G’day fine people of the interweb! Before I get into talking about the best South West Beaches in the UK to visit this summer, I want to be clear. There’s a very good reason we probably can’t go abroad this year. With the bloody coronavirus pandemic ruining many people’s travel and holiday plans, most Brits are looking at a stay-cation for summer 2020. Luckily, our little island is home to some of the most stunning coastlines in the world (if you don’t mind the weather).
Just a quick word of caution though. If you are planning on going to the seaside this summer, do-so at your own risk. With the government promoting a ‘common sense’ approach, check local laws on lockdown measures and make sure you’re allowed to travel. That being said, as of the time I am writing this post, there has been a massive influx of people rushing to the coast. I can understand this, as a beach lover myself, (obviously), there is a constant desire to be in the sea, on the sand and just on the coast in general.
Just remember that if everybody goes down to the beach at the same time, there is no doubt in my mind that the infection rate of coronavirus will rise, and we will be in lockdown once more.
So please, before you go to any South West beach this summer, just ask yourself whether it is necessary and safe for you to go, and assuming you’ve taken the risks into consideration, and lockdown laws allow you to do so, these places should be at the top of your “to visit” list this year!
So, in no particular order…
Here are my picks for the 5 most stunning South West beaches in the UK to visit this summer…
1. PORTHCURNO, WEST CORNWALL
Photo Credit: beachretreats.co.uk
Approximately 5573.7 miles West of North Korea, 2075 miles west of Moscow…And 9 miles South West of Penzance (around a 20 min drive down the B3283), you’ll come across a small, sleepy village called Porthcurno. It’s home to some of the most amazing coastline you can see. Voted an area of “outstanding natural beauty,” it is widely considered one of the most visually stunning places in the UK. With 60-70 metre high cliffs that surround the beach, crystal clear water, golden-sandy beaches and plenty of wildlife, it’s no wonder Porthcurno is listed as among one of the 10 most beautiful bays in the world!
With a large public carpark located just round the corner (free between October and Easter), public toilets just 200 metres from the beach and some of the highest average temperatures in the whole of the UK, be sure to stick this one on your bucket list.
Porthcurno is a lifeguarded beach courtesy of the RNLI, they work between the hours of 10am and 6pm between the 16th of May and the 27th of September, (just check they are working this summer on the RNLI website!) This is handy as the bay is prone to have a strong rip current, and a steep underwater shelf at high tide (so make sure you stick to your depth!)
The beach itself doesn’t seem to be the best for surfing, the waves can be very steep and tend to break quite close to the shore, however, it’s pretty popular among body boarders and for hand planing as the breakers tend to barrel.
The bay is very secluded, being protected from the northerly winds by the massive, 60-70 metre cliffs that channel in towards the village, and dwarf even the tallest bloke on the beach! With the beauty of this area, it’s no surprise that it tends to get a tad busy in the summer months.
So, let’s say you’ve been to the beach and you’re bored shitless. You’re thinking “what else is there to do?” Fear not my friend, just up the road from the beach is a small seasonal cafe and a pub just further up.
Not hungry? Maybe go and check out the Porthcurno telegraph museum. Porthcurno was the hub for what is commonly referred to as the “Victorian internet,” a vast underwater cable network that stretched from the shore of Porthcurno all the way to India. Made in the late 1800’s to allow communication between England and its former colony. Before this was introduced, a message took 6 weeks to get to India, (and you’re complaining about your shitty WiFi connection,) after the telegraph was created, it took 9 minutes! (Still pretty slow if you ask me!) History lesson over.
There is also the world famous ‘Minack theatre located 0.1 miles away from the beach. An open air theatre, carved into the granite cliff face in the 1930’s by the hands of Rowena Cade. A great place to watch a play or to even just sit, look out over the bay, and take in the breathtaking views. If you’re lucky, you might see a Basking shark or the odd gannet (although it’ll probably just be seagulls).
There’s only a few negatives I have to say about this place. The beach isn’t wheelchair accessible, due to the soft sand, There’s a ban on dogs from the 1st of July to the 31st of August between 10am and 6pm, crowding in high season etc. But. In my opinion, the worst of all these points is the bloody 20p charge for the loo! Luckily, I usually just piss in my wetsuit… (Too much information?)
