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Places to visitThe cleanest, sparkly seas – 10 must-see Blue Flag Beaches near our Holiday Parks
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside – oh we do like to be beside the sea!
A holiday isn’t complete without a trip to the seaside – and the south coast of England is home to several certified Blue Flag beaches that are recognised for reaching the top standard for cleanliness and eco-friendliness - so all you need to worry about is remembering to pack a picnic!
The recognition for being a ‘blue flag’ beach comes from reaching a gold standard – meaning water quality, environmental management and education and safety and services are all rated excellent. There are 65 Blue Flag beaches in England, with the south coast home to majority of them! Whichever holiday park you’re staying on, there’s sure to be one nearby.
Tankerton Beach
In its Blue flag season from the 15th of May to the 30th of September, This tranquil setting offers a rural getaway - from the attractive promenade to a shingle beach featuring pretty wooden huts. At low tide, you can walk right out to sea making it the ideal place for paddling, exploring rock pools and sea life. Tankerton's distinctive grassy banks are the perfect spot for a picnic or for simply relaxing and taking in the magnificent views.
Sheerness Beach – Isle of Sheppey
Sheerness Beach is a shingle beach, bordered by a wide expanse of green open space which leads to the promenade, making it the ideal spot for a family picnic. Visitors can enjoy an excellent combination of traditional seaside facilities, including amusement arcades and a childrens play area, combined with modern attractions like sports pitches, a climbing wall, skateboard ramps, a paddling pool with water features and a leisure complex. For those just wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle, the nearby tranquil gardens offer a peaceful oasis in which to relax and dig into your sandwiches.
Minnis Bay – Margate
A 10 minute drive from Birchington Vale Holiday Park, Minnis Bay is the perfect beach and a great place to watch the sun set into the sea, no matter the time of year you’re on holiday. At high tide usually a small amount of beach remains, except at spring time when the beach can disappear until the tide moves out again. High or low tide, the view goes on for miles and makes for the perfect stroll, while the rock pools give ample opportunity to hunt for crustaceans and other rock-pool dwellers - and there’s a great café nearby if bringing a picnic isn’t your thing.
Marina – St Leonards on Sea
With its flat stretches of fine sand at low tide and wonderful range of wind-sculpted shingle dunes, the 220 metre long Marina Beach is ideal for all ages. Within walking distance there’s a range of facilities including original 1930's Bathing Chalets and a rich diversity of cafes, bars and restaurants. It is also a popular location for both local and international artists who are inspired by the contrasting cosmopolitan vibrancy, peace and tranquillity of this Victorian Seaside Resort.
West Wittering Beach – Portsmouth
With a wonderful stretch of open countryside behind a natural non-commercialised sandy beach, West Wittering is a favourite destination for a family day out. Cars park very close to the beach on extensive areas of mown grass which are also perfect for picnics, barbeques and games. Swimming and paddling are popular in the sandy tidal pools and the area is a mecca for wind and kite surfers. In summer this unique site can accommodate crowds yet provide solitude. The area is internationally recognised for its wild natural beauty and wildlife.
Southbourne Beach – Bournemouth
Southbourne is one of Bournemouth's quieter beaches, popular with bathers due to the fact it has no sudden shelves or rip currents. This sandy beach has good access facilities and free LV= KidZone childrens safety wristbands are available from the beach office. The most popular feature is the seafront restaurant/bistro which is open year round.
Dawlish Warren
Our family beach resort has a lovely "Blue Flag" beach backed by sand dunes and small lakes, a haven for a great variety of wildlife - this is the world acclaimed National Nature Reserve. The Warren beach stretches for miles to reach the Exe estuary in one direction and Dawlish Town in the other.
A perfect place for seaside fun, the beach is great for families to enjoy playing in the water knowing that the experienced lifeguards are keeping an eye on safety. During the summer there are many free open-air events, children's entertainers and spectacular firework displays.
Don't take our word for it! Come and experience a truly British Beach Holiday - you will be most welcome and all at Dawlish Warren will be delighted to serve you.
Torbay – Breakwater Beach
Breakwater is a small shingle beach adjacent to picturesque Brixham harbour. It has easy disabled access with adequate parking at the back of the beach, close to the main facilities associated with a large town resort. Torbay, as well as a popular family holiday resort, has, over recent years, become really popular with the diving community.
It has many beaches suitable as places to learn and others for the more experienced diver where you can enjoy more challenging wreck diving. The beach at Breakwater has great access and the water itself looks incredibly blue and inviting! There is a good level of amenities, including a nice café/restaurant with superb views across the bay.
Westward Ho! – Northam
More than two miles of golden sand backed by a unique pebble ridge linking to Northam Burrows Country Park, which is part of the UK's only United Nations Biosphere Reserve. Access is fairly easy down a concrete ramp from the town of Westward Ho!, named after the famous novel by Charles Kingsley. Perfect for water sports and bathing the beach is adjacent to the South West Coast Path and is well located for visits to many other nearby attractions including the picturesque fishing village of Clovelly.
Dovercourt Bay
Dovercourt Holiday Park
Dovercourt is a peaceful family resort with gentle sloping sand and shingle beaches including the landmark, historic leading lights. A wide range of family activities are available along the promenade including an impressive range of sport and leisure facilities eg skate park and model yacht pond and boating lake. The resort enjoys panoramic views of Harwich and the port of Felixstowe and Hamford Water National Nature Reserve. Enjoy a stroll around the narrow streets in the historic old town of Harwich or walk along the seawall to the nature reserve with its resident seals.
Caravan Holidays & Short Breaks
Why not check out these wonderful Blue Flag beaches? We're one of the largest providers of caravan holidays in the UK, with more holiday parks along the south coast of England than anyone else.
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