We are blessed with some beautiful coastline in the UK and when the sun comes out there is really no need to be anywhere else. The coastline of the United Kingdom is formed by a variety of natural features including islands, bays, headlands and peninsulas and has rugged rocky looks-outs, cliff-walks, sandy beaches, pebbly coves and lovely seaside towns.
There are plenty of varying destinations to choose from and many walking opportunities too.
So where will you find the very best coastal walks in the UK? Lets take a look.
Prawle Point, Devon
Beautiful Devon is a county in southwest England and the Prawle Point walk is really beautiful.
Situated on Devon's southern-most tip it is only a few miles from the busy resort town of Salcombe but still has a gloriously remote feeling.
The name comes from the old English Praewhyll, meaning a ‘look out hill’ and the walk must be amongst the most beautiful and spectacular in the south west.
Prawle Point is a bird watchers paradise so bring your binoculars along. Because it is so southerly many migrant birds arrive here first in the spring and gather again for their long flights in the autumn. You are likely to see buzzards, ravens and hawks abound and there have been sightings of the rare cirl bunting.
The whole of the coastline from Mill Bay at Portlemouth to Start Point is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and most of it is owned by the National Trust.
The coast is quite rocky here, though there are several coves with pebble beaches close by where you can take a dip in the ocean on a warm day.
Brownsea Island, Dorset
A visit to Brownsea Island is the perfect day’s adventure which is easy to get to but feels like you’ve escaped the hustle and bustle of everyday life for a little while.
The island sits in the middle of Poole Harbour with amazing views out to the Purbeck Hills. It is a wildlife haven with thriving natural habitats that include woodland, heathland and a lagoon.
The island is rich in history too which you can investigate at the Visitor Centre. There are the remains of daffodil farming, pottery works and the village of Maryland to explore too.
Spring is a great time to visit this beautiful island with plenty of ways to embrace nature. For families there are fun free trails and activities plus a unique opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the rangers. For nature lovers, the Eco adventure camping experience means a chance to put down those phones and computers and soak up the surrounding nature.
Catch a ferry from Poole Harbour or Sandbanks which run daily and under 6’s go free but do be aware that the ferry is cash only at Sandbanks.
Blakeney, Norfolk
The North Norfolk coast is just stunning and is a great place for blustery walks. With wide expanses of salt marsh and superb bird-life its a real ‘back to nature’ spot.
The iconic Blakeney Point walk along the shingle spit visits a famous seal colony and shows off everything that’s great about the Norfolk coast. Managed by the National Trust since the early 1900’s the seal colonies are thriving and grey seal pups are born from November to January
If you fancy something a little different though head for Blakeney Freshes, another area of the reserve that is equally as important for wildlife and managed for breeding waders and over-wintering wildfowl. It is a lot lesser known and often far quieter. This walk takes you along the sea wall around the Freshes, with amazing views of the whole Nature Reserve, simply beautiful.
Whitehaven, Cumbria
Cumbria is home to the English Lake District and is a predominantly rural county that could certainly be considered one of the most beautiful regions of the UK
The coastline around Whitehaven is some of Cumbria’s best and takes in Candlestick, Haig, Birkham’s quarry, and RSPB viewpoints.
Those interested in bird watching will likely be attracted by the only breeding colony of black guillemots in England.
The walk between Whitehaven and St Bees is just stunning, these two places are steeped in history and rich in wildlife. St Bees Head is the most westerly point in Cumbria and is a great place for spotting black guillemots, puffins and terns.