The Weekend Wander #42 Beautiful Beaches of the UK

The joy of being an island nation is that wherever you live in the UK, you are not too far from a beach.  As a group of islanders, I think its fair to say we do ‘going to the beach’ rather well!  I have absolutely nothing to base this assumption on other than years of careful observation and dedicated beach going. I suspect that going to the beach is perhaps one of the UK’s favourite pass times.  From Victorian days when it was the norm to work 51 weeks of the year and then take the train to the sea, for a week by the sea, beach holidays have been a normal part of life.  Apart form the bathing machines which were parked at the waters edge to preserve the modesty of the Victorian ladies, little else has changed!

During the summer months our beaches will be packed with families, buckets and spades, picnic rugs, windbreaks and the tents which seem to have become a thing in recent years.  In the winter when the weather cools and the tourists go home, UK beaches will be littered with dog walkers, and locals taking bracing walks. A boxing day walk along on the beach has become as traditional as the turkey sandwiches which follow it.

I have a particular affection for the beaches of Norfolk and Cornwall.  Norfolk because it is where I grew up and spent endless days, and Cornwall because I have had some of my favourite holidays there with some of my favourite people.  I only have to see a picture of Cornwall and I’m longing to be back.

I have featured here, just some of the beaches I consider to be particularly beautiful and are certainly amongst my favourites.

Wells Beach – Norfolk

This is a huge expanse of sand, sea and sky for which Norfolk is typical.  The beach is endless and the venue for our annual big family get together. Complete with pretty beach huts, shallow waters and soft sand its perfect, and photographs of it fill my phone each year.

Porthcurno Beach – CornwallThis inlet carved out of the romantic cornish coast line, soft pale sand and sea the colour of aquamarine is simply beautiful.  The first view of Porthcurno is from the steep walk down from the carpark at the Minack theatre. At every corner you are rewarded with exquisite views of crystal clear waters, but its that first view which always takes my breath away.

West Bay – DorsetDorset was a wonderful discovery for us just a few years ago and West Bay a very happy beach discovery.  Towering cliffs are the backdrop to a stretch of perfect golden sand and provide excellent shelter when its a bit breezy.  This is the beach used in the Broadchurch series, if you’re a fan.

Porthminster Beach, St Ives – CornwallThe train ride to St Ives takes you almost deposits you right onto beautiful Porthminster beach.  The journey is like something from a Famous 5 story, it is so pretty and serves as a reminder of quieter times.  I always feel I should arrive on a steam train rather than todays modern version.   Nearby eateries and the short walk from St Ives centre makes this an extremely convenient place to be.  In mid summer it will be packed, but visit a little earlier in the season, as we did this year, and although you won’t quite have it to yourself, there will be lots more space.

Brancaster Beach – NorfolkWhen I think of Brancaster, I think of family days out, and I think of long hot days in the sun with my then boyfriend now husband, when we crisped our skin in a way which is somewhat frowned upon these days.  Brancaster is another typical example of a Norfolk beach, long and wide and lots of space.  There is little there except a kiosk selling beach paraphernalia and probably ice creams.  But when you are somewhere this beautiful, what else could you possibly need?

Which UK beaches are your favourites?

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