10 of the best UK fishing beaches

  • Weymouth ©

    1. Weymouth Beach

    Weymouth Beach is a curving arc of golden sand adjacent to the town centre, with Weymouth pier at the southern end. Family-friendly, the safe, shallow waters are ideal for swimming, and a range of other activities are on offer during…

  • Cromer ©

    2. Cromer Beach

    Cromer is a traditional Victorian seaside resort, with a wide sand and shingle beach popular for swimming and surfing. Many of the buildings in the town date back to the Victorian era, although the town has expanded rapidly in the last…

  • Dungeness ©

    3. Dungeness Beach

    This vast expanse of shingle on the edge of Romney Marsh has an almost surreal quality. The otherwise flat and bleak landscape is punctuated by two lighthouses and the hulking form of the Dungeness nuclear power station.

    There…

  • Maryport ©

    4. Maryport Beach

    Long sand and shingle beach which runs from the harbour mouth and backs onto the marina in Maryport. From the beach here you can clearly make out the coast of Scotland 20 miles or so across the water.

  • Newark Bay ©

    5. Newark Bay

    Newark Bay forms a lovely crescent of near white sand on the more sheltered south east coast of the main island. This is one of the more popular beaches on Orkney drawing people with varied interests. These include walkers and birdwatchers…

  • Trimingham ©

    6. Trimingham Beach

    Trimingham is a secluded beach, largely owing to the challenge of finding and accessing it. Located at the end of a steep narrow lane it is easier to park at nearby Mundesley and walk along the coast.

    Despite being somewhat awkward…

  • Whitby ©

    7. Whitby Beach

    Whitby has beaches on both sides of the River Esk. On the east side is the smaller Tate Hill, a sheltered sandy beach that allows dogs all year round. On the other side of West Pier is West Cliff, a larger sandy beach with colourful…

  • Achmelvich Bay ©

    8. Achmelvich Bay

    Beautiful Achmelvich Beach looks across the bay to the coastal village of Lochinver with the islands of Lewis and Harris just offshore. 

    This is a beautiful sheltered beach on the rural west coast. A large crescent of white…

  • Terminus Beach ©

    9. Terminus Beach (Terminus)

    Minehead's north-facing Terminus beach sits between the main beach and the harbour.

    In 1990 the sand and shingle beach was almost completely washed away by a violent storm. A multimillion pound project to replace the beach and…

  • Berwick-upon-Tweed ©

    10. Berwick-upon-Tweed Beach

    Berwick-Upon-Tweed has a sandy beach which lies to the north of the mouth of the River Tweed. The river mouth is separated from the beach by a long pier which has a lighthouse at the end overlooking the beach and surrounding area. 

    The…