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.
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- Llanstephan Beach or Llansteffan in Welsh is a sandy beach backed by grass areas located on the estuary of the River Tywi 11 km (7 miles) south of Carmarthen. Facilities at the beach include car parking, toilets, children’s play area, beach shop and tea room.
- Warkworth beach is close to the fortified village of Warkworth. The village with its castle is built on a rocky spur within a tight loop of the River Coquet. Warkworth beach spans to the north of the river mouth and is golden sands and dunes overlooked by the castle. It is advised to keep away from the breakwater at the River Coquet. Toilets and free parking 500m from the beach.
- Doughmore Strand is a sandy beach backed by sand dunes and the Trump International Golf Links Resort. The beach can get a good atlantic swell and is thus popular with surfers but swimming can be hazardess. No facilities other than a car park, the closest available are in the village of Doonbeg.
- Scarista Beach on the west coast of the Isle of Harris is where the land meets the sea in spectacular fashion. Lovely golden sand stretches for over 3 miles in this quiet, secluded bay. Amble across the dunes and moorland, marvel at the carpets of wildflowers to reach the sparkling blue sea. From here you can see the deserted island of Taransay, made famous for the TV series ‘Castaway’. Public toilets with disabled facilities.
- Golspie has safe bathing sandy beaches that stretch either side of the breakwater/pier. This area is especially popular with walkers and mountain bikers.
- Highcliffe beach is sand and shingle beach with groynes below grassy cliffs. The beach has areas marked for swimmers and watersports, providing safe conditions. Highcliffe beach also provides good access to the fossil hunting clay cliffs at Barton on Sea. The beach has a large car park and most facilities are by the car park or a short walk to Highcliffe.
- Rustington beach is a shingle beach with compact sand at low tide and the beach forms part of a long stretch of beach adjoining to Littlehampton East beach. On a windy day, you will always find many kitesurfers although care should be taken with kites as there is a road at the top of the beach. Car parking on the road and many facilities and car parks nearby at Littlehampton East Beach.
- Portpatrick is a small fishing village with an inner and outer harbour. The beach sits within the outer harbour and provides sheltered conditions and is an interesting mix of sand, shingle and rocks. Portpatrick is the start of the Southern Uplands Way.
- Treen Cove (Gurnards Head) has excellent scenery and a lot of history: the site of a Cornish Iron Age fort, tin mine and pilchard works. Not an area for family beaches but very interesting for walkers. Parking available and a nearby pub.
- Dungeness is sparsely populated and Europe’s largest vegetated shingle split with steep pebbly banks. Anglers and bird watchers are more common than families with the RSPB maintains a reserve with hides. At the railway station you have a free parking, cafe and toilets just 5 minutes away. No facilities exist at Dungeness Point itself.
- Cot Valley is another of West Cornwall`s beautiful sub-tropical valleys. Running west-northwest to the coast, and passing about one mile south of the town of St. Just. Cot Valley reaches the sea at the lovely Porth Nanven Cove, with the Brisons Rocks lying one mile offshore. The narrow road runs right to the Cove. Set out on a cliff-walk (the coastal footpath passes through the Cove) explore the two small beaches or undertake some bird watching. Parking space at the cove for approximately ten cars.
- Owenahincha beach is a sandy beach backed by sand dunes and popular for surfing although the sea can be rough. Facilities at the beach include car parking, toilets, seasonal lifeguards and nearby caravan/camping parks.
