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Please help me find quiet beaches for UK holiday in the summer holiday

77 replies

ispendmytimecompletingforms · 27/11/2023 21:05

I'm getting stuck and hoping for some inspiration/help. My daughter is autistic and hates busy places but loves going to the beach. Every year we go on a UK cottage beach holiday near Norfolk, but we are keen to try somewhere different as my other children are getting bored of this.
Any suggestions of nice quiet beaches somewhere that is nice for a holiday. We have to go in August so many places are v busy. We live in Milton Keynes and don't want to travel more than 3/4 hours ideally. Thanks for any suggestions 😊.

OP posts:
Alexandra2001 · 28/11/2023 07:00

Northumbria and Gower can take several hours to get to in summer hols (Traffic congestion) way over your max 3/4hr.

Have you considered Normandy, Northern France, 3hr drive to Portsmouth, ferry and you re there, a lot cheaper accommodation that the UK too & a lot different than Norfolk.

MrsMarzetti · 28/11/2023 07:02

S.W Scotland has more beaches than you can ever visit and it is peaceful

Papillon23 · 28/11/2023 07:10

Sizewell beach at Suffolk is great if you're prepared to walk 10 mins up and away from the carpark.

It is next to the nuclear power station which sounds a bit dystopian but it's really quite nice if you just walk up past it.

Magicmagician · 28/11/2023 07:12

We went to slapton in Devon last summer and it seemed a lot quieter than either Dartmouth to the west or Salcombe to the east. Huge beach, though pebbly, some nice walks and quite a few coffee shops/pubs and fish and chip places. There were buses too if you wanted to avoid driving.

TrashedSofa · 28/11/2023 07:13

Penmaenmawr on the north Welsh coast never seems to be crowded.

lifehappens12 · 28/11/2023 07:19

I was going to suggest Pembroke and Newgale - especially as it's a long beach and you can keep going to find a quieter part. Plus there are plenty of non beach attractions to go see for your other children. Check out folly farm

WeneedSamVimesonthecase · 28/11/2023 07:27

We stay in East Preston near Littlehampton on the Sussex coast and the beach there is never very busy.

The North East coast is the most beautiful though.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 28/11/2023 07:27

Saunton Sands, North Devon. Very crowded near the car park, but walk down the beach a couple of hundred yards, and it’s quiet and beautiful. You can rent a chalet nearly on the beach meaning great access to it at any time.

CotswoldGal · 28/11/2023 07:31

ispendmytimecompletingforms · 27/11/2023 21:42

@squirrelnutkin10 that sounds good. I will investigate I have been to Rye years ago - it was lovely. I thought the beaches would be too busy near there.

You are right, they’ll be heaving, especially Camber Sands and Rye might be pretty but a pain to park in August 😱

Namechanged0987654 · 28/11/2023 07:35

DoggyDooDooDoo · 28/11/2023 06:35

I'm amazed to see people suggesting Caswell Bay as quiet, I've been a few times and on a sunny day it's always rammo!

The Surfability surf club is based there though and that's an amazing opportunity for kids with additional needs.

Caswell is very busy on sunny days

Oxwich is quieter and safe for swimming. Rhossili is usually deserted as people are put off by the trek down. It’s not somewhere I’d let kids swim though.

Rinkymcdinky · 28/11/2023 07:36

Saunton sands. It’s so massive you can find a spot.

I was going to suggest Scotland at first.

In Suffolk there’s a place called Shingle Street, near Aldeburgh. You swim in the pool created by the sea in the shingle beach. Or Thorpeness beach usually looks quiet when I’m there.

Riverlee · 28/11/2023 07:41

There’s lovely beaches in Kent, Camber sands, , Botany bay , Joss bay , Dymchurch etc, and lots of pebbles ones such as Whistable, etc. The pebbles ones tend to be a lot quieter .

The trick is to get there early, by 9.30am at the latest and leave at midday. We frequently do that and it’s not to bad.

Also walk away from the main entrance, pier, attractions to the beach. It’s amazing how a few minutes walk can bake a difference.

