Britain’s top beach picnic spots

beach, picnic, britain, travel, studland bay
Evening light on dune grasses behind Shell beach in Studland Bay Credit: National Trust Images/Nick Meers

What sums up the British summer more than packing up a picnic and head for the seaside to share a meal with the sand between your toes? A trip to these coastal spots – from secret coves to some of Britain’s best-loved beaches – is a perfect way to get outdoors with family and friends on a sunny day.

Studland Beach, Dorset

beach, picnic, britain, travel, studland bay
Evening light on dune grasses behind Shell beach in Studland Bay Credit: National Trust Images/Nick Meers

Take the family for a fabulous day out on this golden sandy beach in Dorset. Stretching four miles from Shell Bay to Old Harry Rocks and with shallow bathing water it’s perfect for little ones. Be sure to bring buckets, spades and picnics for a blissful day on the sands. You can also visit the nearby ruins of Corfe Castle to discover more than 700 years of history and relive childhood memories by seeing the inspiration behind Enid Blyton’s Kirren Castle in the Famous Five series.

Portstewart Strand, County Londonderry

Portstewart Strand, Co Londonderry,
Rock cliff and beach at Portstewart Strand, Co Londonderry, Northern Ireland Credit: National Trust Images/John Millar

Sweeping along the edge of the North Coast, this two-mile stretch of golden sand is one of Northern Ireland’s finest beaches and affords uninterrupted views of the coastline. It’s an ideal place for lazy picnics, Quad Pod rides, surfing, slacklining and discovering the sand dunes that are a haven for wild flowers and butterflies.

Lundy, Devon

Lundy, picnic, beach
Golden hair lichen growing on the western side of Lundy Credit: National Trust Images/Joe Cornish

Undisturbed by cars and cut-off from the mainland by the Bristol Channel, 400ft-long Lundy is home to a small village and a 13th-century Marisco Castle. For a picnic with a stunning view back over the British coastline, it’s well worth a climb up to the disused lighthouse. Called the Old Light, it offers a panorama over the north part of the island. Nature-lovers can discover the variety of seabirds, wildlife and flowers coating this rocky island, as well as seals basking on the rocks.

Hayburn Wyke, Yorkshire

Hayburn Wyke on the North Yorkshire coast Credit: National Trust Images/Joe Cornish
Hayburn Wyke on the North Yorkshire coast Credit: National Trust Images/Joe Cornish

With its very own double waterfall tumbling down onto the shore, take a break from a walk along the Cleveland Way and find a picnic spot on this secret bay hidden away on the Yorkshire Coast. Cool off under the falls surrounded by lush green vegetation or look for hidden sea beasties in rock pools.

Barafundle, Pembrokeshire

Barafundle Bay, coast, Wales, Britain, coast
Barafundle Bay’s golden sands are backed by dunes and ringed by limestone cliffs and is part of the Pembrokeshire Heritage coastline Credit: ©VisitBritain / Simon Kreitem

Barafundle is a jewel of a beach hidden between limestone cliffs and backed by dunes and woods. Enjoy a real bucket and spade, sand-in-your-sandwiches experience here in the summer on this Pembrokeshire seaside spot which is officially recognised as one of the world’s finest stretches of beach

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