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If you genuinely love the beach, wild surf, rolling sand dunes and coastal sunsets – then 2026 is the year to rediscover the UK’s best beach destinations. In this guide, we’ve selected 10 coastal hot spots from Cornwall to Scotland (and beyond) – all offering extraordinary beaches and the kinds of seaside stays that will enhance your enjoyment of the coast. Whether you want long summer days on the sand, wild winter surf, family-friendly hidden coves, or remote coastlines – we’ll cover a spot for every kind of beach lover. We’ll also include some of the best seaside holiday cottages for each location listed, some of which enjoy direct beach access.
1. Cornwall - UK's No. 1 Coastal Playground
Why Cornwall
Cornwall remains the UK’s number one beach destination. With hundreds of beaches – from surf breaks and vast dunes to sheltered coves and sandy estuaries – no other county offers the variety or beauty of Cornwall’s coastline.
Beaches & Highlights
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Watergate Bay – a family friendly two-mile stretch of sand, ideal for long beach walks, evening sunsets, and good waves.
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St Ives / Porthminster / Porthmeor – picture perfect turquoise water, colourful harbours, and loads of unusual things to do.
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Newquay & Fistral – Cornwall’s surfing capital with consistently good surf, golden sand, a lively atmosphere and plenty of bars and cafés.
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Bude & Widemouth Bay – North Cornwall’s quieter alternative: wide sandy shores, cliff-top coastal paths, and dog-friendly beaches.
What to Expect
Cornwall combines surf culture, family-friendly bays, year round dog-friendly beaches, and relaxed coastal towns. It’s perfect whether you’re chasing waves at sunrise or strolling the sand with your trusty hound.
Where to stay > Sleeps 6 + 3 Dogs
2. Devon - Surf, Sand and Hidden Coves
Why Devon
Just across the border, Devon offers picturesque coastlines, hidden coves, and long stretches of sandy beaches – from quaint harbour beaches to large family friendly surf havens. It’s ideal if you want a relaxed beach holiday without the crowds.
Beaches & Highlights
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Woolacombe & Saunton Sands – vast sandy beaches backed by dunes, perfect for long walks and surfing expeditions.
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Croyde Bay – quaint village charm, reliable surf, and close to beautiful cliff-top sea view walks.
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Bigbury-on-Sea & Bantham – more tranquil coastline with estuary vibes and scenic views, popular with families.
What to Expect
Devon’s coastline offers a mix of surf spots, peaceful coves, and classic seaside towns. Perfect for families, surfers, or anyone wanting a laid-back coastal break with variety.
Where to stay > Sleeps 14 + 2 Dogs
3. Dorset - Jurassic Coastal Beauty & Seaside Calm
Why Dorset
Dorset offers a unique coastal experience with its chalk cliffs, rock formations, quiet bays, and gentle surf conditions. It’s ideal for beach lovers seeking instagram worthy pics and relaxed seaside towns.
Beaches & Highlights
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Durdle Door & Lulworth Cove – stunning cliffs, natural arches, turquoise water – beach photography heaven.
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West Bay & Charmouth – family-friendly shingle and sand beaches, good walking paths and a relaxed vibe.
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Sandbanks & Poole – white sandy shores, clean water, dunes – ideal for quieter beach holidays.
What to Expect
Dorset offers a mixture of natural beauty, walking, quiet beaches, and coastal villages. It’s particularly good for couples and families who enjoy exploring cliffs and coves, tide-pooling and coastal history.
Where to stay > Sleeps 5 + No Dogs
4. Norfolk - Wide Sandy Beaches & Unique Seaside Charm
Why Norfolk
On England’s eastern coast, Norfolk has long, flat beaches, dunes, and a traditional seaside atmosphere. It’s a destination for those who love huge open spaces, wonderful sea views, and slow-paced coastal living.
Beaches & Highlights
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Holkham & Wells-next-the-Sea – vast beaches with low tides, sand dunes, pine-backed shores and plenty of space.
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Cromer & Sheringham – charming seaside towns with classic promenades, piers, and easy access to long beach walks.
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Sea Palling / Winterton-on-Sea – quieter beach options with dog-friendly beaches and a wild North Sea backdrop.
What to Expect
Expect broad beaches, flat sands, sweeping sea views, and traditional seaside towns. Perfect for long dog walks, family beach days, and relaxed coastal holidays away from the summer crowds.
Where to stay > Sleeps 6 + 2 Dogs
5. Northumberland - Wild Coastlines & Hidden Beaches
Why Northumberland
If you want raw, rugged coastline, remote beaches and a sense of wilderness, Northumberland delivers. Think rugged cliffs, windswept sands, quiet coves – and almost no crowds outside peak season.
Beaches & Highlights
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Bamburgh & Seahouses – expansive beaches with castle views inland, golden sand and big northern skies.
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Embleton Bay & Low Newton – gentle dunes, quiet beaches, and a real sense of solitude.
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Berwick coast & Lindisfarne area – wild sea, tidal beaches, and remote coastal paths – perfect for the adventurous.
What to Expect
Solitude, dramatic scenery, fresh sea air, and coastal villages without too many holiday-makers. Great for couples, nature lovers, or those seeking a rustic coastal escape.
Where to stay > Sleeps 10 + 3 Dogs
6. Yorkshire - Coastal Heritage & Busy Seaside Towns
Why Yorkshire
Northern England’s coast combines wide sandy beaches, historic seaside towns, and a deep sense of character. Yorkshire beach holidays offer a mix of tradition, sea air, and easy access to both countryside and coast.
