best beach sites?

[SparkyUK]

On the off chance that the weather turns sunny again, anyone feel like sharing their favourite beach sites within 3 (or 4) hours drive from South London? I suppose it doesn't even have to be on the beach - a 20 minute drive or so would be fine too. We have young boys so the beach really just needs to be good for sand castles or exploring rather than having big waves or anything xtreme.

We had our first camping trip as a family this year at Forgewood and the boys loved it. We've also been to Cornwall and went to the beach a few times. Again, the boys loved it. When I mentioned to my DS, aged 3.5, that I was going to look at camping by the beach, his eyes almost popped out of his head. He couldn't believe something so amazing could exist.

So come on mn, help my bring Christmas a little early this year :)

there are some beautiful stretches of beach in norfolk, i dont drive so not sure on the travel time but well worth looking into

I recommend Manston Caravan and Camping. It's very near loads of sandy beaches in Kent - Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Minnis Bay, Joss Bay...

Campsite is very green and laid back with loads of open space for DC to play in.

Don't know about time from London but Barmouth and Anglesey have great beach sites - Trawsdir, Red Wharf Bay (St David's Park), Hendre Mynach - are all worth a look.

We stayed at Port Eynon on the Gower in June, lovely site, 2 mins walk from beach. Sand dunes, rock pools & cliff walks.

Hillend on the Gower absolutely the best! here

Breck Farm on the N Norfolk coast allows fires and has woods, if you like the Forgewood vibe and is near enough to some brilliant beaches - Wells Next the Sea for miles of sand and dunes, or West Runton for sand (low tide - not much beach at high tide) for rock pooling and fossil collecting.

High sands Creek at Stiffkey is a more conventional site, but right on the edge of the marsh - a sandy creek, but a walk to the real beach - and seals!

There are some nice siites at East & West Wittering, and also The New Forest sites are close to Bournemouth etc.

Oooo, thanks for all the recommendations. DH has been dropping hints about Norfolk Coast and neither of us have been so good to be reminded about the area and Breck Farm does look lovely (and amazingly only 3 hours from our house!)

West Witteringly and around there wouldn't have occurred to me for some reason - can you recommend any particular sites? It's even closer at 2 hours!

We'd love to go to Gower but have pegged it for a longer break so I think will have to wait until next year.

Now just need a bit of sunny weather! Thanks again, and any more ideas highly appreciated.

I have heard good and bad about Shell Island. I gather that it's lovely if you go right out in the dunes and have a proper wild camp, but it's pretty grim if you go on or near the main site by the shop, clubhouse etc as it's full of teenagers and stag/hen parties.

N Norfolk is lovely. Tak a boat trip to see the seals close up here, or try Temples Boats, walk to Blakeney Point, go to Holkham Beach and walk through the pinewoods and on miles and miles of sand......