Discover your next coastal adventure
Explore the best coastal walks and places to stay for a sunny seaside escape
Coastal walks and rated places to stay
With summer now in full swing, make the most of the longer days by planning a peaceful coastal getaway. There’s nothing more refreshing than a walk along some of the UK’s most scenic coastlines, followed by a relaxing evening in cosy, coastal accommodation.
Whether you prefer the luxuries of a hotel, the adventure of a camping trip or a stay in a bed and breakfast, we can recommend a variety of places to stay to suit your needs. Take a look at some of our favourite coastal walks and local stays for your perfect summer getaway.
On St Agnes Beacon
This scenic walk along the cliffs of St Agnes Head offers dramatic views of towering sea cliffs and rugged coastline, largely hidden from above.
Highlights of the route include the little promontory of Tubby's Head, Towanroath engine house, a picturesque Cornish beach and the rounded summit of St Agnes Beacon, 629ft (192m) high, offering spectacular views.
Places to stay
• Rose in Vale Country House Hotel
• Driftwood Spars
• Beacon Cottage Farm Touring Park
Brancaster to Titchwell
This walking route from Brancaster to Titchwell offers a combination of natural beauty and rich history, with wildlife, wetlands and the remnants of Roman heritage to explore.
Along the route, you can visit the churches of Brancaster and Titchwell, each with unique architectural features, view the Roman fort of Branodunum, and see extensive reed beds and marsh that stretch towards the sea, used for centuries to produce thatching reeds, providing a valuable habitat for harvest mice, water shrews, bearded tits, reed and sedge warblers and herons.
Places to stay
Tennyson's Freshwater
This refreshing ramble through West Wight explores a quieter, scenic part of the Isle of Wight, rich in natural beauty and literary history.
The route perfectly encapsulates the contrasting landscapes of the area, from the wildlife-rich tidal estuary of the River Yar to magnificent chalk headlands and hills with their breathtaking views. Hikers can encounter landmarks tied to poet, Alfred Tennyson's life, including his home at Farringford, the granite monument of Tennyson, and memorials in Freshwater’s All Saints Church.
Places to stay
• The Royal Hotel
• Heathfield Farm Camping
• The Orchards Holiday Caravan Park
• The Chequers Inn
A Brighton stroll
This stroll through the vibrant city of Brighton takes you on a journey of the city’s transformation from a humble fishing village to an animated seaside resort.
The route highlights historic landmarks, such as the Royal Crescent, the 18th-century Royal Pavilion, designed by architect John Nash, and the picturesque tiny streets and alleys known as The Lanes. The route passes through diverse districts, from the bohemian North Laine to elegant Kemptown, showcasing Brighton’s blend of eccentric architecture, cultural heritage and lively atmosphere.
Places to stay
• Brighton Harbour Hotel & Spa
• Malmaison Brighton
• Hotel du Vin Brighton
• New Steine
Beaches and lakes at Stackpole
Enjoy a relaxing walk around the limestone headlands of St Govan’s and Stackpole in south Pembrokeshire, featuring dramatic cliffs, two of the region’s most beautiful beaches – Broad Haven South and Barafundle Bay – and tranquil inland lakes.
The route offers a selection of rugged coastline and striking coastal scenery, including caves, blowholes and sea stacks. The contrasting three-fingered waterway, set inland from Broad Haven, is also a treat, with wooded shores and mirror-calm waters making a refreshing change to the wildness of the coast. This walk is truly a showcase of the natural beauty of Pembrokeshire.
Places to stay
• St Brides Spa Hotel
• Ty Hotel, Milford Haven Waterfront
• Kiln Park Holiday Centre
• The Dunes
The northern reaches of St Brides Bay
The linear walk along the northern coast of St Brides Bay offers some of the finest scenery on the Wales Coast Path, made easily accessible thanks to local bus services.
The route passes through the charming harbour village of Solva, rich in maritime and industrial history, including its historic lime kilns and the nearby Solva Woollen Mill. Walkers can also enjoy views of tiny offshore islands, such as Green Scar, a popular diving site and shipwreck location.
Places to stay
• Twr Y Felin Hotel
• Caerfai Bay Caravan & Tent Park
• Ramsey House
• Crug Glas Country House
A Llandudno circuit
The walk around the Great Orme in Llandudno offers a rich blend of natural beauty, history and coastal views.
Starting from Llandudno Pier, the route climbs through Happy Valley gardens up to open slopes with panoramic vistas. See if you can spot the caves, rabbit warrens and captivating scenery of Llandudno, which are said to have inspired Lewis Carroll to write Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Places to stay
• Bodysgallen Hall and Spa
• St George's Hotel
• Bryn Derwen
• Britannia Guest House
Dramatic St Bees Head
This circular walk around the North Head of St Bees offers dramatic views across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man and over the Solway Firth to the hills of Galloway in Scotland, showcasing some of the most spectacular cliffs in northwest England.
The cliff top is largely owned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and the route is best enjoyed in spring and summer when the seabirds are in residence. Also along the route are the secluded, and sometimes wild, waves over Fleswick Bay, and the historic lighthouse.
Places to stay
• Sella Park Country House Hotel
• Kirkstile Inn
• The Lutwidge Arms
Along the coast from Crail to Anstruther
Discover a pretty harbour and a fascinating fishing museum on this hike along the coast from Crail to Anstruther.
Dotted with picturesque fishing villages along the corner of the east coast, each retains its own distinctive charm and character. The pretty village of Crail has a neat harbour that attracts artists and photographers, while further down the coast, the village of Anstruther is the largest and busiest, home to the local lifeboat and Fisheries Museum.
Places to stay
• Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa
• Craigtoun Meadows Holiday Park
• Cairnsmill Holiday Park
• The Peat Inn
• The Ship Inn
From Stonehaven to Dunnottar Castle
With dramatic clifftops and the imposing ruins of Dunnottar Castle perched high above the North Sea, it’s easy to see the historic appeal to this adventurous walk.
Once a fortress, and the last Scottish castle to fall to Oliver Cromwell’s invading army during the Civil War of the mid-17th century, the castle famously safeguarded the Honours of Scotland – the nation’s crown jewels. The route also passes through picturesque fields and woodland, ending in the pretty fishing village of Stonehaven.
Places to stay
• Thainstone House
• Feughside Caravan Park
• The Ship Inn
• The Cock and Bull
