Where to live by the sea

[onesmallstepforman]

I would like to relocate to live by the sea, somewhere in the UK. I live in a big city but was brought up by the sea in a foreign country. I crave swimming in clean beautiful water, walks on the beach, sea air and everything associated (except for tacky beach tourism crap).
My criteria is ambitious but i'd like to think not impossible considering the UK is a huge island.
I am looking for a real beach experience, but for me Brighton for example just won't fit the bill at all! Or anywhere you mainly get muddy beach or water uninviting for swimming.
As much as I love Norfolk and some of the beaches there are pretty decent (say Holkham bay) it's not much for swimming. Even in summer water is always dark, and the strong tide stairs mud and sand, and much of stinky seaweed. Great for walks and all, but no good swim. I also like a ragged scene and secluded beaches, just to add to my complicated brief.
Other places which I have considered and discounted so far:
Cornwall - the obvious choice for both amazing beaches and good swimming in some places, but from what I gather everyone warned me it's a nightmare in summer, too far, no jobs and I will be looked down at as a property privileged thief.
Pembrokeshire - similar reasons to Cornwall, maybe not for 'stealing'l locals homes but apparently not good place to live at all. Holiday yes, but don’t stay forever.
So where else?? Devon? Dorset? ..Or do I need to move to the meds for this kind of life?

I’m sure it’s lovely but the op does need to be aware of Sellafield, with its history of accidents and contamination of local area. It changed its name from Windscale for a reason!

I grew up not far from Plymouth. I went back last year, after 19 years absence and I loved the whole area.
Plymouth (apparently called Britains Ocean City) itself has Tinside lido (fills from the sea) but the actual water looked clean and lots of people swimming.
Wembury
Salcombe
Bigbury
Newton Ferrers/Noss Mayo
Dartmouth
Kingsbridge (estuary)
Lots of places in South Devon.

If my life wasn't settled where I am, I'd definitely be looking to head back down there.

My parents are close to Folkestone/Sandgate/Hythe. They love it (I'm not so keen).

Indeed. It was undiscovered 10 years ago, used to go every August bank holiday for years though sadly not been since covid.

I see it mentioned a lot now on social media as the latest cool place to go.

Thanks for the correction! Is Black Isle just the peninsula just to the south that has Cromarty at its tip? I always think of it as that wider area for some reason.

North Devon. Lovely, lovely area of the country. But due to second home influx/seasonal visitors, a lot of facilities do close out-of-season.

Northern Ireland, particularly the north coast.

Northern Ireland in the north west check out the beaches in Portrush and portstewart

@suncream agree. I went in the late 70s with my mum and dad.

@Shufflebumnessie When I was growing up we were always told Plymouth was a no go zone. Then at University I dabbled with Plymouth and found it very rough and scary at times.

However, in recent years I have found Plymouth really fun and vibrant! I’m really chuffed to live near it now and it’s beautiful. I hope it continues!

So you'll be needing a job wherever you relocate to @onesmallstepforman ?

Take a look at Gower near Swansea. For such a small area it has every kind of coastal area and some of the beaches are breathtaking.
The tides are huge and do affect the water clarity. Low water or a big storm will give you cloudier water but at other times it’s crystal clear.

Wow. Thank you all! So many great ideas and places to explore. I don't know or visited most of them so I will take to Google with enthusiasm to check them out.

Yes, work is very important. I am in the construction industry, a freelance project manager, and used to work on high-end projects, so I imagine if I'm lucky enough to find a job in some of these places it won't be as lucrative or exciting. I may have to take on other work as have transferable skills but how easy would that be or likely? For those who responded, is anyone working in the construction industry and can offer some insight on the job market?

As for housing, would like to stay below the £500k. 3-4 bed detached in a sleepy town or countryside but not too far or isolated. This budget won't go far in Devon or Cornwall, I imagine, but how about up north and other places mentioned? And what is the quality of the houses you can get in a good location?

Also for those who spoke of Cornwall and Pembrokeshire so favourably, thank you for the counter arguments as I do love these places.
Some of the comments were encouraging so and I need to think again.

