Best Coastal Walks in the UK

Being an island nation, the UK is home to some of the most dramatic and beautiful coastlines anywhere in the world. With stunning views, rare wildlife, and historical sites, we’re lucky to have some great options for coastal walks. Whether you’re a weekend walker or an experienced hiker, join CrossCountry as we explore some of the best coastal walks in the UK – great for all abilities.

Budle Bay, Northumberland

The walk from Budle Bay to the majestic Bamburgh Castle is a great place to start our list. Budle Bay, with its fields of marram grass blowing in the breeze, is the perfect place to reset on a weekend. As part of the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve, Budle Bay is considered an important bird sanctuary where you can catch glimpses of some native species. The walk to Bamburgh castle is an easy amble, requiring no special equipment or clothing. This makes it an accessible and enjoyable excursion for people of all ages and fitness levels. Budle Bay is set between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Alnmouth, which both make excellent towns for an overnight stay.

Old Harry Rocks Walk, Dorset

Soak in the breathtaking views of the world-famous Jurassic Coast with this coastal walk, perfect for spotting fossils. Old Harry Rocks is a unique chalking rock formation near Studland, which is part of the Dorset Coastline. Although it’s stunning any time of year, visiting in the spring and summer means you can witness the grasslands carpeted with wildflowers, so make sure to pack your camera! Old Harry Rocks walk is a loop trail of about four miles, and should take around two hours, but we suggest taking your time and soaking up the stunning views. To reach Old Harry Rocks with CrossCountry, just catch a train to Bournemouth station where you can find connecting bus services.

Rhossili Bay Walk, Swansea

Take in the echoes of an ancient South Wales landscape and the picturesque views of Rhossili Bay with the Rhossili Headland Walk. We recommend timing your adventure approximately two hours on either side of low tide to access Worms Head, a stunning tidal island just off the coast. However, if you miss the tide, the view from a distance is equally captivating.

This circular route spans just over three miles and is excellent for walkers of all abilities, making it a great family day out. It is also a great route for dogs, meaning you don't have to leave your four-legged friend behind. After all the fresh sea air and coastal exploration, there are plenty of fabulous eateries, cafes, and restaurants nearby to refuel.

Souter Saunter, Sunderland

With the dramatic Whitburn coast and the towering Souter lighthouse, the Souter Saunter is one of the most invigorating coastal walks in the UK. This ramble offers the perfect blend of nature and heritage, with lots of opportunities to spot wildlife like kestrels, sparrowhawks, and owls, and to soak in some fascinating local history. With clear pathways, minimal map reading is required, so it doesn’t require hiking experience. For some refreshments, the Marsden Grotto is built into a cliff cave, providing a unique experience. After a walk and refreshment, you can explore the Souter Lighthouse, built in 1871. To reach the Whitburn coast, you can follow connections from Newcastle station.

Fife Coastal Path, Fife

The Fife Coastal Path offers stunning views of the British coast, with quaint villages, historical monuments, a golf course, and an abundance of wildlife. The twelve-mile Buckhaven to Elie section is our recommended route, passing sandy beaches, a wildlife reserve, and Lady Janet Anstruther's Tower. Regardless of which section of the path you take, you can be sure of a picturesque route. You can reach the Fife Coastal Path in no time from train stations such as Kirkcaldy, Inverkeithing, and Edinburgh Waverley.

St Just Coastal Walk, Penzance

Get a real insight into what makes St Just so extraordinary by traversing this Cornish mining World Heritage Site. The circular walk meanders through the historical mining sites and the surrounding coastal heathland. The heathland is packed with rare wildflowers and plant life where you can expect to see some of Britain's most spectacular birds and animals. While glancing out at the incredible Cornish Sea view, you may even catch a glimpse of a basking shark, the second largest fish in the ocean. With Penzance station offering a range of CrossCountry routes, you can reach this walk from all around the UK.

If you're planning a coastal walk, don't forget to book an Advance ticket via our website or the CrossCountry app. If you need more information, you can contact us here.

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To Select location Aberdeen Alnmouth Arbroath Ashchurch for Tewkesbury Attenborough Audley End Banbury Basingstoke Bath Spa Beeston Berwick Birmingham Birmingham Airport Birmingham University Bodmin Bournemouth Bristol Bristol Parkway Brockenhurst Burton-on-Trent Caldicot Camborne Cambridge Cardiff Cheltenham Chepstow Chesterfield Coleshill Parkway Coventry Crewe Cupar Darlington Dawlish Derby Doncaster Dunbar Dundee Durham Edinburgh Edinburgh Haymarket Ely Exeter Glasgow Gloucester Hayle Hinckley Inverkeithing Kirkcaldy Ladybank Leamington Spa Leeds Leicester Leuchars Liskeard Long Eaton Lostwithiel Lydney Macclesfield Manchester Manea March Markinch Melton Mowbray Montrose Morpeth Motherwell Narborough Newcastle Newport Newton Abbot Nottingham Nuneaton Oakham Oxford Paignton Par Penzance Peterborough Plymouth Reading Redruth Severn Tunnel Junction Sheffield South Wigston Southampton Southampton Airport Spondon St Austell St Erth Stafford Stamford Stansted Stockport Stoke-on-Trent Stonehaven Tamworth Taunton Teignmouth Tiverton Torquay Totnes Truro Wakefield Water Orton Weston-super-Mare Whittlesea Willington Wilnecote Winchester Wolverhampton Worcestershire Parkway York

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