Top 10 UK Walkers Beaches
Leave the summer hordes behind on a tramp to one of these gloriously remote beaches, top 10 UK walkers beaches. There’s something intensively seductive in the idea of a deserted beach. That classic holiday brochure image – a crescent of silvery sand backed by waving palm trees, empty but for a trail of footprints – speaks to the explorer in all of us. Palms may be thin on the ground, but when it comes to pristine sands and deserted coves, the UK can take on the world. So whether you’re up for a two-day epic or fancy a quick toddle to the seaside, these coastal gems offer a perfect respite on sultry summer days.
1. CAMASUNARY, SKYE
Start/finish: Elgol
Distance: 12km/7.5 miles
Ascent: 250m
Suggested time: 4-5 hours
The path heading north from Elgol gives fabulous views across Loch Scavaig to Sgurr na Stri at the southern end of the Cuillin, and north to the imposing bulk of Blaven. Camasunary is a wonderfully situated beach with an MBA bothy for shelter should you need it. The return walk along the same path is no hardship at all, or if you have a car available you could head inland to Kirkibost.
2. CUCKMERE HAVEN, EAST SUSSEX
Start: Glynde station
Finish: Seaford station
Distance: 22km/13.5 miles
Ascent: 400m
Suggested time: 7 hours
One of just a few beaches in the South East that requires a longish walk in, Cuckmere is an oasis of scenic beauty. To turn a visit into an epic day out, start at Glynde and follow the South Downs Way to Alfriston before approaching Cuckmere via Friston Forest. End with a ramble over Seaford Head.
3. FORMBY BEACH, LANCASHIRE
Start/finish: National Trust Formby car park
Distance: 5km/3 miles
Ascent: 50m
Suggested time: 1.5 hours
Spot prehistoric footprints in the sand, wind through woodland that’s home to red squirrels and breathe in views of the Cumbrian fells from atop high dunes – all on a walk to Formby Beach. This 3-mile loop links up with the Sefton Coastal Path and returns via the Blundell Path, taking in sand dunes, woodland and asparagus fields.
4. PEPPERCOMBE BEACH, DEVON
Start/finish: Horn’s Cross
Distance: 7km/4.5 miles
Ascent: 250m
Suggested time: 2.5 hours
This secluded little gem is one of Devon’s most remote beaches. Reach it via an idyllic walk in from the pub at Horn’s Cross, following a well-signed track through woodland. Retrace your footsteps or continue along the coast to Buck’s Mills before returning inland to your starting point.
5. SANDWOOD BAY, NORTH HIGHLANDS
Start/finish: Blairmore car park
Distance: 13km/8.5 miles
Ascent: 150m
Suggested time: 4.5 hours
Sandwood Bay is often dubbed Britain’s most beautiful stretch of sand. Backed by wild, wind-swept dunes, this stunning Sutherland beauty spot can only be reached by a long walk in via a bleak moorland track. It’s worth the hike for the views over pristine golden sands to the sea stack of Am Buachaille.
6. FORVIE SANDS, ABERDEENSHIRE
Start/finish: Forvie Sands Centre
Distance: 8km/5 miles
Ascent: 100m
Suggested time: 2.5 hours
The Forvie Sands National Nature Reserve encompasses a vast area of rolling dunes, coastal heathland and deserted beaches teeming with wildlife. Follow the route along the coast via the stunning sandy crescent of Hackley Bay to reach a ruined church, once part of lost Forvie village. Return inland across the grass-topped dunes, leaving plenty of time for sunbathing and bird-watching.
7. SMIRISARY BEACH, WEST HIGHLANDS
Start/finish: Roadside parking at minor road end, NM653773
Distance: 4km/2.5 miles
Ascent: 250m
Suggested time: 2 hours
The there-and-back route from Glen Uig to this sheltered cove of silvery sand meanders through wildflower-rich grasslands, coastal heath and wetlands with far-reaching views over to the Small Isles. The powdery sands here are a haven for wildlife – look out for otters, raptors and coastal birds as you soak in the sublime outlook.
8. MARLOES SANDS, PEMBROKESHIRE
Start/finish: Marloes Sands car park
Distance: 6.5km/4 miles
Ascent: 200m
Suggested time: 2 hours
Head to Marloes Sands at low tide to experience this magical spot at its best. From shipwrecks to rock pools and hidden coves, there’s plenty here to see and explore. Try a two-hour circuit that encompasses Marloes Mere, Gateholm Island and several Iron Age ramparts before leaving the coast path at High Point and returning to the National Trust car park.
9. WORBARROW BEACH, DORSET
Start: Lulworth Cove Finish: Worth Matravers
Distance: 22.5km/14 miles
Ascent: 1000m
Suggested time: 7 hours
Hidden away on the east side of Lulworth Cove, this atmospheric spot is almost always uncrowded. It can be accessed via a 4-mile circular from the ghost village of Tyneham, but a more challenging option is to stop off at Worbarrow while walking the Lulworth Cove to Worth Matravers section of the South West Coast Path. The route passes through the Lulworth Ranges, so make sure you check opening times before visiting.
10. BRANDY COVE, GOWER
Start: Mumbles Finish: Three Cliffs Bay
Distance: 20km/12.5 miles
Ascent: 450m
Suggested time: 7 hours
The Gower peninsula boasts some fabulous beaches, and beauty spots such as Rhossili and Three Cliffs Bay are tourist honeypots. Beat the crowds with a walk to the inaccessible Brandy Cove – so named because it was once used by smugglers to land illicit tobacco and booze. Discover this hidden gem on a linear walk between Mumbles and Three Cliffs Bay via the Wales Coast Path.
sources: The Great Outdoors, July 2018
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