Best beaches in Hampshire
We have reviewed 20 beaches in Hampshire to produce a full listing right through to the best beach in Hampshire. We've scored each beach on its facilities, water quality, location, practical details and users ratings. The result is a definitive guide to the best beaches in Hampshire. The world is a beautiful place and we should all make the most of it. Luckily, in Hampshire, England there are some stunning beaches to visit. Some of the top 10 beaches in Hampshire are award winning and have won best beach awards from Truly Hampshire and also Best Beaches UK!.
Highcliffe, Barton on Sea and Milford on Sea Beaches
My Postcode Is SO301 Highcliffe and Barton on Sea is part of a group of 3 villages we refer to as the Bournemouth Beaches, Hampshire List (hampshire-list.co.uk). This includes also: Strouden, Barton on Sea and Milford on Sea all of which are located to the west of Hampshire in the New Forest National Park. They are all places we love to visit regularly with our children because they offer so much variety when it comes to activities for families.
The area around Highcliffe, Barton on Sea and Milford on Sea is well suited to visitors coming to the New Forest National Park for the very first time. But if you’re already familiar with it, you probably already know that there is plenty of fun to be had in this beautiful part of the world. These beaches are popular areas all year round and ideal for days out. There are cafes on Highcliffe, Barton-on-sea and Milford with ample parking for both summer holidaymakers and winter sun seekers.
Boat trips to IOW are also available from the harbour at Milford. I live in a small village called Milford on Sea which is located just outside of Christchurch a short distance from Highcliffe and Barton. For the most part, this is what you’ll find if you take a trip to this beautiful part of coastal England. What makes Highcliffe, Barton on Sea and Milford on Seasuch popular family beach destinations is that they are all easily accessible by road, are sand beaches and have ample parking.
Hayling Island Beaches
Beachlands is a great spot for families. There’s plenty to keep you and the kids occupied with a decent amount of facilities which includes toilets, a fully stocked shop for ice creams, snacks, drinks and toys. The Island also has its own outdoor educational centre called ‘The Beaplex’ as well as an adventure playground and the Fishing Pier Café where it enjoys views across to the mainland across the Solent. West Beachlands on the other hand is popular with surfers.
Surfboard hire is available which makes it ideal for beginners. The least crowded time to visit Beachlands is particularly at weekends and school holidays. The east coast of Hayling Island is called West Beachland and its sandy beaches are backed by shingle and sand dunes. The shore includes the award-winning Blue Flag Beach - Stokes Bay from which there's a ferry crossing to Portsmouth. There’s a children’s activity centre and Blue Flag Campsite at the beach as well as a train station, golf club, amusement park with Ferris wheel and indoor bowls courtroom.
West Beachlands is a two mile long beach that's popular with families but has the surfers at West Beach, who come to catch waves further out to sea. It's also has a dog pond, and a surf school. East Beachlands Surf School is a small family run business. There's plenty of safe swimming in the shallows, plus the lifeguard patrolled beach in summer - one of the best beaches for kids in West Sussex. Stretching from the mouth of the harbour to the village of South Hayling, West Beachlands has been awarded the Blue Flag for three consecutive years running.
Located to the north is Beachlands where Huntington Bay and Herring Pond are popular with locals. For younger family members Kids RiPids is a 1,000 metre slipway ride which cascades down a smooth bed of stone through seven mini waterfalls. West Beachlands is an area for families with two small beaches and a number of facilities including a café, restaurant, shop and toilets. The stretch of sand is landscaped for wheelchair access. The main club on Hayling Island is also situated in this area and includes a sandy beach, entertainment complex and tea rooms.
The beaches are great for families due to the gentle waves, amount of sea life and clean water. The stunning views of Hayling Island marina and West Pier will also make for a memorable location for a family day out. It's a very simple decision to make. The Highcliffe, Barton on Sea and Milford on Sea of Hampshire enjoy England's sunniest coast. All 3 destinations are full of history and activity during your stay. Hampshire has some spectacular sandy shores that really are worth visiting.
Lepe Beach
At the head of Lepe Beach stands the Lepe Country Park Visitor Centre run by the New Forest National Park Authority. It is a fantastic venue for family fun that features an aquarium, spectacular walks around the saltmarsh and play areas for children. On top of this, there is a fish restarant to eat at after your walk or outing at the countryside parkall together you get all day out in Countryside England. I didn’t know what I was expecting when my partner and I visited Lepe beach.
