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Beaches in the UK
Can anyone recommend some nice beaches in England, Scotalnd and/or Wales? How about some with a good view of the white cliffs from sea level?
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The beaches in the UK are often shingle rather than sand, especially in the area you are inquiring about on the southeast coast. "Shingle" means stones, stones 1"-3" long. The water is often (usually?) too cold to swim.
There are fabulous sand beaches in the West of Scotland and the Hebrides. They look like the Caribbean. But, Gulf Stream or no Gulf Stream, the water is pretty cold. But the views are fabulous. |
If you look at images of The White Cliffs of Dover one thing will strike you - no shots from below the cliffs as there's no suitable beaches.
As for other beaches in the UK there's plenty of all types - beaches being something the UK does very well - ranging from shingle (Brighton) to white fine sand (anywhere in the Western Isles), donkey rides (Blackpool), rock pools (Robin Hood's Bay). You might want to specify what sort of beaches you want and where else in the UK you'll be For something to be going on with http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/tra...cle6611266.ece http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/...25-480372.html http://www.timeout.com/london/featur...K_beaches.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/201...ches-in-the-uk |
There aren't really any beaches with a decent view of "the" white cliffs, near Dover, but you can get down to the sea near Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters:
http://www.beachyhead.org.uk/about_the_area.html |
Oxwich Beach in South Wales is very nice, with sand. Beachy Head and surrounding area is beautiful.
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http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/Progr...FQIB4wodwkBKYA
Blue flag ones http://www.greatbritishbeaches.co.uk/ http://www.britishbeaches.info/ its very cold and if its warm it is either because the water is trapped in a pool or the out pourings of the local sewage works warms it up! Loads of sand about, gravel and even rocks. Do you need saling boats, surfing, cake, icecream. Some naked bodies available but there can be a tendancy towards sex in the dunes |
For a good view of white cliffs at beach level, try Pegwell Bay, near Ramsgate, or St Margaret's Bay, both in Kent. Google the names for some images. I am not sure how good the beach will be for the usual beach activities.
Other options are the Newhaven area, or the Isle of Wight. |
There are loads of beaches around Wales. Far too many to mention here.
Have a look at this site, it will give you some idea, but I recommend anything on the gower penninsula or along the Pembrokeshire Coast. |
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Cornwall, in southwest Britain, has pretty beaches. St. Ives alone has three. No white cliffs though.
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"Holkham Beach wins 'Coast Award - Best British Beach 2010'" - this is the 'Shakespeare in Love' beach - the dunes at the end of the film. http://www.holkham.co.uk/html/beach.html Never been but apparently a fabulous hotel on/near the beach.
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I thought the most popular UK beach destination was . . . the Costa del Sol.
:-)) |
I second St Margarets Bay for cliff views. The approach takes you past some beautiful gardens open to the public, if I remember correctly. The spot is a very secluded.
My favourite sandy beaches are the north Norfolk Coast and Sennen/Whitesand Bay and Porthcurno in Cornwall. St Ives beaches are remarkeably beautiful for 'town' beaches. I think it must be something to do with the light. We may not have guaranteed sunshine but we have mile upon mile of varied coastline. |
"Holkham Beach ...Never been but apparently a fabulous hotel on/near the beach."
Eh? The area round Holkham has several adequate hotels. None are within half a mile of the beach (that's one of the points about the beach: it's a substantial and pretty walk from the nearest road). None could be called fabulous, except by the writers of press releases about them. A hotel company in almost nearby Burnham Market has become increasingly skilled in the past few years in getting press releases about its properties planted in magazines and web sites that don't do criticism I don't think I've ever seen anyone sitting on Holkham Beach. Local (and holidaying) dogs love it, and Islingtonites away for the weekend find it a terrific place to walk off the effects of an over indulgent Saturday night dinner party. But it's strictly for looking at, not for swimming from. |
Holkham Beach-----My husband's favourite, FlannerUK!! But I agree it's a walking destination for its big skies and wide open space. For surfing my nephew rates Fistral Beach near Newquay in Cornwall. I like Bantham Beach in Devon as I can gaze at the Art Deco hotel on Burgh Island and dream!!!
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I've always wanted to stay at the Burgh Island hotel - perhaps we should have a Fodors GTG there!
Ps Another good surfing beach - Praa in Cornwall. |
Like bellini, I also like Bantham, having spent many summer's days there. Even better is the beach at Bigbury-on-Sea a little further up the coast (but a surprisingly long drive due to having to skirt the coastal river inlet) where you are only a sea-tractor ride from the island, or a stroll at low tide. Some of the nicest days I've had with my children when they were small have been at Bigbury.
For good surfing, my teenagers like Widemouth Bay on the north Cornwall coast and Croyde on the North Devon coast. There are many smaller beaches along this stretch of coast, like Crackington Haven and Polzeath, and also more than a few even smaller beaches which are much more off the beaten track and probably involve a good trek down to. |
The Scottish beaches which spring to minds and are my favourites are:-
The West Sands, St Andrews Lunan Bay, Montrose Stonehaven bay Aberdeen bay Balmedie beach Collieston Nairn Dornoch Sandwood bay Clachtoll Mellen Udrigle (really) Luskentyre, Harris West Beach, Berneray Cliad, Coll Balevulin, Tiree Kiloran, Colonsay Arisaig Tayvallich Claddach, Islay |
When you're in England, any beach appears to have white sands. That's because the pallor of the natives is reflected onto the ground! :D
BC |
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