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Original poster

Where is the absolute best beach in the U.K.?

242 replies

BathNotBath · 08/02/2023 21:26

and why is it the best?

Would like some ideas for where I’ve missed and where I must go. A bucket and spade list.
( Children grown and flown. Got some dogs. Camping good. Like quiet and big skies and peace)

I have a very soft spot and fond memories of Oxwich bay. sand dunes. BBQs and sleeping out. Shooting stars. Miles of empty sand.

OP posts:
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18
IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 08/02/2023 22:32

ssd · 08/02/2023 21:43

White sands of Morar

Gorgeous

Dareisayimonetoo · 08/02/2023 22:32

Dungeness in Kent if you want pebbles. Go find the listening ears. Fish and chips at the Pilot. Steam there and back from Hythe on the RHD small gauge railway.

RTHJ14 · 08/02/2023 22:33

Whitesands in Pembrokeshire, stunning. Our absolute fave though is Bigbury on Sea in Devon…. Tiny when the tide is in but when it’s out…! Burgh Island views and a sea tractor

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BeBraveLittlePenguin · 08/02/2023 22:33

The tombolo on Shetland. Utterly breathtaking (and bastard cold).

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 08/02/2023 22:35

Rushy Bay on Bryher Island. I felt so relaxed and happy when I was there. The sea was so beautiful in the sunshine, the sand sparkled with tiny crushed shells and it just felt so wild and peaceful. The sea was beyond icy cold though - one dipped toe was enough!

SunshineLollipopsAndRainbows · 08/02/2023 22:37

Possibly not the best in the UK but another vote for Cornish beaches, particularly on the North coast.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 08/02/2023 22:41

Silecroft in Cumbria.

Where is the absolute best beach in the U.K.?
Where is the absolute best beach in the U.K.?
Rosscameasdoody · 08/02/2023 22:43

Carbis Bay beach, near St Ives, Cornwall.

TiredyMcTired · 08/02/2023 22:43

Watergate Bay, Mother Iveys Bay, Morgan Porth, Bedruthan Steps, Constantine Bay, Rock and Whitsand Bay - all in Cornwall. And Blackpool Sands, Slapton Sands, Bigbury and Budleigh Salterton in Devon. Some you need to avoid in summer season, as you do most places in Devon & Cornwall at peak times, but the rest of the time they are stunning places to go. Also Fistral Beach in the winter is gorgeous, as is Perranporth.

stinkingbishop · 08/02/2023 22:44

Agree with votes for the Witterings, Newborough on Anglesey, and Silver Sands of Morar. Also, Rhoscolyn on Anglesey, and Mellon Udrigle on the West Coast.

Shewhois21 · 08/02/2023 22:45

Gwithian/ Hayle in Cornwall, the Northumberland ones already mentioned, West Bay in Dorset, Salthouses Norfolk.

MotherOfHouseplants · 08/02/2023 22:46

Another vote for Holkham, OP. It is just what you want - miles of sand, dunes, big sky, quiet. Brancaster is lovely too but has a bit more for families and therefore is busier. You can't go wrong with north Norfolk.

Leirvassbu · 08/02/2023 22:46

Druridge Bay in Northumberland.
Tynemouth Long Sands
St Andrews West Sands
Luskentyre Isle of Harris
And anywhere along the coastline of South Uist

MaMisled · 08/02/2023 22:48

Tenby

nopuppiesallowed · 08/02/2023 22:51

MichelleScarn · 08/02/2023 21:46

Another for Harris! Beautiful beaches!

Is the sea actually that colour?

kittensinthekitchen · 08/02/2023 22:51

Lunan Bay is said to be one of the nicest beaches in Scotland

Where is the absolute best beach in the U.K.?
Gawpygertie · 08/02/2023 22:52

Loch Morlich is beautiful.

Where is the absolute best beach in the U.K.?
Lisbeth50 · 08/02/2023 22:53

Harlech
Bamburgh
Barafundle Bay

Piffpaffpoff · 08/02/2023 22:53

Any beach on Iona.
Achmelvich
Arisaig
Sanna
a secret one near Acharacle

whiteroseredrose · 08/02/2023 22:54

Another vote for Calgary Bay, Isle of Mull. Very quiet with rock pools and a lovely cafe (20 years ago, anyway). I agree with Bamburgh beach too. Porthtowan beach is my favourite in Cornwall.

Gymnopedie · 08/02/2023 22:55

Alldrelaxzz · 08/02/2023 22:10

Shhhhhh. It's horrible. No one should ever go there apart from me. 😁

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And me. But I'm very quiet and well behaved.

clary · 08/02/2023 22:57

Haha @Cheeseandlobster ds2 spent last summer working in Pembs and spent a lot of time at Skrinkle, swimming round the rocks from Church Doors 😯

My fave is a bit further along 😀

Piffpaffpoff · 08/02/2023 22:59

north end of Iona

Where is the absolute best beach in the U.K.?
Ineedwinenow · 08/02/2023 22:59

Totally agree with the Northumbrian beaches! They are beautiful! One I truly enjoy visiting is St Bees, it doesn’t resemble an Indian Ocean beach but it’s just a lovely clean beach in a beautiful setting! Not a lot there either but I still enjoy ever visit to that lovely little stretch of sand! ( it’s feckin cold though as it’s Cumbria 😆)

LakieLady · 08/02/2023 23:00

Splcam · 08/02/2023 22:21

Pendower Beach in Cornwall. Stayed at the hotel there in the late 70s when I was a kid. It was magical. Hotel was right on the beach. One evening we spent watching whales in the bay. Returned mid 2000s, hotel still there but dont think it is open anymore

I wondered if Pendower would get a mention. I absolutely love it, and the hotel was definitely open in 2018. I've never seen Pendower busy, either, possibly because there's not much parking.

The other two in my top 3 are Three Cliffs and Holkham. If you want to camp, OP, there used to be a nice campsite on the clifftop above Three Cliffs Bay.

I really like Bamburgh, but I've been there three times and have yet to see it in sunlight.

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