England – Bantham Beach
South Devon’s Bantham beach is a real hot spot for families and surfers. Underfoot is soft golden sand and the shallow bay makes for lovely little pools at low tide that toddlers will just love splashing about in.
If you love nature head to the south of the beach and count the creatures you’ll undoubtedly find in the rock pools.
This is a great beach for surfing experts and novices with Bantham’s own Surfing Academy, professional instruction is on hand (fees and restrictions apply see www.banthamsurfingacademy.co.uk)
From May to September there is a ferry that operates crossings from Bantham to Bigby-on-Sea at 10am, 11am, 3pm and 4pm Monday to Saturday.
Note that from May to October dogs are not allowed on the main beach.
Bamburgh
Bamburgh beach is perhaps the most spectacular beach in Northumberland. Dominated by the imposing Bamburgh castle, once the seat of Henry VI during the war of the roses, a wide expanse of sandy beach is revealed at low tide. The sands are ideal for kite flying and walking. The rocky outcrops exposed by the tide are suitable for rock pooling with children. The gently shelving sands provide a perfect place to paddle in the waves.
Bamburgh Beach is one of those included in the Marine Conservation Society’s Good Beach Guide 2011. The village of Bamburgh is very pretty indeed and has everything you would need for a short break including some very quaint tea rooms.
South Wales – Three Cliffs Bay, the Gower Peninsular
The Gower peninsular near Swansea, has a number of beautiful beaches, bays and coves. It has been designated an area of outstanding natural beauty . To the north of the peninsular are nature reserves and dotted along the coast are sites of special scientific interest. Perhaps the most stunning of the Gower’s many beaches is Three Cliff Bay – a favourite with horse riders and climbers. When visiting the Gower please remember that from May to October many of the beaches are designated dog free areas.
Scotland – Isle of Barra Beach
Barra is a remote Scottish island where Gaelic is still spoken by the inhabitants. The famous sandy, white beaches are to be found on the island’s west coast. Traigh Mhor beach is unique as it has the world’s only beach airport running scheduled flights.
Some of the activities you can enjoy on and from the beach – aside from the obvious ones! – are guided kayaking tours and, rather excitingly, power-kiting.
Accommodation is available near the beach at the well appointed Isle of Barra Beach Hotel which as well as a bar, restaurant and all the other facilities you would expect from a modern hotel also has a cinema room. The Isle of Barra village has been voted Britain’s best.
Northern Ireland – Portstewart
Portstewart Strand stretches for two miles west of the County Derry Victorian seaside resort that gives it its name. The long sandy beach faces the North Atlantic and is a focal point for surfers of all abilities from all over the region and beyond. Other activities in the area include the cliff walks to Portrush and sea fishing for pollack, mackerel, wrasse, dogfish, coalfish, flounder, plaice, conger and bass. The popular resort has blue flag status and modern well maintained facilities. The unique basalt columns of the Giant’s Causeway are a short drive further west.
[box]Written by The British Traveller, a British travel blog[/box]
