With its array of seasonal festivals, pumpkin patches and golden-hued forests, the magical month of autumn draws many people inland to play and explore – leaving the UK’s beaches gloriously empty for beach-lovers to revive, refresh and be entertained with a backdrop of glittering ocean.
Free of crowds and full of natural allure, these salty idylls sandwiched between land and sea offer up all kinds of activities for every generation to take part in, from guided adventures to spontaneous beach games that need only a little imagination and a sense of fun.
To get you started we’ve put together a list of some of the best autumn beach activities that you can enjoy solo, with friends or as a family, ready to embrace care-free hours and make the most of these wonderful natural playgrounds.
Kite Flying
Kite flying has been a much-loved past-time for over 2,000 years and is a brilliant autumn activity. For timeless fun, find yourself a lightweight kite with plenty of surface area and head to the beach when the winds are light to moderate to really harness the elements. Nothing will be more enchanting as you launch your kite skyward and watch as it darts and dances in the breeze. Beaches in Cornwall and Pembrokeshire make excellent kite flying territory.
Alfresco Painting
With its natural light and incredible scenery, the UK’s thousands of miles of coastline provide endless inspiration for artistic endeavours. Whether you’re taking up a pew on the cliffs with a palette and paints or finding a spot on the beach with a pad and pencils, you can practice your skills, lose yourself to the moment and capture your favourite subjects on paper. St Ives in Cornwall and the Norfolk coast are perfect for inspiration and a rich artistic heritage.
Beach Combing
With summer’s sunshine often lingering into the autumn months, walking on the UK’s beaches is a real treat. Making it even more intriguing are the eye-catching treasures that can sometimes be found peppered along the shoreline – from curious stones to pretty shells to glistening sea glass. A lovely keepsake, you can even turn your finds into beach-inspired art or jewellery. Some of the best places for beachcombing are Dorset for shells and fossils, and County Durham for sea glass.
Lido Dipping
Cold-water swimming is one of the most invigorating activities to do at the beach in autumn, with the UK’s coastline calling to hardy dippers from near and far throughout the season. That said, if you find that the swells have picked up, you can swap your sea dip for a lido trip for a safe immersive experience. With many coastal lidos all around the UK, you’ll be spoilt for choice of places to go for an exhilarating plunge.
Pebble Stacking
Surprisingly difficult and addictive in equal measures, pebble stacking is one of the best beach activities in autumn. A great challenge, all you need to do is find a series of smooth, flat pebbles and stack them from the bottom up (in descending size), creating pretty beach cairns that seemingly defy gravity. Naturally, the higher you build your stack, the harder it is to balance your stone tower – making it all the more thrilling as it sways and teeters. Just watch out for your toes if it falls!
Sand Drawing
Whether you’re etching intricate patterns or doodling stickmen in the sand, absolutely everyone can unleash their inner artist at the beach. Trace shadows, write messages, play noughts and crosses or have a game of Pictionary for the kind of priceless fun that will unite and entertain all generations. With no equipment needed, you only need a stick (or your finger!) to make use of your sandy canvas.
Dog Walking
One of life’s simple pleasures and one of the best autumn beach activities is walking with your dog along the sand. From sheltered coves to vast sandy beaches, amblers and their four-pawed companions can make the most of fewer crowds and reduced doggy restrictions to walk and play together. Wholesome and healing, nothing can beat lapping up the fresh air and watching the endless roll of waves on the horizon together. Try the long sandy beaches of Wales or the wild and rugged coastline of Northumberland for the very best autumn walks with your dog.
Picnic Feasting
There’s nothing better than wrapping up in your layers, filling up flasks of tea and setting off for the beach to indulge in a shoreside picnic in autumn. With the activity of summer fading away, it’s often really easy to find quiet spots along the coast to sit and relax under autumn sunshine, ready to tuck into your favourite treats as the waves lap and seabirds wheel overhead.
Water Sporting
For water-lovers, autumn is one of the best seasons of the year. Fluctuating between calm, crisp days perfect for paddleboarding and kayaking, to lively, windy days ideal for surfing and kitesurfing, the sea and weather offer up a variety of conditions that can each be harnessed for different activities. Go solo if you’re experienced or join up with activity instructors if you’re learning for unforgettable experiences all around the UK’s coast. Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall are some of the best places to head for a watersport fix.
Beach Cleaning
Plastic pollution is one of the most serious environmental issues facing the world today, affecting beaches all over the globe. If you are enjoying a holiday by the sea this autumn, you may be able to take part in self-guided or organised beach cleans. Helping to protect fragile coastal habitats and preserve the spaces that provide us with so much, beach cleaning is a hugely fulfilling activity that all the family can take part in this autumn.
Book a Beach Stay
Now you have some ideas for things to do on the beach in the autumn why not book a break away on the coast? Browse our extensive collection of cottages by the sea, including plenty of properties that are beside or very close to the beach.
