Coastal campsites guide: the best for sun, sea and sand

Nothing beats camping by the sea. Whether you are after an action packed family holiday or a relaxing beach retreat, the UK has some world class beaches around its beautiful and varied coastline. Here is a camper’s guide to our favourite UK shorelines so you can find your perfect coastal campsite.

Cornwall

You cannot go wrong with a beach holiday in Cornwall. This county in the far south west of England offers a superb blend of top notch surfing beaches, quiet sandy coves, vibrant seaside towns and quaint fishing villages. There is something here for everyone.

With more than 300 incredible beaches to choose from, Cornwall is at the forefront of the UK’s beach culture. This is also the UK’s surfing capital and the list of water based activities to participate in is endless.

You won’t be short of fun things to do if you fancy a day trip: there are top attractions to explore from castles and museums to theme parks and adventure centres. Cornwall is a paradise for any beach bunny and there are so many good campsites on its coast that you will have no trouble camping right by your beach of choice.

Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire offers an absolutely breath-taking coastline on the far west coast of Wales. Not dissimilar to Cornwall, but far less crowded and developed, the county also offers excellent surfing, wonderful seaside towns and villages and, best of all, stunning wide sandy beaches.

This is a great choice for a family camping holiday: there are tons of watersports on offer, lots of friendly coastal campsites, and plenty of outdoor activities to participate in.

Plus almost the whole of this coast is designated a national park, if you need any more convincing. There is also the superb Pembrokeshire Coast Path national trail for walkers and the shorelines are teeming with wildlife, including dolphins, seals and puffins.

Devon

Cornwall’s neighbour is one of the most visited counties in the UK and an excellent choice for a coastal camping trip. Devon boasts two coastlines. The north offers wilder, wider sandy bays with good surf. The south is calmer with small sandy coves, estuaries and long walking beaches.

There is so much to explore along Devon’s coastline, from vibrant towns and cities to elegant little fishing villages. There are also hundreds of cultural and family attractions if you fancy getting away from the beach.

With its rolling green hills leading down to perfect golden bays, you cannot get more charming than Devon and one trip here will definitely have you coming back again and again.

Norfolk

Norfolk‘s star is on the rise. Although home to some fairly traditional seaside towns, away from the resorts people are starting to notice that this pretty county is regenerating and refining without over developing.

Norfolk is friendly, progressive and very beautiful: full of winding green lanes, long sandy beaches and excellent little towns and villages. Norwich is a fantastic city to explore and completely underrated (although probably not for long).

There’s plenty of wildlife to be found and wilderness to explore here, but also a good dose of culture for those who want it. This is a great place to come to relax. Norfolk is laid back: explore the harbours, chill out on the beach, wander in the countryside and enjoy some good food and drink.

Northumberland

Northumberland has an absolutely spectacular coastline has to been seen to be believed. This county has a huge amount to offer visitors, from deep history like Hadrian’s Wall to the incredible natural beauty of Northumberland National Park. And it’s all just waiting to be discovered, completely free from intensive tourism and crowds.

If you are after activities and sports, there is plenty of adventure to be found here from wind and kite surfing to coasteering and sailing. There are traditional seaside towns with piers and fish and chips and charming fishing villages situated around sandy coves. And miles and miles of white sand for those who like relaxing, reading and swimming.

You also have some brilliant islands to visit off the coast for fascinating daytrips, including the Farne Islands which are world famous for their wildlife and Holy Island which is of historical and cultural importance. Northumberland's coastline is a top bet for people looking to really get away from it all and discover somewhere new.

Yorkshire

Although there are countless coastal campsites within the UK’s largest county, the rugged beauty of the Yorkshire shoreline can sometimes be overlooked. The county’s coastline to the east is lined with spectacular cliffs, sheltered coves, mysterious bays and some of the best bird watching spots in the country.

The world’s first seaside town of Scarborough, the gothic area of Whitby with its ties to the ancient story of Dracula and Filey with its fantastic beach are Yorkshire’s most popular coastal points. There are also plenty of little coastal walks and other points of interest including Flamborough Head and the incredibly beautiful Spurn Point.

If you fancy discovering some hidden beauties for yourself you will not be disappointed, there are some absolutely spectacular beaches in Yorkshire and you will get a great welcome in the region’s friendly towns and villages.

Camping on the Coast

Britain’s coastline is full of fantastic beach destinations, and this article just provides a taster. Whether you are after a traditional family resort, want to go wild with watersports or really get away from it all and relax, you can make the most of Britain’s fantastic shorelines and hopefully create a list of your own hidden treasures along the way.