The UK’s prettiest winter beaches

The UK is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world, with a coastline that stretches more than 11,000 miles.

Many people would associate a day at the seaside with warm summer days. But there is something equally magical about beaches during winter, with wild waters, pale light and (perhaps most invitingly) fewer crowds. 

There are hundreds of stunning beaches across the country that are just as deserving of a trip in December as they are in June, so how do you choose where to visit in your motorhome?

Using a combination of Instagram hashtags and analysis of stock winter photography available online, we have compiled a ranking of the UK’s prettiest beaches during winter. Take a look at the list below.

 

1. Brighton Beach, East Sussex

Instagram hashtags: 1m | Shutterstock winter images: 1,295

As one of the most popular seafronts in the UK, not to mention its iconic pier, it wasn't surprising to see Brighton Beach topping our list of the prettiest winter beaches. Take a stroll along the promenade - you'll be rewarded with bracing air and much-needed sustenance from some of the city's most loved cafés and eateries.

 

2. Rhossili Bay, West Wales

Instagram hashtags: 29.4k | Shutterstock winter images: 17

The Gower Peninsula is famous for its breathtakingly beautiful string of beaches. It was made the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956 and hasn't let that deserved name down in the decades since. Rhossili Bay is perhaps the coastline's most popular beach which, although teeming with tourists in summer, is well worth a quieter visit in the colder months.

 

3. Cromer Beach, Norfolk

Instagram hashtags: 28.1k | Shutterstock winter images: 127

Cromer Beach's long stretches of sand, lined with colourful beach huts and independent cafés, make for the perfect walk along the beach during winter. Norfolk is also the UK's driest county, meaning you'll be less likely to encounter a downpour on the way. Cromer's Grade II listed pier is one of the few in the country to have a working theatre, so why not catch a show while you're in the area?

 

4. Hastings Beach, East Sussex

Instagram hashtags: 23.4k | Shutterstock winter images: 230

This pebble and sand beach makes up the main seafront of Hastings, one of Britain's classic seaside resorts. Perhaps best known for its famous battle of 1066, modern day Hastings has a lot to offer in the colder months. The Fishermen's Museum, for example, showcases the life and work of local fishermen, with extensive collections of fishing artifacts and exhibits.

 

5. Chesil Beach, Dorset

 

Instagram hashtags: 41.9k | Shutterstock winter images: 40

The dramatic scenery of Chesil Beach (literally "shingle" beach in Old English) is stunning to behold in the winter. Situated on the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site, the 18-mile, cliff lined stretch runs from West Bay to Portland. It takes in a range of beautiful coastal towns on the way, where visitors can stop off and warm up while overlooking the seafront.

 

6. Durdle Door Beach, Dorset

Instagram hashtags: 326k | Shutterstock winter images: 332

Another Dorset entry is the iconic Durdle Door, one of the UK's most celebrated landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The beach leading up to this natural limestone arch near Lulworth is spectacular at any time of year. When visiting Durdle Door Beach during winter, when the sun is low in the sky and the crowds have dispersed, the seafront takes on a magical atmosphere that feels almost other-wordly.

 

7. Bamburgh Castle Beach, Northumberland

Instagram hashtags: 79.1k | Shutterstock winter images: 24

The most northerly spot in our top 10 ranking, this rugged sandy beach in Alnwick is a historian's dream. Overlooking the Bamburgh Castle Beach skyline is the Norman castle of the same name, where medieval kings ruled over the kingdom of Northumbria. The castle and beach have been made famous by countless film and TV productions, and it's an especially beautiful beach in winter when crisp snow hits the craggy peaks.

 

8. Aldeburgh Beach, Suffolk

Instagram hashtags: 22.3k | Shutterstock winter images: 17

This pebble seafront, lined by pastel coloured villas, is a gem of the Suffolk coast. Just a few minutes' walk from the quaint town of Aldeburgh with its independent shops, the beach features The Scallop, a tall steel shell and treasured piece of local artwork dedicated to composer Benjamin Britten, who lived and worked there. After a bracing winter walk along the beach, warm up with a portion of fish and chips.

 

9. Viking Bay, Kent

Instagram hashtags: 15.6k | Shutterstock winter images: 357

The intriguingly named Viking Bay was favourite holiday destination of Charles Dickens and the subject of "Our English Watering Place", one of his short stories. It's not hard to see why, with a beautiful stretch of sandy beach that curves in a horseshoe around the town of Broadstairs. In summer, crowds flock to this popular tourist spot - but colder months offer the chance to soak up the bay in peace.

 

10. Woolacombe Beach, Devon

Instagram hashtags: 30.6 | Shutterstock winter images: 40

The final beach in our top 10 list is the award-winning Woolacombe Beach in Devon. Stretching for three miles, the golden sands are a favourite with surfers and holidaymakers in the summer, while visiting the beach during winter means you can take advantage of the crisp air and tranquility that the quieter period brings. The village of Woolacombe boasts cosy winter pubs and cafés, perfect for a pitstop after a day of beachcombing.

 

 

Methodology

We took a seed list of 50 of the UK’s best winter beaches and analysed:

• the number of Instagram hashtags
• the number of “winter” shots of that location on photography site Shutterstock

We took these figures and used a weighted formula to rank them and find a top 10.