What are your U.K. beach trip essentials ? I’m thinking do I need a cool bag on wheels

[Lardlizard]

And that sort of stuff ?

Can’t see the wheels managing in the sand!

Plastic sledge to help schlep the picnic / beach toys etc up the beach (assuming sand rather than pebbles!).

Oh god no!!!

I was walking back from the beach behind a woman who had decided to use a suitcase on wheels to transport her beach stuff, the bloody noise that bloody thing made on the bloody concrete made me want to do some bloody serious bloody damage to something.

😂 I'm over it now, honest

Beach wagon.

www.tripsavvy.com/best-beach-wagons-4158060

Best money ever spent for beach equipment.

Sand plus wheels is not a great combination.

For us: buckets, spades, spare set of clothes for kids, towel, bottles of water, baby wipes, money for fish&chips!

Wheels and sand don't go well together.
Wheels and stones don't go well together
Wheels and mud don't go well together (in case you are going to Weston Super Mud).

Depends on what sort of beach you are going to - one with shops ? Or a really remote one ?

It depends on your circumstances. As a childless couple, we chuck a bottle of Cloudy Bay and a blanket into my Le Pliage, and need nothing else. I imagine it would be different with children.

Depends where and what type of beach and whether you are driving.
Is it tidal and you need waterproof blanket ? Is it windy enough you need a wind break - or so windy there’s no point ? Do you need shade or is there shade ? Do you need to take all food/drink or is it close to cafe/shop? Are you gonna be swimming/snorkelling/rock pooling?
All of these things (and loads more variables) mean different things needed.
Have fun !

Less is more. Especially if like the recent beach we were at you have miles or walk over sand dunes before even getting into the beach then miles to walk along to find a quiet spot.

So ...

• one cool bag with tub of lunch stuff snacks and frozen water bottles (keeps lunch cool and defrosts does cold water I’m afternoon!). Fresh water bottles for more immediate drinking. All in one cool bag.

Then one bag with handles with...

• change of clothes for kids. Usually in shorts tshirts to arrive then switch to swim suitable stuff then switch back at end Or wetsuits if you use those instead.
• bucket spade extra spade net if rockpooling etc
• rug which is kept for beach only are you’ll never get all the sand out.
• 2 towels. We share they dry quick

• potty and change stuff for my toddler in one bag

So we only had 3 bags for afternoon and that was enough to carry. I’ve given up taking a book as it’s not happening these days but a small book if you think you’d get chance.

I’d also recommend changing into water shoes before leaving car. Then when back to car have big bottle of water that’s been in boot and rinse feet off with that then out normal shoes on again. Much less sand mess.

Def nothing with wheels. Lots have massive tents and Wind breakers etc. Half their house with them. Depends what you’re going for I suppose.

Oh and a lot of gin and wine for after Because let’s face it a day in a uk beach with young kids needs a lot of alcohol for the parents afterward

You need to cover all eventualities, so a UV tent, factor 30 suncream, flip-flops, cool box and ice packs, plus a blanket, fleece, wellies, windbreak and a flask for hot coffee/tea.

Based on my experiences on Scottish holidays, you will need all of these at any given moment on one day.

I recommend a donkey to carry it all.

I hadn’t even considered that they might be going adults only in that case you need a blanket and the snack cool bag filled with delicious food and drink. And a good book. Nothing else. Simple. Ahh beach day’s with no kids how lovely would that be

@ReplacementPlasticUterus

You need to cover all eventualities, so a UV tent, factor 30 suncream, flip-flops, cool box and ice packs, plus a blanket, fleece, wellies, windbreak and a flask for hot coffee/tea.

Based on my experiences on Scottish holidays, you will need all of these at any given moment on one day.

I recommend a donkey to carry it all.

So true

I must be doing it wrong.

I bring a blanket, spades and buckets for the kids and food.

Most of the time it’s cold so layers and waterproof boots for us.

Swimsuit and towel. Water and suncream if hot and staying a while.

Sis and I had a beach day last week with no kids. Nice picnic and bottle of fizz in cool box. Cossies and towels. Hib done. Utter bliss

Depends on how many people and ages....

Blanket or two to lay on
Windbreakers
Talc
Plastic bags for rubbish
Frozen water bottles for drinking/keeping food and drinks cool
Baby wipes
Anti bac
Cider and bottle opener
Bat, ball, spades, bubbles, sledges,
Connect 4/scavenger hunt/rockpooling... depending on the beach
Couple cans of coke
Parasol/large umbrella for shade
One towel each plus one extra
Sun cream/after sun
Tangtastics...completely essential
Camera
Savoury food like pastries/pasties/quiche. Not sandwiches. Grapes, melon, strawberries. Biscuits

Leave the beach as you found it. Use your spare plastic bags for rubbish/wet clothes

Beach wagon. Game changer.

Coolbag rucksacks are really handy unless you're feeding a hoard of people.

This is what we take (& award it's a lot but I like to be prepared) for a family of 4 (2 adults, DC (5 & 2):
Truck/trolley thing (see PP above)
Wind breaks x2
UV tent
Picnic blanket &/or beach mats
Picnic in cool bag (sandwiches, fruit, crisps etc)
Change bag
Change of clothes for all
Towels
Swimming costumes, goggles, rock pool shoes
Buggy Boards
SPF
Hats, sunglasses
Potty if no toilets close by/open
Spade, bucket, sand toys, mallet
Beach chair
Baby carrier
Sandals
Jumper/cover ups

We've found the truck (from Aldi) is slow on sand but it's better than trying to carry it all with two kids, especially if there's a long walk from the car to the beach. The only time the the wheels locked were on a shale beach.

Carrier bags for wet things and rubbish.

Some of these lists seem very OTT, lugging all those items would be a complete pain, trolley or not.

I use one of the Asda cooler type bags... Usually myself, DS (11) plus a friend and DS (1)
Few bottles of water, cans of pop, crisps
(we have fish shop lunch)
Towels, clean shorts and Tshirt each (they go in swim shorts, Tshirt and cap/sunglasses)
Buckets and Spades plus few toys for baby DS.
Baby Wipes, Talc, Spare Nappies for afterwards and a bag for rubbish

We do have a UV tent if we are going for a while or it's particularly hot

Get the kids to carry their own day backpack as soon as they are able with their own lunch and water in and a change of clothes - put swimmers on before you go. You carry your stuff, blanket, sun cream

If its a sandy beach - big bottle of talc. Sprinkle liberally onto damp sandy limbs and all the sand comes off like magic 😁

The first MN tip i picked up!

Folding chair out of Decathlon for each person. Biggest game changer for us. Apart from that we take a change clothing and 2 massive micro fibre towels, picnic in a cool bag, kites. Suntan lotion, sun hats and fleeces. Job done.

I take a wheeled shopping trolley, it’s fine on the sand, needs a bit of dragging but better than lugging everything from the car. Folding chairs, towels, buckets etc in there, then a cool bag with a long strap over my shoulder.