Looking for the perfect August bank holiday getaway? We’ve put together a list where you will find all the golden beaches, coastal walks and adventures.
Our top 10 beaches are hand picked based on responses we got from our Facebook poll and recommendations from Thame Service Station Staff.
Some of the destinations we have chosen are include windswept sandbanks, secluded coves and coastal castles- sounds quite extraordinary, but all the locations are all British and within driving distance of Thame. We easily forget that we live on an island of our own, and some of the coastlines are breath-taking. So get the family together, pack the car and get on road.
1. Lyme Regis, Dorset - 149 miles from Thame
This proved to be our absolute favourite family destination it’s a coastal town based in West Dorset, Lyme Regis is known for its spectacular scenery and iconic features like the historic Cobb and harbour. With a nickname “The Pearl of Dorset” the striking town is noted for its fossils found in the cliffs and beaches, which are part of the Jurassic Coast. Lyme Regis is great for the whole family no matter what time of the year you go, or whatever age you will be guaranteed to find something to entertain you all. We highly recommend going crabbing if you decide to visit.
2. West Wittering, Sussex- 115 miles from Thame
The last surviving pieces of natural coast line in West Sussex, West Wittering Beach is a blue flag beach known for its high standards of cleanliness, safety and public information. Horse Riding, dog walkers and campers are common sights on the beautiful beach. The beach is recognized for its wildlife, birds and unique beauty. A perfect location for the whole family explore and relax.
3. Weymouth Beach, Dorset - 136 miles from Thame
Weymouth Beach is a three mile beach, just minutes away from the town centre and harbour. A beautiful sandy beach which has a wide range of attractions for the kids. We loved the Punch and Judy Show and the donkey rides. Weymouth is popular for its sea bathing, beach motocross and volleyball. There’s plenty of places to get an ice-cream or a bite to eat. The best feature for us is the beach slopes down very slightly which gives safer shallow water for the kids to play in – A perfect place to make good memories.
4. Porthminster Beach, St Ives- 272 miles from Thame
This beach is one of our favourites for a relaxing break, a beautiful turquoise sea and fantastic views of the St Ives harbour you could be forgiven for thinking you were in the Mediterranean. Located just a short walk from the centre of St Ives, the beach is a firm family favourite be it for swimming, mini gold or the delicious food available along the coast. The beach is perfect for families with shallow water, with lots of small pools in sand to play in! Ideal for those who love to swim.
5. Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth- 108 Miles from Thame
Declared a local nature reserve in 1990, Hengistbury Head is a fascinating place not only for its wide variety of habitats but also for its internationally renowned archaeology and geology. The beach receives over a million visitors every year and we’re not surprised it’s a beautiful place to visit, ideal for flying kites, just a blissful place to relax and escape in comparison to the other resorts in Bournemouth.
6. Sandbank, Poole - 112 miles from Thame
Sandbanks has the fourth highest land value in the world and has been dubbed “Britain’s Palm Beach” by the national media. North Haven Lake, the Sandbanks area of Poole Harbour, is a great place packed with family fun with a fantastic crazy gold course and beach polo, and must see beach to visit especially for those dog lovers.
7. Watergate Bay, Cornwall- 258 miles from Thame
If you’re looking for a contemporary beach holiday, Watergate Bay is truly the perfect destination. A popular choice as host to many sporting activities and displays including the annual Polo on the Beach, and a series of intense sports shows. In addition to the large beach, it has a multitude of exciting caves and rock pools to explore. Perfect for families to spend days exploring.
8. Soar Mill Cove, Devon - 206 miles from Thame
Found along the most scenic coastline of South Devon, Soar Mill Cove is a small picturesque sandy cove. Isolated enough with access only by foot via the South West Coast. Visitors can also get to the cove by canoe or boat from Salcombe. Although we would recommend walking so you can admire the beauty as you walk to the bottom of the valley, and even though it’s completely sheltered there always seems to be sunshine, the perfect beach for relaxing and enjoying a swim.
9. Fistral, Cornwall - 261 miles from Thame
Newquay’s most popular beach and at the heart of the British surfing scene is Fistral and rightly so with its beautiful gold sand. Fistral Beach is best known for surfing and is also the venue for major international surfing competitions. The long and sandy beach is backed by rocks and cliffs, ideal for the entire family offering simple beach pleasures at the seafront.
10. Porthtowan, Cornwall - 270 miles from Thame
Situated in West Cornwall, Porthtowan is an area of natural beauty with stunning walks along the coastal path to Chapel Porth and St Agnes. A small village in Cornwall, it is popular with surfers and industrial archaeologists. All the big UK surf competitions take place here including Boardmasters, the Quicksilver Skins, the UK Pro Surf Tour and the BUSA Championships, so can you just imagine the great environment. There’s a fun packed childrens plat park at the top of the beach making it a family favourite for kids of all ages.
That’s our round up of the Top 10 Beaches in the UK, some of us will be revisiting these places on Bank Holiday Weekend, and we hope our list will help you decide which beach you fancy! Let’s just hope the sun comes out!
P.S If you need to rent a family car for your getaway get in touch with Thame Hire, and they can help you hire a ideal car for your getaway!