I have been to a few beaches in the past, but I have never seen one as beautiful as this. I am not going to talk about how great the beach is, but instead write more about the things to do when you are there. Popular with families for the shingle beach and neighbouring nature reserves, Lepe also has a busy programme of music, theatre and family events during the summer. This includes the ever-popular Maritime Festival in May and the two-day Lepefest music festival in July.
Netley Beach
Built in response to the Crimean War in 1856 by William Scamp, Netley Hospital was a military hospital until early 1997, when it closed as an NHS facility. It has since been redeveloped and now serves as Army Education and Training Headquarters Europe. Most of the original Victorian hospital buildings have been demolished and replaced with modern apartment blocks. A major landmark is the old Chapel building. It is thought that this was either originally built as a church or converted from one to be part of the hospital complex.
The chapel then fell disused but efforts are now being made to move back into use. The Royal Victoria Military Hospital(RVH) was a British military hospital situated in Netley, near Southampton, England. It was built after the Crimean War as part of the reform of the Army Medical Services during the early Victorian era and later became a centre for medical research into tropical diseases. The hospital, which has a strong connection with India due to the number of soldiers working on colonial projects who were treated there, closed in 1999.
Paul and I took a little stroll around the historic Royal Victoria Country Park near Netley which we first visited in broad daylight last weekend. The park contains arboretums, ponds, a nature trail and information boards explaining the history of the site as well as the remains of the original tithe barn of Netley Abbey, (now part of Bitterne Manor Farm). The country park is one of several local attractions along this section of the River Itchen.
Located on the south coast of England and just a mile or so outside of Southampton, Netley is one of those places that never really created its own identity but has clung to its past and become a part of someone else’s – namely the village across the other side of Southampton Water. There are 4 well-marked walking trails, 2 of which link to the shoreline. In addition there are 3 picnic areas, each with different facilities.
All guided walks are free and leave from the visitor centre car park. For more information visit www. royalvictoriapark. co. uk. Around two miles to the south of Yarmouth lies Lepe Beach, a 2. 5 mile long shingle beach in the heart of The New Forest National Park and is one of its most popular family beaches. We've taken the time to compile a list of the top 10 Beaches in Hampshire for your convenience so that you can easily find and enjoy them.
Southsea Beach
Southsea Beach is a wide open, attractive beach with golden sand and warm water and it makes for a nice alternative to the more crowded beaches nearby. The beach is located in the city of Portsmouth not far from Portsmouth harbor. It's 2. 3 miles long and is bounded by green grasslands. The beach has a perfect view of the Isle of Wight through its shimmering waters, grey pebbles and golden sands. The water is clean, quiet and safe to swim in due to life guards stationed along the beach.
Also there are many water sports events held throughout the summer months. Southsea seafront is a beautiful, clean beach with low surf. Colourful deck chairs and parasols adorn the wide promenade that runs the length of the beach. There are three good, sandy beaches in Portsmouth: Southsea Castle; Stokes Bay and South Parade Pier. A series of movable piers extend out into the water, offering delightful views. Between them, they house eateries, fish and chip shops, amusement arcades and boating centres.
If you're looking for a fun day out in Portsmouth with an atmospheric Victorian pier then head to South Parade Pier. Walk in sheltered waters along the Southsea shoreline or along the promenade, a long-standing seaside favourite. The beach spans for five miles and is found in the bustling city of Portsmouth. With nothing set back from its pebble shoreline and blue waters, Southsea beach is one of the most popular in Hampshire with locals who travel from far to swim here every year.
The beach is situated in Southsea on the south coast of England. The beach has a number of traditional attractions including a pier and a bandstand. There are many restaurants offering fish and chips or fresh fish and chips can be bought from stalls on the beach. From the top of the sea-front you can look across to the Isle of Wight which is 23 miles away. Southsea is located in the heart of Portsmouth and can be easily accessed by bus, train or car.
It boasts seafront beach, parkland and a wide range of restaurants, pubs and bars with stunning views across the Solent towards Gosport and the Isle of Wight. If you want to cross to the Isle of Wight, there are ferries near Southsea Pier for 50p. If you want the home of English seaside holidays then head to Southsea! The beach itself is ideal for sunbathing, swimming and surfing. It’s also dog friendly and has a number of food outlets nearby.
