dhedwards
Surfers, sandcastle builders, dog walkers, and nature lovers head to these kid-friendly beaches in the United Kingdom
Cornwall's Watergate Bay has everything you could possibly want in terms of great dining options and sporty activities for beginners and pros alike. Chef Jamie Oliver has a beachside branch of Fifteen here (www.fifteencornwall.co.uk), or for a lighter bite, there is the laid-back Beach Hut Café, which is attached to the Watergate Bay Hotel (www.watergatebay.co.uk).
Watergate Bay is also the base for the Extreme Academy (www.watergatebay.co.uk/extremeacademy), offering wetsuit rentals and lessons including waveski -- similar to kayaking but with a surfing twist. Or there's just plain surfing for those who want to keep it simple.
How to Get There: Watergate Bay is around 4 miles (6 km) from the bustling town of Newquay.
Photo Caption: Walking along the sands of Watergate Bay in Cornwall, England
Treyarnon Bay is a perfect golden sand beach with caves to explore, rocks to climb, a natural rockpool to swim in, and waves to surf. Bird lovers will want to hop over to Trethias Island, a nature reserve separated from the bay by a gulley but easily accessible on foot when the tide is out. The beach has lifeguards over the summer months, and there is a beach shop and public toilets.
How to Get There: The beach is 4 miles (6 km) away from the lively fishing port of Padstow (www.padstowlive.com).
Photo Caption: Swimming in Treyarnon Bay in Cornwall, England
The views at West Wittering beach not only stretch out to sea, but also over to the countryside of the South Downs. While wind- and kite-surfers flock here regularly (www.x-train.co.uk), you may well see oyster-catchers wading in the waters. The beach is also well-known for its wildlife; look overhead for skylarks. Year-round, the beach is popular with walkers and day-tripping families. Facilities are fairly limited, with just a café and a beach goods store (open daily in summer and weekends only in winter).
How to Get There: The beach is only 7 miles (11km) from the historic city of Chichester (www.visitchichester.org).
More Info: www.westwitteringbeach.co.uk
Photo Caption: Huts on West Wittering Beach in West Sussex, England
Surrounded by woods and nearly a mile long, Blackpool Sands is popular with boogie-boarders, sunbathers, and sandcastle builders. This pebbly beach has lifeguards on hand over the summer months. It's an ideal spot for families, with showers, toilets, an organic café and shop, wetsuit and snorkel rentals, sandpits, and various events including paddleboard competitions.
How to Get There: The beach is about 3 miles (5km) from the coastal town of Dartmouth (www.discoverdartmouth.com).
More Info: www.blackpoolsands.co.uk
Photo Caption: The beach of Blackpool Sands in Dartmouth, Devon, England
Backed by grassy dunes, part of this 5-mile (8 km) stretch of sandy beach is close to the nearby Camber village, and has a local kite-surfing school (www.thekitesurfcentre.com). Facilities on the beach are limited (there's just a toilet and public telephone), but if you plan to stay for longer than a day, there are many self-catering rental accommodations just minutes away. A good food option close to the beach is the Gallivant Bistro, also a boutique hotel (www.thebeachbistro.com).
How to Get There: Camber Sands lies 3 miles (5 km) south of the medieval town of Rye (www.visitrye.co.uk).
Photo Caption: Camber Sands in Camber, East Sussex, England
Broadstair's main beach is often very crowded on summer weekends, but if you follow Fort Road along the eastern esplanade past Bleak House, you will reach the quieter, family-friendly Stone Bay. This area is lined with colorful beach huts, some of which are available for rent. Beach facilities include a café and toilets.
How to Get There: The small beach at Stone Bay is a short walk from the center of the traditional Victorian seaside town of Broadstairs, once a favorite haunt of Charles Dickens.