To conclude, you’ve gotta visit this place. It’s gorgeous. I haven’t been there personally (yet), but it’s on the top of my list for places to go (as soon as the quarantine is lifted!) You can really see why it’s been voted as the best beach in West Cornwall and on my list for the top 5 best beaches in the South West…
2. SAUNTON SANDS, NORTH DEVON
photo credit: travelzoo.com
One for all you surfers out there. Saunton sands is in my opinion, one of the three best surfing beaches in the country! Up there with Croyde bay and Woolacombe. Luckily, they’re pretty much within walking distance from one another… While Croyde and Woolacombe are absolutely amazing for surfing, I find that Saunton is, in my humble opinion, the best for day trips, longboard/beginner surfing and for family holidays. With a humongous golden sandy beach, miles of rolling dunes, plenty of rock pools and of course, waves to die for…
Saunton sands is located around 207 miles West of London, about 104 miles West of Bristol (2 hours ish)… And around 1,911 miles East of the Inuit town of Nuuk, Greenland. So it’s fairly accessible for anyone, especially those who live in the south. But, if you are an Eskimo living among the ice-sheets of North West Greenland, probably give this one a miss.
The beach itself is, as I said earlier, massive, so crowding in the summertime is never really a problem, in and out of the water. In fact, it’s so big (4 miles to be exact), It is sometimes used as a runway to land Hercules transport planes by the RAF, so there’s no excuse not to stay 2 metres apart ;).
The dunes behind it aren’t small either, being hailed as one of the largest sand dunes in the whole of Europe. Regarded as an area of outstanding natural beauty, you can tell why people come here. The place is stunning. The Angelina Jolie of beaches, if you will.
So what is there to do here then? well, all sorts. There’s rock pools over on the right hand side of the beach near the cliffs, small caves to explore, swimming to do, the sand dunes to mess in, play in the waves and even take your dog for a walk, as Saunton beach is dog friendly all year round.
The 4 miles of sandy beach is a great place to hike across, but there is also a lovely walk through the sand dunes and plenty to find back there. If you look hard enough, you’ll come across the remnants of a British ‘Matilda tank’ from the second world war. If you’re wondering why it’s there, the whole beach was used to practice the D-day landings as the beach, sand and dunes are almost identical to that of Omaha beach in Normandy. (God, i might as well be a walking encyclopedia…)
Lets say, you’ve been on a walk or in the sea, or you’re just after a drink and some food, well, just up the slipway from the beach (just by the carpark) there’s a small ‘shopping Centre, comprised of a small surf shop, beach cafe, ice cream parlor and public showers/toilets. What more do you need?
Want to try your hand at surfing? You’re in luck! Surfboard rentals are available, courtesy of saunton surf hire. Never surfed before? No worries, there’s private and group surf lessons available as well, just speak to the team from walking on waves, and make sure they are open and taking bookings. Saunton sands is a great place to surf, and I would class it as one of the homes of UK surfing!
If you’re looking for places to stay, I’ve got you covered. just behind the beach cafe there are holiday villas that can be rented thanks to saunton beach villas. From reading the reviews on tripadvisor, it seems people love staying in the cozy villas that are situated between the beach and the carpark. Reading their website, they hope to re-open on Friday the 19th of June, but just double check if you are interested in staying with them.
Don’t fancy a villa to yourself? Check out the Saunton Sands hotel. If you’ve ever been down here, you will have seen this huge white building situated on the hillside. The rooms look absolutely amazing. If I had a bit more money I would definitely rent a room here. It’s a shame most of my money goes to drugs… If you are like me and you can’t afford a room, I guess you could always hobo-style it and just sleep in the dunes or something… I dunno.
So, from this I’m sure you can see why Saunton sands is in my top 5 South West beaches in the UK. If you do come here, especially during the shit-show that is Coronavirus, they do ask that you come sufficiently prepared, meaning that you should follow social distancing, use hand sanitizer and wear gloves if need be. But you lot are smart, you’d do that anyway. And who knows, I might even see ya down there!