Chichester Harbour
The shoreline at Chichester Harbour is beautiful and varied. Along the foreshore there are rocks, sand, seaweed, weed beds and subtidal seagrass meadows. The habitats here have been used by man for many years with fishermens nets, boats and piers giving rise to some very specific habitat creation and man-made features. Off shore there are sandbanks and rocky reefs with a great diversity of sealife which attracts birdwatchers from all over the country. There are oxbow lakes on the shoreline that have been dammed off from the sea by peat deposits rendering them very tranquil habitats where much wildlife can be found.
The beach at Pagham Harbour is a familiar destination for many as it has car park. Chichester Harbour contains a shallow lagoon and is the largest of the harbours on the south coast. The harbour has superb bird watching in the summer with large numbers of migrating waders and wildfowl including Bewick’s swans, Caspian and greylag geese, pink-footed goose and white-fronted terns. The variety of habitats means winter visitors also include harriers. Bempton cliffs is a great place to see gannets from above, and their nesting colony is one of only three on England’s south coast.
They nest among rocks so that their young are protected from the sea when they are first hatched. Access to the beach by foot is from the end of the public toilets, down the steps. There is a cafe within Chichester Harbour (Sea Punts), which has walled gardens and picnic areas for summer dining. The popular Red Lion pub is situated at Fort Marina overlooking Chichester Harbour and is a relaxing place for an evening meal by candlelight.
Hayling Island
West Beachlands is the best sea-view site on the island. From here, it’s possible to see as far as the Isle of Wight to the east, and across Lyme Bay to Portland Bill in Dorset. West Beachlands has two stout wooden shelters, built after the First World War, by the foreshore. One is a cottage for wardens from Trinity House, which looks out towards Hurst Castle. The other is a former lifeboat house with an original chain pump.
It is now furnished and available to hire as a B&B during the summer season. The northern coast of the island is also long and sandy. Starting at the Seabreeze pub, found on the A259 at the eastern end of the island, North Beach stretches for two miles to Horsey Gap. The majority of this beach is fine sand with some boulders and slightly larger pebbles at the edges. If you like subtropical sandy beaches with crystal clear water, Hayling Island is one of the best places on the south coast for you.
This long and relatively unspoilt island just off Bournemouth has two delightful beaches with sand dunes behind them, making them popular with families. The most easterly of the remaining beaches, Greenwich Southover Beach, has a shingle-backed beach with sandy sections above the high tide mark. A large dune lies at its base, parallel to the sea front. West Beachlands is even more popular. There are two places to park on the main road: parking is also available in West Beachlands, above the beach.
The ruggedness of this coastline makes for some fascinating walks, with stacks, caves and arches to explore. West Beachlands even has some of the best soft sand on the island. Consisting of fine, round pebbles, you'll find this west coast beach around the old boatyard. Chichester Harbour is just south of the city of Chichester. Its still waters are home to many plants and animals, making it a popular place for nature lovers to enjoy the wildlife.
Lepe Beach
Heading to Lepe beach is all but waiting for that moment when you can slip off your shoes and soak up that sense of freedom. Depending on what time of year you visit, there is a wide variety of flora and fauna to discover and enjoy just off the shoreline or by venturing further into the dunes. Whether you are looking for stunning coastal walks, birdwatching opportunities or an abundance of butterflies on every corner, looking after Lepe Beach is key to ensuring it remains a popular haven for both locals and visitors alike.
If you are looking for a quiet, more rural spot to relax and unwind then this place is just perfect. The small beaches dotted along the stretch form part of Hadley's Plantation Country Park, an area of land that boasts three nature reserves and is located near Lepe Country Park. This beach is easily accessible from the main road via a bridleway that runs up from the car park, there is plenty of parking available.
On a nice day, Lepe beach is fantastic. There’s loads to see and do. The views across the Solent are stunning and the wildlife is abundant. Branches dip into the water from offshore islands, with ospreys nesting on them. Common terns zip over the surface of the waves while seals flip in and out of the sea not far away," Robin Yampolsky, Conservation Manager for RSPB Chale Island explains. Just 120 miles from London, Lepe Beach is not a place you'll find if you're looking for a quiet break.