More Info: www.visitthanet.co.uk
Photo Caption: Stone Bay, Broadstairs on the coast of Kent in England
The flat, perfect sand of Newgale beach stretches for 3 miles (5 km) and the road squeezes between it and the Sands café, a pub, a couple of shops, and a busy campsite. No matter how many times you come, it's always different, thanks to the undulating light. Sometimes in the morning the cliffs are shrouded in sea mist, sunlight filtering through the haze, but by late afternoon the skies can be awash with gold.
How to Get There: This beach is 7 miles (11 km) from the small city of St. Davids (www.visitpembrokeshire.com). -- Frommer's England & Wales 2013 author Nick Dalton
Photo Caption: Newgale Beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales
Mwnt is a sandy beach in the shelter of rocky cliffs. Steps descend past a snack kiosk (with homemade Welsh cakes), to friendly, sometimes crowded, sands. Children adore the place, running into the water, playing beach cricket, dashing back up the steps (past people carrying canoes down) for an ice cream.
How to Get There: Mwnt beach is 4 miles (6 km) north of the town of Cardigan (www.visitcardigan.com). -- Frommer's England & Wales 2013 author Nick Dalton
Photo Caption: Mwnt Beach off of Cardigan Bay in Wales
Balevullin's unspoiled sweep of white sand and sparkling blue waters attracts a mere handful of surfers, nature lovers, and beginner boogie- and paddle-boarders (www.surfschoolscotland.co.uk), so you can often have the beach to yourself. Summer days are long and warm on this remote isle, 22 miles (35 km) west of the mainland. The water can be nippy, so you should consider bringing a wetsuit.
How to Get There: Catch a ferry from Oban (www.calmac.co.uk), or take a flight from Glasgow International (www.flybe.com).
More Info: www.isleoftiree.com
Photo Caption: Balevullin Beach in Tiree, Scotland
Watergate Bay is also the base for the Extreme Academy (www.watergatebay.co.uk/extremeacademy), offering wetsuit rentals and lessons including waveski -- similar to kayaking but with a surfing twist. Or there's just plain surfing for those who want to keep it simple.
How to Get There: Watergate Bay is around 4 miles (6 km) from the bustling town of Newquay.
Photo Caption: Walking along the sands of Watergate Bay in Cornwall, England
How to Get There: The beach is 4 miles (6 km) away from the lively fishing port of Padstow (www.padstowlive.com).
Photo Caption: Swimming in Treyarnon Bay in Cornwall, England
How to Get There: The beach is only 7 miles (11km) from the historic city of Chichester (www.visitchichester.org).
More Info: www.westwitteringbeach.co.uk
Photo Caption: Huts on West Wittering Beach in West Sussex, England
How to Get There: The beach is about 3 miles (5km) from the coastal town of Dartmouth (www.discoverdartmouth.com).
More Info: www.blackpoolsands.co.uk
Photo Caption: The beach of Blackpool Sands in Dartmouth, Devon, England
How to Get There: Camber Sands lies 3 miles (5 km) south of the medieval town of Rye (www.visitrye.co.uk).
Photo Caption: Camber Sands in Camber, East Sussex, England
How to Get There: The small beach at Stone Bay is a short walk from the center of the traditional Victorian seaside town of Broadstairs, once a favorite haunt of Charles Dickens.
More Info: www.visitthanet.co.uk
Photo Caption: Stone Bay, Broadstairs on the coast of Kent in England
How to Get There: This beach is 7 miles (11 km) from the small city of St. Davids (www.visitpembrokeshire.com). -- Frommer's England & Wales 2013 author Nick Dalton
Photo Caption: Newgale Beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales
How to Get There: Mwnt beach is 4 miles (6 km) north of the town of Cardigan (www.visitcardigan.com). -- Frommer's England & Wales 2013 author Nick Dalton
Photo Caption: Mwnt Beach off of Cardigan Bay in Wales
How to Get There: Catch a ferry from Oban (www.calmac.co.uk), or take a flight from Glasgow International (www.flybe.com).
More Info: www.isleoftiree.com
Photo Caption: Balevullin Beach in Tiree, Scotland