UK seaside in the countryside, close to a city

[BerryStripe]

Trying to work out where to go this summer.
Two DDs, a young 13 and an old 15.
Younger one likes the outdoors, horses, waking, cycling. Older one likes cities and shopping, especially thrift shopping.
Both are happy in the water, swimming, surfing etc.
Looking for somewhere based at the seaside with a nice beach (rural/village/small town) but with a city accessible (ideally by public transport) within about an hour.
Any suggestions from the Mumsnet hive mind? Thank you 😀

With the best will in the world, Truro really is a city in name only 😆

You could do worse than somewhere near Exeter....that's a cool city, a few miles from the sea. You can go up to Dartmoor from there (train to Ivybridge or Okehampton), or Plymouth's worth a day trip.

Anglesey has great beaches and you can get to Chester/Cheshire Oaks (shopper's paradise) quite quickly

Croyde might be perfect for you. Amazing beach and a super surfy village with miles of walks on your doorstep. Woolacombe is just around the corner too and there are riding stables there.

At nearby Braunton you can cycle for miles on the Tarka Trail. https://tarkatrail.org.uk/the-tarka-trail/tarka-trail-map/ Depending on how keen you are on cycling Bideford is 15 miles from Braunton on the trail. Lots of charity shops there.

From Croyde it's less than half an hour drive into Barnstaple which has lots of charity shops and a market for your daughter who likes thrift shopping.

For a day out in the city the train to Exeter takes an hour from Barnstaple.

That was my first thought. (We've come back from there). Check out who is playing at the outdoor air theatre this summer. Maybe have an overnight in York as part of the trip (possibly with a ghost walk?)

Absolutely this. Newcastle airport and train station are both on the metro system, and then 30 mins. Great beaches, 3 surf schools, plenty of good accom, plenty of eateries, charity shops, weekend markets (Tynemouth station) plus metro centre nearby etc. Horse-riding in at least two places I can think of, And if you get up into Northumberland, the beaches, the castles, the stately homes, it is glorious (bus is not that great mind, poss need a hire car)

Tenby

I was going to say this!

West Wittering. Lovely beach, fantastic riding school right on the beach, Chichester by bus not far away and Brighton accessible or Gunwharf quays if you get a rainy day. Lots of nice walks along Salterns way and up on the downs.

Broadstairs or Whitstable in Kent. Cute seaside towns, easily accessible walks in the countryside and both near Canterbury by bus or train.

Another suggestion for North Berwick. Close to Edinburgh for the city aspect and lots to around the area.

Isle of Wight

Caernarfon- nice town with good shops and castle. Great beaches nearby; good boat trips on sea to see wildlife; nearby horse riding; near ZipWorld attraction; lovely walks and mountains.