Beaches have so much more to offer than just sandcastles and sunbathing. A beach in the autumn and winter is often far less crowded than the summer months – you can appreciate its beauty all to yourself! Wrap up warm, check out those tide times and enjoy a few of these best winter beaches in the UK.
Best for beaches for beachcombing
Runswick Bay
Just north of Whitby
Runswick was nominated for England’s best winter beach in the UK for beachcombing. Expect ancient fossils, lost jewellery and semi-precious stones from its crumbling cliffs.
Nearby YHA: YHA Whitby
Camber Beach
East Sussex Amber, known as ‘Hastings firestorm amber’ because of its unique colour and characteristics, is often found in the shingle, especially after a storm. A top contender!
Nearby YHA: YHA Brighton
Best for rock pooling
Robin Hood’s Bay
Yorkshire
Robin Hood’s Bay is filled with a wide expanse of brilliant rock pools at low tide, offering stunning cliff-top views. Make sure to grab a hot chocolate to warm your cockles!
Nearby YHA: YHA Boggle Hole
Bamburgh Lighthouse
Harkless Rocks, Northumberland
Bamburgh is regularly voted as one of the UK’s favourite views and is known to be one of the best winter beaches for rockpooling. It’s not hard to see why with it’s dramatically set castle and miles of unspoilt beach and enthralling rock pools.
Nearby YHA: YHA Berwick
Best for cave exploring
Seven Sisters Caves
Broadstairs, Kent
This small network of caves between Botany Bay and Kingsgate Bay have links to notorious smuggler Joss Snelling. It’s a must-see for history lovers.
Nearby YHA: YHA Canterbury
Sugar Sands beach
Northumberland
The pleasant name of this secluded beach makes a visit here enticing enough, before you hear about the golden sand, crystal sea, and little rocky hiding places which give this hidden gem a magical feel all year round.
Nearby YHA: YHA The Sill at Hadrian’s Wall
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