Beaches & Highlights
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Whitby & Sandsend – historic harbour town meets lovely sandy beaches, plus dramatic cliff-top walks and beautiful sunsets.
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Robin Hood’s Bay & Ravenscar – rocky coves, fossil-rich cliffs, and quaint seaside charm.
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Scarborough & Filey – classic Victorian seaside vibes, long piers, and clean sandy beaches ideal for families.
What to Expect
Beach days combined with top seaside towns, harbour views, old-world charm, and colourful seaside cottages. This part of the coast is great for relaxed breaks, family trips, or historical seaside stays.
Where to stay > Sleeps 4 + No Dogs
7. Pembrokeshire, Wales - Atlantic Beaches & Towering Cliffs
Why Pembrokeshire
Wales offers a wild Atlantic coastline – sea cliffs, powerful waves, golden beaches, and the dramatic backdrop of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Wales is a paradise for beach lovers, walkers and nature fans alike.
Beaches & Highlights
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Barafundle & Broad Haven – secluded coves with golden sand, turquoise water and coastal paths.
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Tenby & Saundersfoot – charming seaside towns, pastel-coloured houses, harbour walks, and family-friendly beaches.
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St Brides’ & Whitesands – rugged beauty, cliff-walks, powerful surf and incredible sunsets.
What to Expect
A combination of rugged natural beauty, sheltered coves, lively seaside towns and dog-friendly coastal walks. Perfect for those who love sea views but also want to explore wild landscapes and experience everything Pembrokeshire offers.
Where to stay > Sleeps 4 + No Dogs
8. Anglesey, Wales - Island Beaches & Peaceful Sea Breezes
Why Anglesey
The island of Anglesey, off the north-west Welsh coast, offers a unique combination of island tranquility, long beaches, wonderful sea views and a laid-back vibe – ideal for those wanting peace and wide-open coastal skies.
Beaches & Highlights
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Benllech & Lligwy Bay – soft sand beaches with gentle tides, great for families and calm swims.
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Rhosneigr & Porth Dafarch – surf-friendly shores, golden sand, and beachside village atmosphere.
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Traeth Llydan & Newborough Forest coastline – vast beaches backed by dunes and woodland – perfect for quiet, scenic beach walks.
What to Expect
Island calm, relatively small crowds (outside peak), big sandy beaches, and a welcoming coastal-village feel. Great for family getaways, long beach walks, and relaxed seaside breaks.
Where to stay > Sleeps 14 + 3 Dogs
9. Scotland - Wild Coastal Beauty & Amazing Beaches
Why Scotland’s Coast
Scotland offers some of the wildest, most beautiful coastlines in the UK. From northern sea cliffs to Atlantic-washed beaches, it’s perfect for those who love nature, solitude, and (chilly) pristine white beaches.
Beaches & Highlights
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West Highlands & Isle of Skye – sweeping beaches with wild seas, tidal pools, rocky shores and gorgeous views.
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Moray & Aberdeenshire Coastlines – rugged cliffs, large sandy beaches, or quiet coves depending on where you go.
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Outer Hebrides (e.g. Harris, Lewis) – remote beaches with white sand and turquoise seas, often empty even in mid-summer.
What to Expect
Wild beauty, solitude, powerful waves, and some of the most breathtaking coastal scenery in the UK. Best for adventurous beach lovers, wild swimmers, walkers, photographers and travellers seeking an escape from the crowds.
Where to stay > Sleeps 12 + 2 Dogs
10. Ireland - Atlantic Waves & Untamed Beaches
Why the Irish Coast
If you’re open to a ferry or short flight, the west coast of Ireland and Northern Ireland’s coastal regions offer some of the Atlantic’s wildest beaches – often untouched, dramatic and breathtakingly beautiful.
Beaches & Highlights
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Clare Coast & Lahinch – golden sand, powerful waves, surf culture and stunning cliffs.
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Dingle Peninsula – remote coves, rolling green hills sloping to sandy shores, and vivid seascapes.
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Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast – rugged cliffs, historic coastal towns, scenic beaches and unique geology.
What to Expect
Powerful seas, wild landscapes, soft sands, and Irish coastal charm. Ideal for surf lovers, adventurers, walkers and anyone wanting to combine serene beaches with raw nature.
Where to stay > Sleeps 8 + No Dogs
What Makes a Great Coastal Hot Spot?
These are the traits that make a location stand out for serious beach lovers:
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Beach variety – surf beaches, calm bays, long sands, pebbled coves
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Accessibility – good transport links, availability of properties, ease of walking
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Seasonal appeal – places that deliver great beach/walk value even outside summer
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Local amenities – pubs, cafes, shops for a comfortable stay
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Scenic diversity – cliffs, dunes, estuaries, island coastlines, wild seas
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Accommodation options – beach houses, sea-view cottages, dog-friendly stays, family homes, luxury retreats
The 10 hot spots above tick these boxes – offering beach lovers everything from surf and sand to cliffs, calm seas and wild Atlantic waves.
Whether you’re seeking surf and lively summer vibes, dramatic sea-cliff walks, cosy winter escapes or peaceful sandy coves, the UK’s coastline has something for every serious beach lover. From Cornwall’s golden beaches to Scotland’s wild Atlantic coast, from Pembrokeshire’s rugged cliffs to Norfolk’s wide sands – there’s a perfect coastal stay waiting.
Explore the Beach Stays collection, pick your ideal region, and get ready for a holiday filled with sea, sand and unforgettable coastal memories.
Discover our full list of coastal holiday cottages today!