3. CRANTOCK BEACH, WEST CORNWALL
photo credit: visitcornwall.com
Situated between Perranporth and Fistral beach, Crantock beach is a medium sized, golden sandy paradise, accompanied by the river Gannel. It is 32 miles East of Penzance (around a 50 min drive) and 51 miles West of Plymouth. Popular with surfers, wind surfers, snorkelers, swimmers and pretty much anyone with a love for the coast. With a large car park that charges around £4 for the whole day and, not to mention, breathtaking views, you can see why this place is a hit with tourists. I haven’t been here personally (yet), but it is on my list of top places to visit, let me explain why…
For starters, the beach is gorgeous. Golden sand, towering cliffs, dunes, surf, it’s great! And being so close to Newquay, it’s too good-a-place to miss. With cafe’s, toilets and a 150 capacity car park (free for national trust members), it has all the amenities I think you’d need for a day trip.
The beach is dog friendly, (which is always good,) and means that you and your dogs can enjoy a walk through one of the nicest beaches in the south west. There’s plenty of space to play on the sand with family and friends and also to look for local wildlife. Seals are a common site to see just offshore and, if you’re lucky, dolphins too!
Crantock is a lifeguarded beach, between late May and late September, courtesy of the RNLI, and there is also surfboard, bodyboard, wetsuit and all sorts for hire on the beach thanks to fernpit.co.uk, (located next to the ice cream kiosk at the Newquay end of the beach). They’re open from 10am-5:30pm (weather permitting…) If you do go for a dip in the sea however, be aware that there can be strong currents, so stick to your depths and stay between the flags!
If you explore the cliffs at the left hand side of the beach, you may come across a carving in the rock. That of a woman’s head, a horse and a poem that reads “Mar not my face but let me be, Secure in this lone cave by the sea, Let the wild waves around me roar, Kissing my lips for evermore.” Written by Joseph Prater, a local man, in the early 20th century in memoriam of his lover, who supposedly was riding her horse on the beach, when they got cut off by the tide, and swept away by the sea. A sad story that is immortalized in the granite cliff side. Wow…that got deep quick!
On the right hand side of the beach, you’ll come across the river Gannel, which divides Newquay from the village of Crantock, and flows out into the sea. There is a small ferry that takes passengers across the river and up to the East Pentire headland in Newquay. There are also three pubs and six cafe’s in Crantock and the local area, be sure to give them a visit, (just ensure they are open when you visit!) (check here!)
There’s more to Crantock than just the beach however, The village is full of history, and a great place to explore and wander around. It’s a quiet little village, very traditional in it’s buildings and little streets. perfect for a quiet get away.
There are also plenty of walks to, well, walk… Like the south west coastal path, which will take you across the headland and over to poly joke beach, another gorgeous, yet smaller cove. But if that’s not your thing, just nip to Newquay for a little more energy, it’s an 8 minute drive along the A392.
If you want to stay here for a while, there are lots of opportunities to do so, including campsites, holiday parks, hotels, a caravan park and all sorts. A quick Google search will show you some of the nicest places to stay in this little town. maybe I’ll do a review on them someday, who knows…
Crantock beach is a “Must visit” spot for your summer 2020 trip, and mine! Reading reviews of Crantock beach on tripadvisor proves that the overwhelming majority of people who visit love the place, and tend to return year after year. (just remember to follow social distancing rules when you visit).
4. DURDLE DOOR, DORSET
photo credit: jurassiccoast.org
Durdil deer…. no wait, deedle door, tweedle dum? Whatever it’s called, you need to check this place out…
Durdle door is located in Dorset, along the Jurassic coast, on the Lulworth Estate in south Dorset. 47 miles West of Bournemouth and around 126 miles South West of London. It’s a place that’s always been on my ‘to visit’ list. So called for the immense number of maritime fossils you can dig up on the beaches and around the cliffs of this stretch of coastline in south England. Brilliant for dressing up in ill-fitting cargo pants, knee high socks and walking boots, clenching a magnifying glass and pretending that you chose to pursue a career in archeology, rather than that ‘extremely important’ qualification in media studies or philosophy…
Anyway, enough about my weekend plans! Let me tell you why you should come down to Durdle door.
For starters, I mean, look at it. It’s gorgeous. A huge natural, 200 foot tall archway, chiseled into the 140 million year old limestone headland over thousands of years. It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places in England.
