We do like to be beside the seaside
Posted by Tom on 27th Aug 2024
(Photo by Mark Timberlake on Unsplash)
Tom takes us on a whistle-stop tour of some of Britain's most iconic beaches
Summer may be coming to an end, but there’s still a few more weeks to catch some sunny weather before autumn sets in.
In fact, it’s often in August and September that sea temperatures in Britain are at their highest.
So now might just be the perfect time to get your swimmers on and head to the nearest beach!
Looking for inspiration on where to go? Look no further. Here are some of Britain’s most beautiful and iconic seaside destinations.
Rhossili Bay was once rated the third best beach in Europe!
See our Rhossili Bay tea towel
If you're lucky enough to live in South Wales, then you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to white sandy beaches.
But few beaches can rival Rhossili Bay, a wide sandy beach on the southwestern tip of the Gower Peninsula.
In 2014, Rhossili Bay was voted the best beach in the UK, the third best in Europe, and ninth best in the world.
It was even featured in an episode of Doctor Who!
And to top it all off, it's only a one hour drive from Swansea and a two hour drive from Cardiff.
Definitely one for the bucket (and spade!) list.
A classic British seaside view: kids playing frisbee on the green, and families paddle about in the surf
See our Frinton-on-Sea tea towel
Meanwhile, on the Essex coast, is Frinton-on-Sea: a classic British sea-side destination.
This small town first became popular in the 20th century as a resort for high-society getaways.
Winston Churchill rented a house here. Edward VIII played golf at the Frinton Golf Club.
With over a mile of sandy beaches and a promenade lined with pastel-coloured beach huts, Frinton-on-Sea is a pretty idyllic place.
Plus there's the huge greensward nearby - perfect for a family picnic - and the two-mile coastal path with amazing sea views.
But if you’re looking for something a little more rugged and wild, then maybe the Jurassic Coast is the place for you.
This design shows Man O’War Beach from above, with the dramatic headland rising up above the sand
One of only four natural World Heritage Sites in the UK, the Jurassic Coast is world-famous for its ninety-five miles of dramatic coastline: arches, stacks, pinnacles, coves, cliffs, you name it.
This is a geologist’s idea of heaven: the rocks here display evidence of 185 million years of the earth’s geological history.
As well as dramatic rock formations, the Jurassic Coast also boasts some of the UK’s most idyllic beaches, including Man O’War Beach in Dorset.
Flanked by two rocky headlands, this quiet little cove offers turquoise waters and sandy beaches – the perfect place to relax in the sun after a day of exploring the cliffs.
Protected from swells by an offshore reef, the beach is also a popular spot for swimming, fishing and diving.
This design shows Summerleaze Beach from a viewpoint up on the gorse-covered cliffs: kids play on the beach below, and seagulls jostle with the wind
See our Bude Sea Pool tea towel
A few hours’ drive west of Man O’War is Bude, on the north coast of Cornwall.
Bude has everything you could wish for on a seaside holiday: golden beaches, deep blue ocean, and jagged sandstone cliffs.
Once an important port for smaller vessels sailing the Atlantic, it became a fashionable resort in the Victorian era - people came here from the big cities, hoping that the sea air would do their health some good.
With increased railway access, it became even more popular throughout the 20th century up until today. People come to surf the waves, to walk the cliffs, and to sunbathe on the long, wide beaches.
But the Bude Sea Pool is possibly the town's most unusual attraction.
Built in the 1930s under the curve of the cliffs, it provides a safe environment for seawater swimming.
And in 2010, when funding was withdrawn, the people of Bude fought to keep the sea pool open for use, forming the Friends of Bude Sea Pool Charity in 2011, which now funds and maintains the pool for unrestricted access.
Imagine spending the day on a beach with this hairy guy!
There are so many stunning beaches in Scotland that we couldn't pick just one for a tea towel.
It may be a bit cold and grey most of the year, but there's something special about a sunny day on a Scottish beach.
Yellowcraig Beach, just a few miles east of Edinburgh, is a case in point.
Known for its wide expanse of sand backed by dunes and woodlands, Yellowcraig overlooks the iconic Fidra Island, which is said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.
But if you're looking for something a bit further afield, look no further: Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris is one of Scotland's most breathtaking coastal destinations.
With white sands and turquoise waters, Luskentyre often feels more like a tropical paradise than a beach in Scotland. The surrounding mountains add to the dramatic landscape, creating a perfect backdrop for long walks or simply relaxing on the sand.
It takes about nine hours, by car, to get from Edinburgh to the Isle of Harris.
But I reckon it'd be worth it for views like this!
(Photograph by Nils Leonhardt on Unsplash)