when the weather is fair. If you do take a swimming trip to the Blue Lagoon, you will want a good pair of swimming goggles to get the most out of your experience.
#4. Nanjizal Beach, Cornwall
It’s no secret that Cornwall has some of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, so we couldn’t mention Nanjizal Beach. This beach’s scenery is iconic, with lagoon-like water and a key-hole-shaped opening in the surrounding rock face that makes a captivating photograph. The cove is only a mile from Lands’ End and it’s quite remote. The best way to access it is by parking at Landsend or one of the nearby villages and walking over to the beach. Depending on where you park, you will want to factor in at least 40 minutes each way for the walk. The walk and the beach itself are suitable for most dogs, but older dogs are likely to struggle with the rocky path. There are also no toilets, so make sure to plan for this in advance!
If you’re a regular beach visitor in the UK, it might be worth buying a holiday home in the south for the family, so you can keep going back to your favourite beaches time and again. Caravans and lodges based in holiday parks offer the perfect base for you and are a place you can escape throughout most of the year.
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ABOUTME
We overland. We eat plants and fungi. We live outside as much as possible. We are all connected. A female travel blogger overlanding and writing about ecotourism, ethical and sustainable travel, socially conscious travel and housesitting. An online travel magazine since 2015.
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