{"id":40876,"date":"2024-10-17T15:24:28","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T13:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4f85024d-abb7-4c67-bd54-0b74c6435815"},"modified":"2024-10-17T16:26:39","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T14:26:39","slug":"discover-britains-best-seaside-towns-8-coastal-gems-you-need-to-visit","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/discover-britains-best-seaside-towns-8-coastal-gems-you-need-to-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Discover Britain\u2019s best seaside towns: 8 coastal gems you need to visit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\">We take a look at some of the UK&#8217;s best seaside towns across the length and breadth of the country <\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By <\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Thursday, 17 October 2024 at 13:24 PM<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p><strong>Sunkissed, surf-washed, blessed with beaches or birdlife, the UK\u2019s coastal resorts are delightfully diverse.<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Dixe Wills picks his favourite seaside towns<\/strong><\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the best seaside towns in the UK?<\/h2><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Salcombe<\/strong>, <strong>Devon<\/strong><\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>If ever there were a seaside resort to which the epithet \u2018well-heeled\u2019 should be applied, it is Salcombe. In recent years this former ship-building port has become one of the UK\u2019s priciest places to buy property, and \u2013 though it\u2019s not quite Monte Carlo \u2013 the town\u2019s shops and watering holes are certainly in keeping with an affluent, yacht-loving populace.\u00a0<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/go-outdoors\/days-out\/britains-best-classic-seaside-attractions\">Britain&#8217;s best classic seaside attractions<\/a><\/p><p>Tumbling gracefully down the western slopes of the Kingsbridge estuary, Salcombe is a warren of narrow streets and colourfully painted houses with a sheltered harbour and a pleasingly long waterfront.<\/p><p>Filey, Yorkshire<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2144\" height=\"1424\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/10\/Filey-Beach.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-194529\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Filey beach By Events Yorkshire, CC BY-SA 3.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=60542439<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Tucked away between the larger resorts of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/news\/scarborough-north-yorkshire\">Scarborough<\/a> and Bridlington, Filey is often overlooked. It was merely a modest fishing village until the 18th century, when it became a retreat for Scarborough folk, growing into the small town it is today. More recently, it has become a popular retirement destination \u2013 its percentage of pensioners is about twice the national average.<\/p><p>Filey\u2019s oldest building is the 12th-century St Oswald\u2019s Church, standing high above the sea and accessible by bridge across a wooded ravine. Inscribed on the tower roof are almost 1,500 examples of historic graffiti.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Berwick<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/10\/Berwick-upon-Tweed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-194531\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/uk-travel\/north-west\/guide-to-berwick-and-borders-where-to-stay-and-eat-places-to-visit-and-best-walks\">Berwick<\/a> English or Scottish? Well, the answer has changed on numerous occasions. Now a small town on the River Tweed just south of the border, it was founded as an Anglo-Saxon settlement in the Kingdom of Northumbria \u2013 but changed hands no fewer than 13 times. Since 1482, it\u2019s been firmly English\u2026 except many of its residents consider themselves Scottish or simply \u2018Berwickers\u2019, and its football and rugby teams play in Scottish leagues.<\/p><p>The sense of a frontier is magnified by a walk along the town wall. The first barrier was thrown up by Edward I, though the current structure is Elizabeth I\u2019s mighty bulwark erected to defend against a Scottish invasion. <\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brighton<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/10\/Brighton.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-194535\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Written in 1907, the song <em>Sussex by the Sea<\/em> has become the county\u2019s unofficial anthem \u2013 and there\u2019s nowhere quite as popular as Brighton for a slice of Sussex seaside. Famous for its easy-going outlook, and a haven for those seeking alternative lifestyles, Brighton is just an hour\u2019s train ride from London, helping cement its status as a favourite with fun-seekers from the capital.<\/p><p>We named Brighton pier one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/go-outdoors\/10-of-the-best-piers-to-visit-in-the-uk\">Britain&#8217;s best piers to visit<\/a><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/go-outdoors\/walks\/best-walks-near-london\">Best walks near London: Escape the city and explore beautiful scenery, from enchanting woodlands to breathtaking coastlines<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">St Andrews<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2120\" height=\"1415\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/10\/St-Andrews.