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Renowned as one of Cornwall’s biggest and best beaches, and one of its most legendary surf spots, Fistral Beach is one of the best beaches to drive to for a fun day out. This vast beach boasts plenty of space for everyone and is home to several major international surfing competitions. Even if you’re not a pro, on-site at the beach are several bodyboarding and surf companies offering free lessons to kids and beginners, so there’s no reason you can’t all get stuck in!
Facilities nearby: There is parking, but you’ll have to pay for it unless arriving after 6:30 pm. Other facilities at this beach include:
Location & how to get there: Situated just outside of Newquay, Fistral Beach is an easy 15-minute drive from the A30, the main route that runs through Cornwall.
Can you drive on the beach here? No, unfortunately, you’re unable to drive on the beach here.
Located on the Norfolk Coast, the vast and beautiful Holkham Beach is a sight to behold. In fact, it’s been heralded an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and has often been used as a filming location. The beach itself goes on for miles, characterised by endless golden sands, dunes and lush pine trees. It’s part of the Holkham Estate – a 25,000-acre agricultural estate which features Palladian Hall, Pinewoods Holiday Park, the Victoria Inn and the Holkham National Nature Reserve.
Facilities nearby: The beach houses an award-winning visitors centre offering wonderful views across the nature reserve, providing information about the various wildlife that can be found in the area. There’s also the Lookout cafe which offers great food and toilets on-site.
Location & how to get there: Holkham Beach is roughly a 25-minute drive from the A148, accessed via Lady Anne’s Drive just off the main coastal road, A149.
Can you drive on the beach here? No, unfortunately, you’re unable to drive on the beach here.
If you’re based in Northern Ireland, the stunning White Park Bay in County Antrim is well worth a visit, boasting a vast expanse of glittering white sands, surf, and even framed by pretty wildflowers in the summer months. It’s a great place to take the kids, perfect for bodyboarding and checking out the rockpools, and you can even take your four-legged friend since there are no restrictions on dogs here.
Facilities nearby: Other than limited free car parking, the area is quite sparse, so you won’t find toilets or any other on-site facilities. If you’re in need of refreshments, around a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk away you’ll find Bothy White Park Bay cafe.
Location & how to get there: The beach can be reached from the B146, and is around 6.5 miles from Bushmills, and 10 minutes drive from Giant’s Causeway.
Can you drive on the beach here? No, unfortunately, you’re unable to drive on the beach here.
Situated on Kent’s coast, The Bay makes for a great drive to the beach. It’s just under a mile from the town of Margate itself, offers a vast stretch of sand and water safe for swimming in, and even has its own tidal pool. It’s another good spot for a family day out as surrounding it is a wealth of children’s rides and amusement arcades, as well as various other family-friendly attractions.
Facilities nearby: There’s plenty of affordable parking nearby, plus arcades, cafes, restaurants, rides, and other fun attractions including Dreamland Margate.
Location & how to get there: From London, Margate Sands is accessible via the A2, M2 and A299 to Marine Drive (B2051). From the B2051, continue on to Harbour Arm and you will soon arrive at the beach.
Can you drive on the beach here? No, unfortunately, you’re unable to drive on the beach here.
Rhossili Bay has a reputation for being one of the UK’s best beaches, thanks to its breathtaking views, sweeping sunsets and vast golden sands. In fact, on several occasions, it has even been voted as one of the world’s best beaches, and it’s easy to see why. Framed by towering cliff tops offering panoramic views, it’s popular with walkers heading on hikes towards the Worm’s Head peninsula. This is also a dog-friendly beach, and is popular with surfers too. However, if you’re travelling with little ones, this spot might not be the best choice due to the steep walk down to the beach itself.
Facilities nearby: All facilities including parking, toilets, cafes, and refreshments are situated 400m away from the bay in Rhossili village.
Location & how to get there: Situated to the west of the Gower peninsula, Rhossili Bay is a 45-minute drive along country lanes from Junction 47 of the M4. You’ll eventually reach the small village of Rhossili where you’ll be able to park and walk down to the beach.
