Wild seas still warm from summer rays. Rustling leaves underfoot. Fiery sunsets and landscapes cloaked in golden hues. Seasonal produce plated up by crackling log fires. We love autumn beside the sea, when calm replaces crowds and nature abounds in glowing scenery. The changing season also makes way for a new wave of coastal activities – from watersports and wildlife watching to foraging and forest walks.
Here’s our guide to the top autumn activities to experience on a trip to the coast…
Birdwatching
The changing light and cooler temperatures beckon wildlife to prepare for winter migrations, making autumn a truly magical time to witness nature’s rhythms and go birdwatching on the UK coastline. Wander along the shoreline and listen for the flocks of swallows and swifts gathering into impressive formations as they prepare to head south, and keep your eyes peeled for murmurations of starlings, creating dark, twisting patterns against the glowing autumn sky.
Coastal reserves like Norfolk’s Blakeney Point or the Farne Islands in Northumberland are ideal for spotting rare waders and seabirds, and you might catch the swoop of terns diving for fish, or the distant silhouette of a peregrine falcon. Check out our coastal cottages in Norfolk and seaside holiday homes in Northumberland.
Wild Swimming
While the air temperature can drop quickly in autumn, the ocean takes much longer to cool down, making it the perfect season to try wild swimming. Inhale lungfuls of fresh sea air and step barefoot on quiet beaches, where the invigorating rush of the ocean will boost your spirits and your immune system, leaving you feeling sharp and refreshed.
With fewer people around, popular summer beaches like Cornwall’s Porthcurno or Scotland’s Sandwood Bay feel almost untouched, offering a sense of solitude in the autumn glow. If you fancy a dip, there are plenty of holiday homes in Cornwall and coastal properties in Scotland. And for further inspiration, see our guide on the UK’s best wild swimming spots.
Storm Watching
Get your camera ready to embrace the power of the elements from the cliff tops, or shelter in a sea-view café to watch autumn storms scud over the ocean and crash on wild, empty beaches. We love watching white caps marching across the horizon and waves breaking on the shore with a steaming hot chocolate in hand, or wrapping up warm to stand in the elements on nature-hewn promontories.
Head to the south-westerly tip of Britain at Sennen Cove and capture the wild seas from the coastguard lookout, see waves break over the lighthouse at Porthcawl, head up the high cliffs of Whitby to watch storms roll in over the North Sea, or walk along Blackpool’s famous promenade to experience the crashing waves of the Irish Sea. Remember to keep a safe distance when visiting the coast during heavy seas.
Family Beach Days
Once the summer crowds disperse and the low light cloaks the coast in its golden hues, autumn is one our favourite times to escape to the beach with the family. Gather seaweed, feathers and pebbles to create majestic beach art, paddle in the rockpools and hunt for crabs and critters, or pump up a paddleboard to cast away and explore coves and crannies afloat.
Whatever activities you choose, a day at the beach means quality time together away from screens and chores, and you’re bound to come home with rosy cheeks and bellies full of fun and adventures. Whether you enjoy beach days from a holiday cottage in Pembrokeshire, a beach let in Devon or a seaside stay in Suffolk, autumn is a wonderful time to visit the coast with the family. Get more ideas for beach activities to enjoy on your next trip to the seaside.
Star Gazing
The shorter days of autumn mean you don’t have to wait until the thick of the night to look up and witness skies aglitter with stars. And far from light pollution, there are many incredible spots along the UK coast for stargazing. The first International Dark Sky Reserve in Europe, Exmoor National Park boasts a beautiful stretch of coastline that is perfect for stargazing – head to the Valley of the Rocks to see the light of countless stars reflected in inky seas.
Well-known for its rock giants towering above the waves, the eye-popping beauty of Cornwall’s Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps was officially credited with Dark Sky Discovery status in 2014, and here you can wrap up and lay in the stargazing garden, or even join in organised stargazing events. See our top spots for coastal stargazing in the UK.
Autumn Walks
Autumn is the perfect season to stomp along coastal trails, soak up the dramatic seascapes and discover empty beaches where you can feel the sand between your toes. Cooler weather, seascapes bathed in golden light and crowd-free coastal trails make for mile-upon-mile of wonderful walks, from vast sandy beaches and craggy cliff tops, to waterside woodland where you can crunch through golden leaves and gardens that tumble to the water’s edge. Check out our 10 best autumn coastal walks on the UK coastline.
Blackberry Picking
Breathe in the fresh sea air, soak up the stunning coastal scenery and forage for the plump and juicy fruits of autumn. Whether you take punnets full back to your seaside cottage and conjure up a crumble, or snack on them as you stroll, you’ll find hedgerows everywhere packed with wild blackberries throughout September and October.
Some of our favourite places to fill our buckets with nature’s bounty include Wales’ Gower Peninsula, Dorset’s Jurassic Coast and along the Northumberland coast between Bamburgh and Seahouses – where there’s a wide choice of places to stay.
Surfing
Yes, we love summer days on the beach with mellow waves, but we prefer the rush of the autumn waves – still warm from the sunshine, a little more powerful for longer rides, and much quieter once the holiday crowds have gone home.
Suit up and take the plunge with an expert surf school, or if you’ve got the kit and the know-how, head for Cornwall, Devon, Wales, Northumberland or Scotland. With such high-tech equipment on the market these days, you can stay warm whatever the weather, and ride the waves on a surfboard tailored to improve your surfing skills.
Autumn Food
Autumn is a sublime season to dine on nature’s bounty harvested from land and sea, and there’s nowhere more enjoyable to tuck into it than a waterside restaurant. Gastronomes can’t beat Cornwall’s foodie Mecca of Padstow to bag a table in view of the coast and countryside where many of the ingredients come from, or sample the season’s delights in Dorset, Devon and the Highlands of Scotland.
If you prefer to whip up your own culinary feast, fill your basket at one of the many excellent local farm shops, where you’ll find a colourful harvest of freshly picked veg alongside locally-reared meats and artisan deli items.
Feel the autumn glow and book your autumn retreat beside the beach
Whatever autumn activities take your fancy, browse our collection of coastal cottages in the UK to find the perfect pad to step out in the season’s seascapes.