From April to October the beach is alive with people most of the day. On sunny days the crowds are large and can look quite daunting. But don't let all this put you off! When you get down to the water's edge, it's generally not too busy and it's much easier to get around. Lepe Beach is a long stretch of an attractive beach that lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With its clear waters it's a popular choice with both kite and windsurfers.
Surfers use the Southern end of the beach provided the Summer Sea is not too flat. I drove out to Lepe Beach today to take some shots of the beach and sky. There was a bit of a problem when I got there: it was on the point of being overcast. I was extremely disappointed, because I had wanted to capture some nice clear sky with bright blue hues. Today, we’re going to be taking a look at the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Calshot Beach
Calshot beach feels very much a part of the coast, if youre not on the water then your toes are. It couldnt be more Southampton if it tried, its like a beach suburb and I love it. Its popular with locals too and I often see people I know there on windsurfer day. The view is mostly out to sea rather than in to land but even so youll sometimes get a glimpse of some boats in the Solent, it doesnt feel as remote as other nearby beaches.
The water itself is clear shallow (theres steps down to get in) but despite that at the right time of year youll find sand and shells it can stretch out away from the steps into deep az. Calshot beach is situated in a little corner near the mainland. Its easily accessible from the New Forest and the Christchurch area. It’s a popular seaside resort with holidaymakers who like to spend their days here practicing watersports, relaxing on the shingle beach or taking part in crabbing competitions.
The water sports provided here include waterskiing and wakeboarding among many others which are catered for by an impressive state of the art watersports centre on site. During your visit to this great beach you might even catch sight of a dolphin or two!. With the recent investment from the National Lottery, Calshot beach is undergoing a refurbishment to make it a more appealing resort. Whilst the whole lagoon will be cleaned and tidied up, new facilities include a new kite / windsurfing school building, a boat storage facility for both dinghies and yachts - meaning they can avoid paying to store their boats in Southampton Port.
Plus there'll be a cafe and bar as well as toilets and showers. Calshot beach is popular with families thanks to the safe bathing and calm waters, which always makes for a great day out. The watersports centre - which has been open since 1985 - offers lessons and equipment hire for windsurfing, kitesurfing and water skiing. Although there is no direct public transport, Calshot beach is well served by an extensive bus network and is only about ten minutes from Southampton city centre.
At just under 1 mile in length, Calshot beach is the not the longest expanse of sand youll find on the south coast but thats just one of its attractions. The coastal village has a boutique shopping and restaurant land where you can browse the eclectic collection of stores or indulge in some culinary delights from fish and chips to gastromicxn restaurants with cooking classes a plenty. Chichester Harbour belongs to the Solent area of outstanding beauty, is not suitable for swimming and has an abundance of bird life.
Southsea Beach
Southsea is home to many beaches, a pier and sea defences that protect the town from the rough seas of the English Channel, which many people come to Southsea for. You can have a day out on the South Parade Pier, a traditional Victorian Pier which offers county views of Portsmouth Harbour and Spithead, as well as facilities such as bars, restaurants and cafes. Southsea Beach stretches from Southsea Castle in the west to Fishers’s Hole in the east.
The beach is divided in two by the mouth of Portsmouth Harbour. It offers visitors several attractions, including South Parade Pier (built in 1899), an adjacent amusement arcade, and a vintage carousel. Southsea is a very family-friendly place, with plenty of attractions to keep the kids entertained. There are open areas for beach games and even specialist children’s play centres such as Ropetackle Adventure Centre and Mamanuca Kids World. Many of Southsea’s businesses support this goal.
Southsea is a traditional British seaside resort that has been popular with visitors since the Victoria era. At almost two miles long, it spans the whole southern end of Portsea Island from Old Portsmouth to Eastney. Southsea is a seaside resort and forms part of thePortsmouth conurbation. The town is divided into a number of sub-areas: Southsea Common, Olivers Battery, HM Naval Base, Fort Blockhouse, and Southsea Castle. Southsea's popularity as a resort dates back to the late 18th century when the first pier was built.
Solent Breezes
The Solent is a stretch of water between mainland England and the Isle of Wight, much of which is comprised of tidal estuaries. It's sheltered by the Isle of Wight to the south and mainland England (Hampshire and Sussex) to the east. This makes it perfect for those who enjoy being on or in water with access to all that nature has to offer! The area is incredibly scenic as well, which makes it a prime destination for photographers and nature lovers alike.
