Find the nearest Beaches
Planning a trip to the UK and Ireland coast and looking for where the nearest beach is, our beach lists will help you discover the nearest beach to me. Then for each beach, we will answer questions around location, rural or town, sandy or pebble, rockpools, tide times, weather forecast, dog restrictions, bathing water quality, closest beach cafes and provide general information on the beach and its facilities.
When on a beach page use our tools to search nearby UK and Ireland seaside towns and the surrounding coast for things to see and do or places to stay and eat.
If you are looking for an award-winning beach then you can browse our Blue Flag lists or Seaside Award lists.
Finding the right beach in UK and Ireland is easy – simply explore the beach links below, to find the closest hit the jump to my location compass or use the search bar to plan where your next UK and Ireland beach visit should be.
- Newtown beach at Millport on Cumbrae Island is a beach of sand in a sheltered bay harbour and old pier.
- The Strangles is a large shingle/sand beach which is always quiet due to the difficult climb down to the beach from the cliffs some 700 feet above. Further north a few hundred yards is a small beach known as Little Strand, but care must be exercised as it is possible to get cut off by a high tide. No facilities, nearest in Crackington Haven.
- Knock Bay and Killantringan Bay contain a rural continuous sandy beach which extends to over 1km. You also some small patches of sandy beach to the north of Knock Bay. The southern part of Killantringan Bay changes from a sandy beach to a rock platform. This beach is one of the largest on this stretch of coast and reaches a width of over 200m in places, two streams cross the beach. Parking is on the south of the bay, take the single track road to the lighthouse and a small parking area as you reach the coat. Alternatively if you like a walk park at Portpatrick 3 miles to the south and take the coastal footpath.
- Spittal Quay beach is a sandy beach within the Tweed estuary. You can opt for the sea rather than estuary side at Spittal beach that has a promenade and shops.
- Afon Wen beach is a sandy beach with a high tide pebble bank. Popular for fishing and horse riding. No facilities and limited parking along the sides of the road and then you will need to walk under the bridge and follow the rough track to the beach.
- Ballycuggeran is a small beach backed by grass areas on Lough Derg which is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Ireland.
- Craigston beach is an unspoilt sandy beach with interesting rocks to explore on the isle of Barra, Roadside parking available.
- The East Beach at Selsey in West Sussex is a pebble beach on either side of the RNLI lifeboat station. Selsey is situated on a peninsula jutting out into the English Channel about eight miles south of Chichester. A small town that retains its history, the unique Selsey community spirit and the Selsey fishing fleet. Fresh fish and crabs are for sale caught by the local fishing boats pulled up on the beach. There are many things to do including walks along the seawall, cycle routes, Selsey lifeboat station and museum, windsurfing and a diving and snorkelling centre. Facilities at the beach include free parking on the road, pub, toilets, RNLI shop and children’s play area whilst Selsey is a moderate walk away and has a wider range of restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs.
- Green Bay beach is a sandy beach backed by trees and shrub. The bay sits on the east of Bryher overlooking the channel to Tresco, which provides it calm waters. The beach has no facilities.
- Earlsferry West beach, golden sands backed by dunes in a sheltered position.
- Ventry beach is a sandy beach sitting a sheltered bay. The beach area has Ventry Strand a small dune system, a small lake, wet grasslands and an extensive Common Reed swamp.
- Waterfoot is a long sandy beach in the bay that has 2 piers; one is in ruin whilst the other is more intact. Facilities include parking and picnic sites.