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-194533\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>St Andrews\u2019 Old Course is the world\u2019s oldest golf course, tracing its origins back to the Middle Ages. It has been the venue for no fewer than 30 Open Championships since 1873 \u2013 more than any other course. But though it\u2019s known worldwide as the \u2018home of golf\u2019, St Andrews feels wonderfully cut-off. No motorway comes close to the town and the nearest railway station is five miles away at Leuchars.\u00a0<\/p><p>Even the beach keeps its distance, the bracing West Sands lying a short walk north of town. But it\u2019s well worth the effort to reach the two miles of scenic strand separated from the golf course by a fringe of dunes. Had you stood here on 24 April 1980, you\u2019d have seen a group of young men in old-fashioned athletics gear running along the edge of the sea \u2013 actors being filmed for the famous opening scene of <em>Chariots of Fire<\/em>.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1981 St Andrews | Chariots of Fire Theme | Vangelis\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hr_-fT8MWDU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/><\/div><\/figure><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Port Righ<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2122\" height=\"1412\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1059238954.jpg\" alt=\"Port Righ\" class=\"wp-image-194538\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty images<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The capital of<a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/go-outdoors\/isle-of-skye\"> Skye<\/a> is often cited as one of Scotland\u2019s most delightful coastal towns. Its harbour is protected by a little wooded headland, with a row of colourful and much-photographed houses beneath casting a proprietorial gaze over a tiny sand-and-pebble beach that all but disappears at high tide.<\/p><p>Today, Port Righ is a popular base for exploring Skye\u2019s attractions, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dunvegancastle.com\/\">Dunvegan Castle<\/a> and the Cuillin mountains. Visitors can also board a boat to discover the nearby isles of Rona and Raasay, or to watch whales, dolphins, seals and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/wildlife\/birds\/white-tailed-eagle-guide-identification-where-to-see-in-uk\">white-tailed eagles<\/a>.<\/p><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Port Rois, Northern Ireland<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/10\/Portrush.mp4\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Getty video<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Most seaside resorts are happy to have one great beach. Some fortunate places are blessed with two. But Port Rois has no fewer than three Blue Flag beaches: West Strand and East Strand are next to town, while the gleaming sand of White Rocks beach lies just beyond a golf course, backed by dunes.<\/p><p>Unsurprisingly, Port Rois has built an enviable reputation as a top water-sports destination. If you\u2019re into surfing, windsurfing, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/go-outdoors\/get-active\/paddleboarding-guide\">paddleboarding<\/a>, kitesurfing, snorkelling or diving \u2013 or just swimming and sunbathing \u2013 this might be your ideal holiday.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/go-outdoors\/days-out\/visit-northern-irelands-antrim-coast-history-walks-and-places-to-stay\">Antrim coast guide: things to do, best walks and places to stay<\/a><\/li><\/ul><h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Llandudno<\/h3><figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2024\/10\/GettyImages-1335785238.mp4\"\/><\/figure><p>Unusually for coastal tourism hotspots, Llandudno (pronounced \u2018chllan-did-no\u2019), was planned as a seaside resort in 1848 by architect Owen Williams, and retains an elegant Victorian sheen.\u00a0<\/p><p>Llandudno\u2019s white-sand beach and attractive streets \u2013 some still sporting their original iron colonnades \u2013 have long lured the English: two out of five residents hail from the next-door nation. The town also hosts a large proportion of retirees.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/go-outdoors\/days-out\/idyllic-seaside-escapes\">Idyllic seaside escapes in the UK<\/a><\/li><\/ul><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/how-to\/food-recipes\/britains-best-fish-and-chips\">Britain&#8217;s best fish and chip shops<\/a><\/li><\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We take a look at some of the UK&#8217;s best seaside towns across the length and breadth of the country <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":40877,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"5"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/discover-britains-best-seaside-towns-8-coastal-gems-you-need-to-visit.jpg",2122,1412,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/discover-britains-best-seaside-towns-8-coastal-gems-you-need-to-visit-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/discover-britains-best-seaside-towns-8-coastal-gems-you-need-to-visit-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/discover-britains-best-seaside-towns-8-coastal-gems-you-need-to-visit-768x511.jpg",768,511,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/discover-britains-best-seaside-towns-8-coastal-gems-you-need-to-visit-1024x681.jpg",800,532,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/discover-britains-best-seaside-towns-8-coastal-gems-you-need-to-visit-1536x1022.jpg",1536,1022,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/45\/2024\/10\/discover-britains-best-seaside-towns-8-coastal-gems-you-need-to-visit-2048x1363.jpg",2048,1363,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"We take a look at some of the UK's best seaside towns across the length and breadth of the country","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/40876"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40877"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}