After a summer of flight cancellations and Dover traffic jams, you might have headed on a seaside staycation this year. 

The UK has some picturesque fishing towns and villages, some impressive harbours, and some beautiful beaches.

Perfect for everything from sunbathing and paddling to fish and chips on the sea wall and a trip to the amusement arcade, a summer trip to the seaside is a must. But the British coast in autumn can be just as stunning if a little wilder. 

If you’re looking for staycation inspiration this autumn or winter, keep reading for your guide to Britain’s best walking beaches.

1. Sandhaven, South Shields

The beaches of England’s northeast coast are some of the best-kept secrets in UK tourism. Head south past Whitley Bay and Long Sands then hop across the mouth of the Tyne and you’ll find the mile-long Sandhaven.

This beach recently came top in the Sunday Times’ list of Britain’s best beaches in 2022. And it’s easy to see why.

Beautiful sand, cheap parking, and easily accessible amenities make it perfect for a summer break and even better to enjoy during the quiet autumn when you could have large swathes of sand to yourself. 

For a particularly secluded walk, head south to Trow Rocks and its “disappearing gun”, a 1990s replica of a weapon used during the Crimean War. So-called because of the way the muzzle pivots and retracts during reloading, the site also offers dramatic panoramic views.

You might even see dolphins, who are regular visitors to the South Shields coast.

2. Woolacombe beach, Devon

Woolacombe beach on the north Devon coast didn’t make it onto the Sunday Times’ best beaches list. But it has been recognised as one of the best in the world, thanks to TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards.

The UK tourist hotspot came 20th in the list, making it the only UK beach in the top 25.

The beach stretches for over two miles, with 700-metre wide sand with “excellent” water quality and plenty of local facilities.

During the summer you can relax on the dune-backed sand or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, join a surf school. 

During the autumn, why not take a hike to the nearby Baggy Point? A National Trust-run headland, you’ll find stunning views into next-door Croyde Bay.

3. Perranporth, Cornwall

Cornwall boasts an incredible array of beaches but Perranporth is arguably the most quintessentially Cornish. 

Surfing, kite surfing, and cave exploration are just some seaside-based activities available to the adventurous. If you are looking for history, look no further than the ruins of St Piran’s Oratory. The patron saint of Cornwall, the original chapel may well have been built by St Piran himself. 

Found at Penhale Sands, the ruins have been alternately covered in sand and unearthed for centuries. In 2014, it was dug out of the sand again, along with skeletons that have since been dated to around 800AD.

In the town itself, you’ll find a serene boating lake, a links golf course, and a memorial to Winston Graham, the creator of Poldark. 

4. Newgale, Pembrokeshire

Situated at the north end of St Brides Bay on Wales’s southwest coast, two miles of pristine beach is banked by pebbles and gently rising gorse pastureland.

The pebble bank resulted from a huge storm in the 1850s. The beach made the news more recently when a gorse fire broke out during the heatwave of mid-July 2022.

The beach is popular with surfers and kite surfers, and the intrepid will find plenty of sheltered bays and a walk-through cave. You can also walk to nearby Cwm Mawr beach but be sure you check the tide times before you set off.

The beach has “excellent” water quality, although it might be a little chilly at this time of year. Dog restrictions also apply in certain sections of the beach from May to October. 

Locally you’ll find campsites, cheap parking, and the Duke of Edinburgh pub. 

5. Dymchurch, Kent

The recent recipient of the first Seaside award from Keep Britain Tidy, the sandy beach at Dymchurch is surrounded by the shingle and wetlands on Romney Marsh.

The three-mile-long beach is incredibly flat, meaning the tide can come in quickly. There are no lifeguards either so be cautious at all times. 

The beach is backed by a £60 million sea wall and promenade that stretches from Hythe Military Rifle Range to St Mary’s Bay.

Dymchurch village is home to an amusement park and steam railway, sure to keep the kids entertained during the summer. There’s also a coffee shop and a chip shop but be sure to check for seasonal opening times.

If it’s history you’re after, seek out the 19th-century Martello Tower, built as part of the area’s coastal defences during the Napoleonic Wars.