Riverlee · 28/11/2023 07:43

Broadstairs is another and gets busier as the day goes on. Nearby Dumpton gap tends to be a lot quieter.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 28/11/2023 07:59

Lewis and Harris in Scotland

ScoobyDoesnt · 28/11/2023 08:08

I live not far from you, and travel to Pembrokeshire regularly - it will take you around 4.5 hours if traffic is kind and allowing for a loo stop / drink - but the drive is 100% worth it.

As pp have said, avoid Tenby (it’s really lovely but very busy in school hols) and head further west towards St Davids. Newgale is almost 2 miles of sand and therefore is never packed - always plenty of space, as long as you time your visit for 3-4 hours either side of low tide. At high tide there’s no sand!

Broadhaven, Nolton Haven, and Druidstone Haven, all near Newgale will also be quieter. Whitesands is lovely but a little busier. Lots of other things to do locally too.

Fellatfirsthurdle · 28/11/2023 08:10

There are loads of small coves and beaches in the south hams, south Devon. You would probably have to park quite far and walk though. Some more busy than others.

Tinkywinkydinkydoo · 28/11/2023 08:15

Pendine in Carmarthenshire. It‘s 8miles long , never busy and there is a holiday park with static caravans literally across the road from it. Also Carmarthen bay, quiet beach and has a parkdean resort on it.

ispendmytimecompletingforms · 28/11/2023 08:29

Some excellent suggestions from people - thanks so much 😊. Lots of places to look up.

@Alexandra2001 can you recommend somewhere in Normandy etc with nice quiet beaches - I wouldn't know where to start. One of my children is desperate to go abroad but flying isn't an option for us with DD. So was thinking ferry might be a possibility. But I don't know where to start with this really as it feels harder to manage finding places quiet enough for DD.

OP posts:
TroysMammy · 28/11/2023 08:32

Gower has many beaches. Langland, Rotherslade and Caswell are extremely busy during the summer. Also Swansea beach at Blackpill Lido. These beaches have parking nearby, toilets and shops/cafes.

Oxwich and Port Eynon are large beaches but busy near the car parks, shops and toilets. Less people further along.

Three Cliffs, Pwll Du, a worthwhile trek with even less people around but no amenities.

I imagine parts of Llangennith will be busy too.

Having been born and bred in Swansea, 55 years, my knowledge of how busy beaches are is somewhat scant because as a child my Dad would only take us to Oxwich, only when the tide was out as he used to go crabbing. It was only as an older teenager I realised we were surrounded by wonderful beaches. Now the beaches I do go to are off the beaten track as I like beauty and solitude instead of sandcastles and lollies.

Nw22 · 28/11/2023 08:32

Oh yes Hayle is good. We stayed at three mile beach last year and the beach was mostly empty

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 28/11/2023 08:42

We went to Pembrokeshire in August and found beaches that were deserted. Huge beautiful beaches with just a handful of people on them, just avoid Tenby. Northumberland is also good for big quiet beaches, although we haven't tried it in August.

CaptainMyCaptain · 28/11/2023 08:47

WarningOfGails · 27/11/2023 21:13

How much walking are you willing to do to reach a beach?

I was going to make this point. We find lots of completely empty beaches in the summer, mainly along the Yorkshire coast, but we walk quite a long way to get there. The bits near the town with all the facilities will be more crowded.

Weepingskies · 28/11/2023 08:48

Cayton Bay in North Yorkshire near Scarborough is gorgeous and fairly quiet. There’s a kiosk selling drinks and ice creams and that’s about it. It’s got rocks near the cliff that are good for fossil hunting and then a lovely stretch of sand.

CaptainMyCaptain · 28/11/2023 08:59

Weepingskies · 28/11/2023 08:48

Cayton Bay in North Yorkshire near Scarborough is gorgeous and fairly quiet. There’s a kiosk selling drinks and ice creams and that’s about it. It’s got rocks near the cliff that are good for fossil hunting and then a lovely stretch of sand.

For accommodation there's a holiday park over the road and a campsite a mile or so into the village.

squirrelnutkin10 · 28/11/2023 09:29

Op avoid the well known Camber sands as particularly in holiday times it does get very busy although lovely.
look further along the coast from Rye to Hastings lovely mostly deserted beaches.