Crashing waves, crunching through autumn leaves and wild windy walks: the UK’s coastline has just as much to offer in winter as in summer. We’ve found scenic seaside destinations that are perfect for beach strolls and sightseeing, with cosy pubs, restaurants and places to stay for resting tired toes. Get your coastal fix at one of these amazing UK winter holiday destinations.
Camber Sands, East Sussex
In summer, this sweep of sand on the Sussex coast is packed with families and kite-flyers. In winter, Camber Sands is still a haven for runners, dog-walkers and hardy walkers. Sporty wetsuit-wearers take to the chilly waves for kite- and wind-surfing, while sightseers pose for pics in the stunning tall dunes. This is 1066 country, with plenty of ancient monuments and historic sites to explore, including castles and the battle site in Hastings. In nearby Rye, with its iconic Tudor buildings, guests can spend the day getting in some early Christmas shopping in the tiny shops down narrow streets.
Broadstairs, Kent
Kent’s coastline is a pull for tourists come rain or shine. Sitting halfway between its busier neighbours of Margate and Ramsgate, Broadstairs offers winter walkers the Viking Coastal Trail, a 25-mile circuit around the Isle of Thanet that’s perfect for stormy views. If the weather is simply too cold, plenty of cosy cafés make good vantage points for checking out the scenery from a warm indoor seat.
Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire
This north-eastern town just south of Whitby is a popular tourist spot on the Yorkshire coastline. Whether or not the name is really linked to Robin Hood, the whole place has a back-in-time feel, with a network of narrow streets echoing its smuggling history. In winter Robin Hood’s Bay empties a little, making room for walkers who favour cooler weather. Follow the path to the pretty beach for some wave-watching, then head back to town for a pint in a pub.
Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
Just a short ferry hop from the mainland, this seaside Isle of Wight town has rich pickings for nature-lovers. Seal pups frolic around the island’s coastline from November to January, and designated clifftop walks allow onlookers to catch a glimpse without getting too close. Visit some of the beautiful local beaches or wrap up warm and take the snecic chairlift down to Alum Bay at The Needles Landmark Attraction. After working up an appetite, sample a plate of seafood or a hearty lunch in one of the many pubs, restaurants and cafés in Yarmouth.
Chesil Beach, Dorset
This 18-mile beach is a key part of the Jurassic Coast, attracting fossil hunters and wildlife lovers all year round. It’s a steep pebble beach that protects the inland lagoon and coastline from ravaging winter storms. Listen to the waves crash and churn the stones on frosty days, then scale the viewpoint at Portland Heights and admire the full shingle arc in its entirety. Too stormy to stroll? Hole up in your holiday home with a copy of Ian McEwan’s classic novel On Chesil Beach. Places to stay close to this Dorset landmark include West Bexington, Langton Heering and the larger resort of Weymouth.
Pembrokeshire Coastline, Wales
Rated number one world coastal destination by National Geographic Traveler magazine, the gale-lashed Pembrokeshire Coast is perfect for those who crave wave-crashing action. Threading a path from beach to beach along a rugged coastline, Britain’s only coastal national park wraps around the south-west of Wales for almost 200 miles. Lace up your boots, bring binoculars, and keep your sandwiches safe from the gulls wheeling above. Follow a bracing cliff-top walk with a visit to one of Pembrokeshire‘s pretty seaside villages, such as Tenby, St Davids or Fishguard.
Holy Island, Northumberland
Separated from the Northumberland coast by a causeway, idyllic Holy Island has an ancient priory, a castle and cafés for walkers. Join the St Cuthbert’s Way at Berwick upon Tweed and walk 12 miles to the island, taking in grey seals and migratory birds, but do check causeway times when planning your route, and wrap up warm as winds can be chilly. Or start in Bamburgh for a shorter walk to the island.
Fife Coastal Path, Scotland
This clifftop path connects cliffs and caves, rocky seashores, sandy beaches, numerous fishing villages and ancient castles, and rewards visitors with stunning sea views and excellent bird watching. The Fife Coastal Path is split into several walkable sections along the coast of Fife, from Kincardine to Newburgh. It also passes through the university town of St Andrews, which makes a great base for adventures in this part of Scotland. In winter, there’s more room for climbers on the infamous Elie Chain Walk, a series of iron chains and steps chiselled into the rocky cliffs, which is an optional detour from the main path.
Southwold, Suffolk
With its prom, pier, beach huts and fish and chip eateries, Southwold’s location in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is more than a summer picnic spot. In winter, the crowds depart and miles of sandy shore can be quietly explored along the Suffolk coast. Trails offer varying levels of difficulty, some wild and woolly, some with sheltered cafés and tea rooms en route for shelter and sustenance.
Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
County Antrim’s oldest town is at one end of the Causeway Coastal Route. Placed right on the coast road, most vantage points around Carrickfergus have great views of the sea and sky. Namesake of a classic Irish folk song, the town is a short walk to the Gobbin’s Clifftop Path, a wild and rugged trail with waves crashing below as climbers cling to the side of the cliff. If you prefer a quiet life, warm up in the Carrickfergus Museum, full of displays that
give a great overview of local life.
Newlyn, Cornwall
Newlyn, Mousehole, Lamorna… the names of the little towns along this south-western stretch of Cornwall’s peninsula are as lyrical as its stunning views. Newlyn itself is a major fishing port. While sea produce is loaded at the harbour in all weathers, the town offers plenty of shelter from stormy walks in the form of pubs, cafés and restaurants. If the weather holds, walk to Mousehole (“Mow-zle”) for a well-earned pint.
Find Sea View Accommodation in UK Winter Holiday Destinations
Choose from thousands of coastal holiday homes and cottages all over the UK and Ireland for a winter holiday by the sea. Start your search for sea view accommodation in amazing UK winter holiday destinations.