The beach is 3 km long and made up of shingle which can at times be hazardous making it necessary to keep an eye on waves, riptides and strong currents. It is best for swimming and you will often see people walking with their dogs. "Brading", the village located at its head has a number of shops including two supermarkets, takeaways, butchers and an NHS health centre. Beach facilities include public toilets, parking and refreshments (either shacks or beach bars).
There are spectacular views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight from the top of the cliffs. It's easy to miss this as you drive east towards the town of Gosport. It's situated just before you get to East Cowes. There are some car parks, but one is a bit tight if you have a van or trailer. For us, the location worked best when we took the train from Portsmouth Harbour station. The Solent is a strait which separates the Isle of Wight from mainland England.
The area between the two features a range of landscape, from a shingle beach in the east to marshland in the west. To see this unusual transformation, take a walk along some of these charming coastal spots. Shingle beaches are sediment beaches where individual or clusters of pebbles, derived from surrounding cliffs, are mixed with sand and deposited in the form of a single beachfront. Unlike gravel, rounded and oblong, shingle is angular and often very irregular in shape.
Lee-on-Solent
Lee-on-Solent is a beach and town in Hampshire, located just to the west of the eastern end of the Solent Waterway. Covering more than 30 hectares, Lee-on-Solent is a popular destination for holidaymakers from nearby Portsmouth and Southampton. The beach is fine and sandy, with a blue flag award bestowed upon it in recognition of its water quality and facilities, which include several cafes, restaurants and toilets. A monument has been erected on the seafront in honour of John Knowles (or Knox) who was born here in 1869 and became an officer with the Royal Navy.
The beach at Lee-on-Solent is part of the South Coast Sandbanks, of which it is the smallest and the closest to Portsmouth. It is a beach that is a mix of shingle and sand and there are many things to do here including walking around the coast, bathing and sea fishing. Facilities include toilets that are open all year round as well as picnic tables on the beach. There are also plenty of places where you can sit and enjoy your surroundings such as benches along the path around Hen Cliff or the seating area at Stokes Bay Cafe (which has disabled access).
Part of the inshore waters of the Solent, Lee-on-Solent stretches along a unique three mile section of coast line with beautiful picturesque countryside views and also three miles of sheltered sand and shingle beach. Behind this coast lies part of Lee Park surrounded by aspen, oak, cedar and pine trees creating a wonderful walk. If you’re looking for a seaside town to visit on the Solent which isn’t too far from London, Lee-On-Solent could be the one for you.
It’s close enough to Portsmouth to take in the Spinnakers Tower, yet far enough away from Southampton and its busy docks to forget about city life. There’s a lot going on at the beach in Lee-on-Solent, as fishing boats are always moored up in the port and many visitors boat hire boats from the marina. In the summer, the promenade is packed with locals and tourists alike, who love to watch the busy waters of the Solent.
Eastney Beach
I've lived in Southsea my whole life and I'm a beach-goer with a long list of favourites - but one that never ceases to amaze me is Eastney. It's such good value for money, has amazing views of the South Downs and the Isle of Wight, it's close to Southsea high street and it's got some great cafes that overlook it - what more could you want from a beach?!. There are countless beautiful family-friendly beaches in the south coast towns of Portsmouth, Southsea and Gosport.
But if you’re looking for something a little less commercialised – and that’s roughly equidistant from all these towns – I’ve found a gem of a seaside spot right on the waters of Dover. Beach huts, a nudist area and a leisure centre on the southern end are some of the key attractions of this more natural beach. A bandstand with regular events such as jazz evenings, summer barbecues and Punch & Judy shows are also some of the seasonal highlights to discover at Eastney.
It’s not particularly obvious where Eastney Beach lies — in fact, I wouldn’t fancy my chances without a map. It’s not a name that you hear mentioned in conversation too often, yet it is just as close to the city centre as Southsea beach. One of my favourite beaches is Eastney, located south of Southsea and east of Milton. I’m yet to find a level stretch of shoreline like that here. South Parade Pier is one of the best known features of Portsmouth's seafront.
Bournemouth beach
Two main areas of Bournemouth beach are the Mountbatten and Central areas. Mountbatten is a family beach and has a large promenade covering over 220 metres. Mountbatten is also home to Boscombe pier which sits 200 yards from the sand. One of the most popular activities at Bournemouth beach is the annual airshow that takes place each year in August. The beach is also home to one of Mary Anning’s most famous ammonite discoveries: ‘The Monster’.
