Nearest Seaside Award Beaches UK and Ireland

Whitesands beach is one of the most popular sandy beaches in Pembrokeshire, and this west facing beach is also known as Porth Mawr. In the summer it can get quite crowded on both the beach and in the water.  To help swimming and surfing areas marked by lifeguard flags during the season. Good coast path walks from car park.

Balmedia Country Park Beach is a 16 km sandy beach near Aberdeen where water sports like kite surfing and swimming are popular. The beach area has large sand dunes attracting wildlife and birds as well as sun lovers and a network of boardwalks take you through the dunes to the beach from the bus stop. Facilities include toilets, boardwalks, dunes, watersports, wildlife and birds and a nature reserve. Parking is easy with over 100 bays and more in the park itself.

Paignton Sands is ideal for families as the beach has a shallow sea ideal for paddling. Behind the sands and the promenade is Paignton Green, a broad sweep of grass that stretches right down to the harbour and is ideal if you want to come of the beach for a picnic. Full facilities of Paignton with variety of amusements, pier and choice of shops and cafes and pedalos/boat hire.

Chalkwell Beach is a sandy beach with groynes backed by a grassy area and the beach has a seawater paddling pool. Chalkwell is part of the long Southend-on-Sea seafront, sitting towards the Western end and is less busy than the stretches near the pier. Facilities at the beach include parking, toilets, cafes and kiosks. Chalkwell train station marks the end of the Southend seafront and is just a five-minute walk away

Pendine Sands beach is an 11 km (7 mile) stretch of flat sand within Carmarthen Bay that stretches from Gilman Point and the village of Pendine in the west to Laugharne Sands in the east. The beach can have some parts closed due to MoD restrictions. Due to the beaches length and flat firm sand, it was used for speed record attempts, with Malcolm Campbell (1924), J. G. Parry-Thomas (1926 & 27), Forresti in Djelmo (1927), Donald Campbell in 2000 and Guy Martin’s bicycle record. The size and flat nature of the beach make this beach very popular with land yachting, kite-buggying, power kiting and horse riding. Just to the West, you have the small bay of Morfa Bychan which is well worth the short walk. Facilities at the beach and in the village include parking, toilets, cafe, pubs, beach shops and seasonal lifeguards.

Coryton Cove beach is an ideal family beach with gentle shelving sand/shingle and rock pools. The cove lies between the red cliffs of Dawlish and is backed by the train line. There have been many sightings of Dolphins off this beach. Formerly known as Gentleman’s Cove.

Dale beach is a mixture of shingle and muddy sand. Dale is a small village in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, West Wales. Located on the Dale Peninsula which forms the northern side of the entrance to Milford Haven estuary. Pembrokshire has some of the best sailing conditions to be found anywhere off the coast of Britain, with Dale being one of the best. With mild winters, early summer and autumn provide excellent sailing conditions. Its location on the long distance path of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park make the village also a centre for walkers. Dale has a pub, shops, craft centre and beach cafe.

Breakwater beach is a small shingle beach by the Brixham harbour breakwater. This beach is close to all the facilities of the town and harbour.Parking Beach shop Café/restaurant Toilets Slipway Breakwater/pier 

Tresta is the main beach on the small island of Fetlar in The Sheltlands. A long white sandy beach with cliffs at its south end. The beach is an ideal family beach as it sits within a calm shallow cove. Behind the beach is Papil Water, a fresh water loch which is popular for seasonal trout fishing.

Billow Ness beach is a quiet sandy bay to the west of Anstruther Harbour and part of the Fife Coastal Path. Facilities include car parking and toilets.

New Quay Harbour Beach is a small and sandy beach that is sheltered by the harbour wall. The harbour itself has a number of small pleasure craft and a few fishing boats. Dolphins can often be seen around the harbour walls and there are boats offering dolphin/seal viewing trips out to the bay. Facilities include lifeguards in the summer, toilets, parking is limited close to the beach but more is available a short walk into the New Quay.

Black Rock beach sits on the south end of Widemouth Sands and marks the rockier end of this long beach, the north end being a large expanse of sand. The beach is great for families as you have that great mix of sand and many rock pools to explore at low tide. Facilities at the beach include shops, cafe, large car park, seasonal lifeguards and toilets.