The UK coastline is over 7,700 miles long from windswept Highland beaches to the rugged coast of Cornwall. No two shorelines are the same and lovely pebble beaches are particularly captivating. Fascinating fossils, smooth stones and delicate shells give a special allure that makes a day at the seaside an adventure just waiting to happen. Take inspiration from this tour of the best pebble beaches in the UK to plan your next holiday.
1. Chesil Beach
Location: Dorset
Best for: Fossil hunting
Stretching for 18 glorious miles along the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site and standing boldly between the sandy beaches of Weymouth and West Bay, Chesil Beach, in Dorset, is a natural wonder. Not only are its southern cliffs a hotspot for finding fossils but the shingle spit protects Fleet Lagoon, a nature reserve where mute swans and a wealth of other birds and flora flourish. It’s a popular spot with anglers and birdwatchers, but its enormous size means you can always find a quiet spot to sit in peace with your ice cream.
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2. Budleigh Salterton
Location: Devon
Best for: Nature lovers
Nestled peacefully on the South Devon Coast between Sidmouth and Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton has calm water safe for swimming and SUPs. The 2.5-mile beach is popular in all seasons, with people visiting to walk the South West Coast Path, go windsurfing, snorkelling, fishing and sailing, and take photos of the otters, beavers, and migrating birds that live in the 57-acre nature reserve at the eastern end of the beach.
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3. Blakeney Point
Location: Norfolk
Best for: Seal watching
Blakeney Point on the Norfolk Coast is home to the largest colony of grey seals in the UK. The National Trust carefully manages the shingle beach to protect some 4,000 pups born here every year between mid-October and the end of January. Though the coastal walk is beautiful (if somewhat blustery in winter!), you can’t see the seals by walking from Cley due to restricted public access. The best way to experience this incredible sight is on one of the ranger boat trips from Morston Quay.
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4. Elgol
Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland
Best for: Mountain scenery
Elgol is a stunning spot on the shore of Loch Scavig on the Isle of Skye. Not only is the beach breathtaking but the drive there is also gorgeous, passing the Red Cuillins and Strath Suardal. There’s even a cave where Bonnie Prince Charlie hid before escaping from Skye. You’ll feel dwarfed by the majesty of the Black Cuillins peaks as you stand beside the water and throw pebbles into the depths of the glacial loch. It’s renowned for hiking, with challenging climbs rewarded by spectacular views.
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5. Aldeburgh
Location: Suffolk
Best for: Long summer holidays
Aldeburgh Beach in Suffolk is a year-round holiday destination that is great for anyone who loves superb food, fantastic music, and throwing stones into the North Sea. Less than 90 miles from London and 25 miles from Ipswich makes it close enough for a long weekend of lazy brunches, shopping, and live music. Aldeburgh is ideal for all ages and it’s typical to see multiple generations on holiday together. The closest car park to the beach is beside the famous Scallop sculpture.
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6. Saltburn Beach
Location: North Yorkshire
Best for: Families
Saltburn is a mix of sand and shingle, but we don’t think it’s cheating to include it here as it’s such a good example of why North Yorkshire beaches have been a holiday hotspot for over 200 years. Officially named Saltburn-by-the-Sea, it boasts everything a well-heeled Victorian would expect from a seaside resort including a pier, a water-powered cliff tram, formal Italian gardens with a miniature railway, and a promenade flanking the Blue Flag beach.
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7. Birling Gap
Location: East Sussex
Best for: Landscape photography
The towering chalk cliffs of National Trust Birling Gap in East Sussex are iconic. Birling Gap forms part of the Seven Sisters and is instantly recognisable by the sheer brilliance of the enormous natural white walls that mark where the South Downs National Park reaches the English Channel. Brighton Beach is only 20 miles west along the coast, while Eastbourne is six miles away, just past Beachy Head, so you have lots of options for shopping, dining out and nightlife.
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8. Peppercombe Beach
Location: Devon
Best for: A secluded hideaway
If you went to Peppercombe Beach via the coastal path from Westward Ho!, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in the wrong spot. The smooth silvery-grey pebbles are nothing like the golden sand of its neighbour, and there are far fewer holidaymakers. In fact, you may be the only person on the beautiful beach! Getting here is part of the fun as it requires a walk through a wooded valley. Bring everything you’ll need for the day, including binoculars to watch the seals, porpoises and dolphins feeding and frolicking off the coast.
9. Penmon Beach
Location: Anglesey, Wales
Best for: Rockpooling
Take beach shoes when you go to Penmon, so that you can explore the unique and wonderful rockpools. These geographical treasure troves are home to sea anemones, crabs and the occasional shrimp – the sorts of things that spark an interest in the natural world and make a day at the beach particularly memorable. The Anglesey Coastal Path goes right beside the beach, leading to a cute lighthouse and providing views over the water to Puffin Island.