Bournemouth beach has a lifeguard service between May and September and there are lots of events hosted along the 1. 5 mile stretch including the Bournemouth Air Show, Firework Displays and live music events. The beach is incredibly popular with families for its shallow gradient and gentle waves while the south end caters for more serious swimmers and surfers with a jetty providing excellent access to the longer stretches of water. Whether youre the type that packs their bathing costume, towel and a good book in your bag or are the active surfer type, with Bournemouths seven-mile coastline you can find what you want.
Bournemouth beach is one of the most popular resorts in England but it has so much more to offer than just its beaches. It has many activities on offer including:. Arguably, Bournemouth is the most popular seaside resort on the south coast. Visitors flock to this resort throughout the year to enjoy its attractions and activities for kids and adults alike. So if you are looking for a family day out, you have just found it at Bournemouth beach.
1. Barton-on-Sea
Barton-on-Sea is a small coastal village which has always depended on the sea. In its early days, Barton Beach was more shingle than sand but, even so, it was an attractive spot and still is today. The central access road is lined with old Victorian guest houses whose landlords enjoyed directing the passing trade to their inns and boarding houses by means of signs and notices. If you visit Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire you’ll find one of the most stunning beaches in the South of England.
Barton’s brilliant beach is nestled between cliffs which are rich in history. The area also provides an abundance of activities for tourists and locals. Barton-on-Sea lies in Hampshire, within the New Forest sea-reserve and is approximately 32 miles from Southampton. Barton has a range of attractions for you to enjoy including a picturesque beach and cliff walks with iconic views of the English Channel. One of the most popular beaches on the south coast of England, Barton-on-Sea is a mixture of shingle, pebbles and small, rounded stones at low tide.
The shingle (pebbles) and rock beach at Barton-on-Sea is about 2. 5 miles long, with the north end being a sheltered cove. Bournemouth beach is located in the resort town of Bournemouth on the south coast. It’s a 7-mile stretch of sand, and with it being so popular there are plenty of activities to take part in. The beach wasnt always so internationally famous and it would be nice to know just how old the Bournemouth beach is.
2. Milford-on-Sea
On one side the New Forest boasts a vast area of forest and is home to thousands of acres of wildlife. The coastline is noted for its picturesque country setting, marshes, and salt marshes. On the other side of Milford-on-Sea is Christchurch Harbour, formed by the meeting of the Avon and Stour rivers. The harbour now supports a thriving yachting and motor-boat industry with numerous facilities available to hire including marinas, sailing schools, boat building yards and boat repairs.
I like to visit here as there are lots of outside activities available as well. Milford-on-Sea is quite different from any other seaside resort we’ve written about so far as it wasn’t originally a place of relaxation and tourism. The first wave of settlers actually arrived around 10,000 years ago to live off the coastline and in the surrounding forests. It was only later in 1808 that the first permanent residents arrived when the Pilgrims Society bought a parcel of land on which to build their houses, which were owned by the society until recently.
. Most popular in summer months, Milford-on-Sea provides its visitors with a picturesque beach. It has everything you would need for a relaxed day out: fresh fish and chips, buckets and spades and of course all the food stalls you could wish for! The perfect place to really get away from it all. A must for anyone who loves the sea, Milford-on-Sea has a relaxing vibe and is a great destination for family holiday and weekend breaks.
But there is more to Milford than just the beach. The village offers many interesting things to see, do, and visit. Milford-on-Sea is one of the last remaining seaside villages in Hampshire. The village has a lot to offer, including beautiful views, much to see and do, and a mix of traditional nautical pastimes and modern pursuits. Known as the Seaham of the South, Milford-on-Sea is a great place to enjoy a relaxed and peaceful seaside holiday.
3. Eling
Eling is a sheltered beach with a gently sloping entry. Good bathing can be found from the concrete steps that also give good views of Fareham Creek. The beach can get quite busy on warm and sunny days, particularly if it is windy and the waves are big. There are facilities here including toilets, an adjacent car park and a cafe that can be accessed through the en-trance to the caravan site. Eling beach is a spacious, sandy beach that has various facilities available to the users.
