Unseasonably Warm Weather Opens UK Beaches for Autumnal Coastal Walks
Go Outdoors research identifies top beaches for autumn strolls, considering factors like sunshine, water quality, and visitor reviews.
Despite the official start of autumn, Britain is experiencing unseasonably mild temperatures, with forecasts hovering around 20C (68F), making it an ideal time for coastal walks. Research by Go Outdoors has highlighted several beaches across England that are particularly well-suited for autumnal strolls, taking into account Google reviews, sunshine hours, water quality, and beach award status.
Natalie Wolfenden, an expert from Go Outdoors, noted that the UK's beaches are at their most peaceful during the autumn months. "While the weather is still relatively mild, it's the perfect time to enjoy long coastal walks away from the summer crowds," she said.
Top Beaches for Autumn Walks
Southwold Beach in Suffolk, a mix of sand and shingle, was named the best beach for an autumn walk. It boasts an average of 5.9 daily sunshine hours in the autumn and a median temperature of 12.5C. The beach holds a 4.7 out of five rating on Google and achieved a top water quality score of 9.46 out of ten.
Cornwall's Porthmeor Beach, a white sandy shore, also ranked highly. It holds a Blue Flag Award and Seaside Award for 2024, offers 5.1 hours of daily sunshine in autumn, and temperatures around 13C. Visitors have rated it 4.8 out of five on Google.
In the North East, Tynemouth Longsands in Tyne and Wear, a mile-long golden shoreline, recorded the lowest autumn rainfall of 62mm. It is another Blue Flag award-winning beach with average temperatures of 10.6C and a Google rating of 4.8.
West Wittering Beach in West Sussex, known for its natural beauty, received a score of 8.39 out of ten. It holds a Blue Flag Award and excellent water quality, with a Google rating of 4.6. However, it experiences the highest average autumn rainfall on the list at 99.3mm.
Blackpool Sands in south Devon, a privately owned public beach, offers temperatures around 12.4C and 5.6 hours of daily sunshine. It is rated 4.6 out of five on Google and has been praised for being well-sheltered from the wind.
Bamburgh Beach in Northumberland boasts the highest Google rating of 4.9 out of five among the listed beaches. It experiences mild autumn temperatures of 10.3C, 73mm of rainfall, and has excellent water quality.
Bournemouth Beach in Dorset features a sandy stretch along seven miles, lined with beach huts and cafes. It offers mild autumn temperatures of around 12.7C and has excellent water quality.
Holkham Beach in Norfolk, backed by sand dunes and pine woodland, provides a scenic setting for walks. It averages 5.7 hours of sunshine and temperatures of around 11.8C in the autumn, scoring 7.15 overall.
Sandsend Beach in North Yorkshire rounds out the top nine with an overall score of 6.99 out of ten. It offers excellent water quality, 5.9 hours of daily sunshine, and autumn temperatures of about 10.3C.