Can you drive on the beach here? No, unfortunately, you’re unable to drive on the beach here.
On arriving at Black Rock Sands you’ll be greeted with mile upon mile of beautiful beach, backed with stunning views of the Snowdonia mountains. It’s a lovely place to spend a summer’s day with the family and your dog (they’re allowed on the beach here), and even better, it’s a great place to drive on the beach! It’s not uncommon to see motor boats, water bikes and cars parked up here, which have a special zone designated for their use.
Facilities nearby: The amenities available at Black Rock sands include:
Location & how to get there: Black Rock Sands is situated in northwest Wales and is roughly a 4 hr 30 min drive from London via the M40. From south Wales, you’ll need to take the A470 and the drive will take just under 4 hours. The postcode is LL49 9YH.
Can you drive on the beach here? Yes, for a small fee you can drive and park on the beach here.
Brean Beach in Somerset boasts an impressive 7-mile stretch of sand – one of the longest stretches of sand in Europe – so there’s more than enough space for you and the clan to spread out and enjoy yourselves. The beach is popular with walkers and watersports enthusiasts, and both dogs and horses are welcome here too, so you may see riders on the beach. From the beach, you can see the headlands of Brean Down, and for those adventurous enough, a hike up here will afford you incredible views over the Bristol Channel and Somerset Levels.
Facilities nearby: The beach offers plenty of free parking both next to and on the beach in specific areas. You’ll also have access to toilets and drinking water, while there’s often a snack van parked nearby serving burgers, ice cream and hot drinks.
Location & how to get there: Brean Beach is around a 10-mile drive from Weston-super-Mare. From there, take the A370 via Bridgwater Road and follow it for around 10 miles until you reach the beach.
Can you drive on the beach here? Yes, you can drive on and park on the beach at Brean in designated areas. Just be careful of the mudflats in certain areas.
Ainsdale beach, situated in Southport, is one of the UK’s best beaches for wind and water activities – particularly kitesurfing. The beach is long and flat, with gleaming golden sand dunes and a thriving nature reserve where you can find sand lizards, newts and a pine wood that’s home to charming red squirrels. It’s also been nominated for an International Blue Flag on a number of occasions, making it a safe yet fun place to spend the day as a family. Even better, this is a beach with free parking right on the sands.
Facilities nearby: The Ainsdale Discovery Centre provides local information as well as a classroom facility, a venue for events and free bicycle hire. There are also toilets at the beach entrance and dogs are accepted on the beach.
Location & how to get there: From the south, the fastest route is via the M6, or the M40 and M6 (although that route has tolls). As you come off the M6, follow signs to Southport. The beach postcode is: PR8 2QB.
Can you drive on the beach here? Yes, you’re able to drive onto the beach and park here during the summer months (be warned though, it’s a little expensive at £45 for a car or £80 for a minibus).
Generally, it is safer to drive in a low gear when driving on sand. Keeping in a low gear gives you better control over the car’s speed and allows you to keep that momentum going. That momentum is key to driving on sand – you want to maintain a slow, steady pace. You don’t want to come to a complete stop – that could cause you to get bogged down and stuck.
Automatics are generally better to drive in the sand because they are able to shift gears more seamlessly than manuals. This makes them easier to drive on the beach. Our same tips apply though, no matter what you’re driving on the beach; be prepared, take it slow, and be aware of your surroundings and the tide. However, automatics don’t give you the freedom to control exactly which gear you’re in, which might make steeper climbs trickier. However, they do make maintaining a slow, steady speed easier.
There are a few spots in the UK where you’re able to park on the beach, although for some, this is seasonally only. Ainsdale and Southport beaches in Lancashire are two of them, although neither is open outside of the summer season. Others include the driving-friendly beaches we’ve already mentioned – but do be sure to check for any restrictions before you turn up.
First things first, if you sense that you’re in immediate danger, get out of the car safely, away from the water and call for both breakdown services and the fire brigade as soon as possible. If you’re not in any danger, don’t panic, stay calm, and follow these steps:
If the above doesn’t work, call your breakdown service to get help. Remember, in these situations your safety is always paramount.
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