There are covered sun chairs and several places to eat close by. The sand is made up of tiny pebbles and it doesn't get very hot even when the sun is at its highest. Eling beach is great for swimming, surfing and windsurfing and there is usually a good supply of surfboards to rent. Goatee Beach is a hidden treasure which sits behind the old Eling Congregational Chapel. The nice part of this beach is that it isn't overly built up and it has a great cafe onsite called the Beach Hut.
4. Lepe
Lepe which is situated in East Sussex. This stony beach forms part of Lepe Country Park, which covers an area of 220 hectares and is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In 1944, a bombing survey was being conducted when the plane got lost in poor visibility and crashed into the cliffs overlooking the beach below. Lepe Country Park is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and consists of the land between the village of Lepe and the sea.
Lepe Beach is a long, narrow beach on the southern side of the Hamble River. It's composed of a mixture of sand and pebbles along with some limestone shingle, making it a stony beach. The medieval village of Lepe was once known as Lepe-on-the-Sea, and it could be argued that the name is a little misleading. Lepe beach is not really on the sea, but is soon reached by walking over a few steep hills, or driving along a road which snakes through the countryside towards Lymington.
Whilst the pale golden sands here are among the finest in England's south, it is the 17th century blockhouse which forms a backdrop to fishing boats and pleasure craft. The magnificent military feat of building the Royal Military Canal across the mouth of the River Adur began at Lepe in 1804. Around here you can find at least 107 different species of flowering plants, and the place is perfect for birdwatching. Lepe Beach is associated with a rich array of wildlife and is one of the most important and best preserved saltmarsh systems in southern England.
Once past Lepe village and down the steep hill to the shore, visitors are rewarded with stunning views of the Isle of Wight. The cliffs here are some of the finest examples in England and range in colour from dark purple to white chalk. It also has water from an underground spring which means that it remains pretty clean during the year (unlike other Somerset beaches). In this lovely village you will find that there’s so much to do for all the family.
5. Calshot
Great for families that prefer to avoid crowded shorelines; Calshot's rural location makes it the ideal spot for bird watching. And while you're soaking up the sun, be sure to check out the lifeboats and their history; and the last-remaining Gansey Smock building in the South of England on Calshot Pier. This is a very beautiful and private beach. Calshot is located on the Hampshire coastline, and has no public facilities except for a few parking spaces.
This secluded beach comes into its own on sunny days, with unlimited opportunities for swimming, sailing and fishing. Calshot beach is situated in Southampton, on the South Coast of England. It has a long shingle spit that stretches out into the waters of the Solent, with views across to the Isle of Wight and Hampshire. There is a mystery about how Calshot Beach got its name. No one knows why it’s called Calshot Beach. Calshot is a popular beach with a wooden pier, and the only place to swim in Southampton Water.
6. Avon Beach
Avon Beach is a long, wide half a mile beach with golden sands and lively waves. It is much calmer than Bigbury or Kingsbridge and would be suitable for small children. There are designated parking bays which are close to the beach steps. The beach has first aid cover, a shop, toilet facilities and a cafe let’s called the Blue Ice. The staff at this shop are always extremely efficient and friendly. The main beach at Avon is a great choice if you enjoy surfing, but the sand can be a little lacking in places.
There are also open sea swims, which take place from the beach and generally attract hundreds of people. One of the most popular beaches in Swindon, Avon Beach is the place to see and be seen. This extremely popular beach has golden sands and attracts many visitors during the summer months. 6. Avon Beach. Just five minutes’ drive from the city centre, this beach is great for families with small children and people with disabilities as it has its own beach level car park.
8. Keyhaven
Keyhaven nature reserve lies on the outskirts of the village of Keyhaven, which is between Lymington and Yarmouth in the county of Hampshire. The site is dominated by a tall block of limestone, formed 160 million years ago when this was the bottom of a tropical sea. The cliffs support a variety of marine wildlife including rare species such as as many as 16 types of orchid and 16 different birds that breed high up on these steep cliffs.
If it’s best-kept secrets you are looking for, then you will find no better place than Keyhaven. This nature reserve is located in a small and quiet coastal village in the county of Hampshire. If this sounds like your ideal getaway location, then you can’t go wrong with the Keyhaven holiday cottages. Keyhaven lies on the north east coast of the Isle of Wight, and is near Sea Houses. It is an RSPB reserve which has as one of the main aims to aid wildlife in their natural habitat.