I do wish to be relatively close to a vibrant community with good food (very important!) creative scene to some degree and access to quality amenities. Not seeking a hermit lifestyle, just quality live by the sea.

Your budget wouldn’t touch the sides in Salcombe, but would work in Exmouth and Teignmouth.

As in lots of places, there’s masses of construction going on in Devon.

Both of those towns have train stations with easy access to Exeter and on to London.

I live in Deal, Kent.

No sandy beach, but I actually like the pebble beaches.

Remember that living by the sea in the UK means that:

-the water is going to be cold, although at least in the South East it is pleasant in the summer. Some people where I live swim all year round but you would need a wet suit.
-most of the places listed will be freezing in the winter/autumn
-it gets really, really windy by the sea
-seaside towns will be really quiet in the cold months compared to all the excitement of the summer
-you will hear seagulls screeching all day long! (they nest on the roofs so even if you are not living directly on the seafront you will still get them).

I love it but it is not for everyone and you should make sure you spend time in your chosen seaside town in the winter as well to make sure you will be happy living there.

Broadstairs in Kent has a shady beach and is really nice. So do Margate and Ramsgate although they are a bit grittier! Folkestone also has a small sandy beach but most of it is pebbles.

The advantage of these towns though is that the South East is a bit warmer and you can still work in London, especially with hybrid roles, if you need to. Also these towns have good artist communities.

Isle of Wight. 360 degrees of every type of beach.

Some of the larger coastal towns in Cornwall will be OK with 500k. Bude, Wadebridge, Looe. Maybe others.

Still not sure about your work! And travel of any distance is a nightmare/time consuming.

"Quality amenities" worries me too. Of the many that come and do not settle, its access to amenities they miss.

You do have to compromise some stuff for a cornish coastal location. It might just be too remote.

West Sussex...West Wittering is a lovely beach, Chichester close by which is a nice city with great places to eat and drink. Goodwood races near by, close to the South Downs for walking with many little villages and country pubs dotted around.

Devon, Hope Cove.

£500k would get you something in Bracklesham, which is further west than West/East Wittering, and moments from the beach. The area in general (W Sussex - Chichester/Emsworth) is fairly foody, but the Witterings and Bracklesham are not especially so. Other than the availability of fresh fish in East Wittering. But, all are at the end of a peninsular, so traffic and access can be a nightmare in the summer. You are also close to the South Downs National Park, and arts/theatre in Chichester and Arundel, as well as 90 minutes to Victoria from Chichester.

This needs work, but is close to the beach and on a reasonable sized plot

4 bedroom chalet for sale in Farm Road, Bracklesham, West Sussex, PO20 (rightmove.co.uk)

East Lothian and work in Edinburgh.

Wherever you go, you have to really check the place out.
West Wittering is a lovely beach with sand and dunes and there's a real holiday feel to it, but you have to walk for ages to get to the sea and then the sea is shallow for ages. So if its swimming in the sea with a bit of depth to it that may not be your thing.
But I agree that whole area is nice and somewhere I'm tempted to move to.

500k would be fine in mid-east Devon (Teignmouth, Dawlish, Exmouth, Sidmouth, Seaton). I don't know too much about North Devon but I think it's more seasonal and South Devon is ££££ (and full of second homes)

Still on a south west wales train of thought- how about Mumbles in Swansea?

lovely area, lots of galleries and cafes. Gets absolutely mental in the summer though!

I recommend the north east. Either Whitley bay, tynemouth or cullercoats, or for more of a 'sleepy' town and a more deserted beach then Northumberland.
Your budget would go really far up here!

Cullercoats bay is very popular for swimming in because the sea is gorgeous. That's not to say it's really packed or anything though
But I would say Whitley, tynemouth and cullercoats are really bustling areas in general

Just had a quick peek to see how far your budget would go and actually it's hard to even spend it all up north!

Here's a quick example for £375k

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149407967#/?channel=RES_BUY

Chathill in Northumberland, 2 miles from the gorgeous Beadnell Bay beach (see Google images of that bay, wow 🤩 )