It draws around half a million tourists from all over the globe every single year to see the stunning natural beauty of this place. This year however, it seems that international tourism will drop, hopefully that will cause places like Durdle door to become less busy, making social distancing a lot easier to follow. That being said, the beach at Durdle door is quite narrow, and does tend to get busy at peak times. However, it does make up for this with its size, as the beach is almost a kilometre long (depending on the tide).
In addition to this, there are multiple other breathtaking beaches along this stretch of coastline, including Man o’ war beach, St Oswald’s bay beach and just 2 kilometres East of Durdle door is Lulworth cove. All beautiful places to visit in their own right, and accessible via the South West coastal path.
The beach itself, along with its neighboring bays, has a ground of loose shingle pebbles and sand. Not the golden sandy beach of many people’s dream holiday, but i think the other aspects of this place outshine that…
To access the beach, there is a steep 800 metre long footpath from the cliff top car park, then you’ve gotta walk down 88 steps from the cliff to the beach. Unfortunately, this means it is not wheelchair accessible and could be difficult for the elderly to get down/up.
There are no public loo’s at the beach unfortunately, however, by the car park there is a small shop called Durdle door corner, who provide hot and cold drinks, beach equipment and a seating area, the perfect place to nip after staying on the beach or exploring the south West path for a few hours.
So what is there to do here eh? Well, I’m glad you asked…
Firstly, if you’re a photographer, this place is heaven. It is so picturesque. Even that little image in the top left is making me drool. Okay, maybe not quite, but you get the idea. Snorkeling is another big one here. The underwater environment around the beach is impressive, and brings divers here year round. And with snorkelers brings swimmers… (If you can withstand the cold water that is). Just a warning if you are going in the water though, Durdle door is not a lifeguarded beach, so if you do go for a dip, do so at your own risk.
You can also look for fossils! This stretch of coastline is renowned for it’s high concentration of prehistoric relics, (no shit Sherlock, Jurassic coast…) And also take a walk along the coastal path that connects the beaches, and provides some awe inspiring views over the towering chalk cliffs.
If you’ve come here with the intention of surfing, hard luck… The beach is protected from waves by a partially submerged offshore reef, so maybe invest in a stand up paddleboard…
Let’s say you’ve spent a long day on the beach, meandering through the coastal path and playing in the sea, it’s going dark. You’ve watched the sunset over the horizon and you’re after some good grub and a pint. Well, it might be a bit difficult to get to a pub this summer, but once this is all over, you’ll be able to walk into West Lulworth and visit one of the many pubs and cafes for something to eat and drink after a long day.
But what if I wanna stay over? I hear you ask… Well, just by the main car park for Durdle door is the Durdle door holiday park, a huge expanse of static caravans, camping/glamping pods, and holiday homes/villas. There is also a restaurant on side, the so-called “Man O’ war bar & restaurant,” closed at the time of writing this, but stay up to date with their opening times on the Man O’ war bar and restaurant website.
So, there’s really no excuse not to visit Durdle door… bar the whole “global pandemic” thing… But seriously, if you get the opportunity, you’ve gotta check this place out! It is much better to see in person.
5. BEER, SOUTH DEVON
photo credit: visitdevon.co.uk
No, your eyes do not deceive you. I know it seems like a million years since you’ve had a pint down your local, but if you can’t grab a cold one with the boys, this place is the next best thing…
Beer, unfortunately, has nothing to do with the glorious golden beverage. The town name is derived from “Bearu”, the old English term for ‘grove’, referring to the vast forests that once surrounded the town. Luckily for you, there are 3 pubs in the small village, but looking at how things are going now, you’d be lucky to get in one 😉
Located once again on the Jurassic coast (this time in South Devon), Just 22 miles from Exeter, and around 66 mile East of Plymouth. Beer is a small fishing village, just 1 mile West of the much larger town of Seaton. It is known for its fishing industry and its rich history in smuggling.
If you walk along the shores of Beer beach, you’ll come across multiple caves in the cliff side, these were once used to hide plundered goods by the infamous southern smugglers during the 1700’s. Now though, they’re probably used as places to keep weed or porn mags… although probably not, but whatever.
There’s no port or harbor in Beer, but you’ll often see small fishing boats moored up on the pebble beach. This is because the seabed and surrounding cliffs provide the perfect environment to keep small boats. This subsequently leads to having a very picturesque, rocky beach, littered with charming little boats. Great insta opportunities for budding photographers… or anyone with a smartphone, further proving that Beer is one of the most stunning beaches in the South West.
Despite being comprised of mostly flint pebbles, the beach is wheelchair accessible, thanks to a walk-way type of thing nicknamed ‘the carpet’ that lies on the beach and allows wheelchair and pushchair access, and an easier way of walking for the disabled… or lazy. There is also another added benefit of rocky beaches, no wet sand getting on your feet and pissing you off when you’re wearing flip flops! It’s one of my all time pet-peeves of visiting beaches. That, and getting sand down yer’ arse-crack… ( too much information once again, Josh!)
So maybe you’re a dog owner, luckily for you the left hand side of the beach is dog friendly from the 1st of October until the 30th of April. Your furry friend is free to roam the shoreline to it’s heart’s content. Just ensure you bring poo bags and use the provided bins to discard of the waste, it would be much appreciated by everyone around ya’ (not that you wouldn’t anyway…) However, dogs are banned from the beach in the summer months.
Speaking of animals, kids tend to love this beach! When the tide drops, the waves expose a rugged landscape of tidal pools, full to the brim with stranded sea life, situated just underneath of the limestone cliffs. Perfect for young children (and adult children) to investigate and mess about in.
There are three different cafe’s situated along the edge of Beer beach, Ducky’s cafe, Chapelle’s tea hut and Kenno’s cafe. All of which have received pretty good reviews on tripadvisor. If you’re a coffee lover like me, or just a bit peckish, you’re pretty much spoiled for choice here. The food and drinks seem to be rather popular among beach-goers, but I think the convenience tops it all off. I would imagine that they will be open in the summer months, so long as social distancing is in place, but just double check they are open when you visit! (Check opening times here).
If you’re planning on taking a dip in the sea, be mindful that Beer is not a lifeguarded beach, and as you enter the water, it tends to get deep very quickly, due to a steep underwater bank. If you’re not careful, you could end up way past your depth, so make sure you are staying where you feel comfortable, and keep an eye on your kids if they decide to paddle among the breakers.
Speaking of the water, it has a 5 star rating for water quality, and judging by some of the pictures I’ve seen while surveying the interweb, it’s crystal clear too!
So, let’s say you’re bored of the beach and there’s nowt’ to do in town. How else can you entertain yourself? Well, assuming you’re in the mood for a walk, take a hike along the South West coastal path, past the jubilee memorial grounds and towards Seaton, the much bigger town to the East of Beer. Or, walk the other direction, up Common lane, take a left on Little lane, and then follow the coastal path up and over the cliff tops for a very scenic walk.
Also, assuming they’re open, you could visit the Beer quarry caves, for a tour of the historic quarry that is responsible for most of the buildings in Beer, as well as featuring, in some part, to the building of St Paul’s cathedral. (Check their website out for planned reopening dates and times!)
Beer is evidently a gorgeous place, full of a rich history dating back to the Saxon times. Hosting a stunning beach with awe inspiring views. It is very popular among holiday makers, and you can tell why. My words can’t really do the place justice, you’ve gotta come down and take a look for yourself. Thank me later…
It seems now that things are slowly returning to some kind of normality. Our lives undoubtedly will be different this summer and indeed, for the near future, thanks to Covid, but as i said earlier, that shouldn’t stop us from enjoying what our great nation has to offer, especially in terms of glorious landscapes and beautiful beaches. Just be sure to keep at least two metres apart from people, follow the government’s social distancing guidelines and stay on top of local lockdown rules. Look HERE for the latest government guides for coronavirus lockdown and safety. So please, stay safe, have fun, and keep an eye out for my latest posts!
Thanks for reading…
~ Josh 🙂
Unsure whether you should visit north Wales now that coronavirus lockdown restrictions have been loosened? Here’s some advice from one of my latest posts!
Got a love for surfing? Or maybe just a love for the great outdoors? Give me 5 minutes and your attention & I’ll show you why you MUST visit Cayton Bay Today! (click here!)
