10 Autumn Coastal Staycations

The British coastline adopts a unique atmosphere from October onwards, as the beaches empty and the skies darken. It’s one of the best times to experience the coastline in all its beauty, and you’ll often get it all to yourself.  

With wildlife migrations, dramatic sea conditions, whipping winds and large stretches of empty inviting sand, the coastline in October and November offers a variety of diverse and invigorating experiences. With so much natural beauty, not to mention glorious foodie hideaways scattered along our shore, we’re spoilt for choice if you’re looking for short staycation ideas within easy reach of the sea.

Here are our recommendations for a turning of the season getaway.

For an arty adventure….

Margate

JMW Turner once described the skies around Margate as the ‘loveliest in all Europe’, and it’s in his name that the Turner Contemporary gallery in the town was established and opened in 2011. Its large, inviting spaces make the most of the available light, and around the town independent artists and galleries, such as the Carl Freedman Gallery made this area an increasingly thriving arty retreat.

For an urban escape…

Liverpool

The cooler weather at the end of summer provides the perfect opportunity to head into the city. Ditch the welly boots and delve a bit deeper into our urban coast - where better than Liverpool - take a cruise on the Mersey and learn about the vital role it played in the UK shipping industry, sail past Royal Seaforth docks and gaze at Anthony Gormley’s Another Place installation at Crosby Beach.

For a wild swimming adventure

Swim Holidays in Cornwall

activeenglandtours.com/swimmingholidays/

For confident swimmers in need of a waterborne adventure, these out-of-the-way explorer trips are definitely for the outward bound amongst us, and with the sea at its warmest at the end of summer it’s a great time to test yourself against the elements. These trips delve into hidden coves and beaches, down tree-lined estuaries and into secluded pockets of the coastline to experience the best of Cornwall from the water’s edge.

For a quirky stay

Skye

kiphideaways.com/hideaways/aurora-skye/

Kip Hideaway offers small, cosy, quirky accommodation options across the country. For an escape away from it all, this renovated caravan provides a remote retreat with impressive views over Fiscavaig Bay on the Isle of Skye. The autumn is a great time of year to visit this magical Scottish island, with crowds dispersing and many hiking routes all but empty. Be sure to visit the tiny ancient hamlet of Fiscavaig, where remains of thatched workers cottages can be seen alongside a small stone pier - the area was inhabited until the end of the 19th century. 

For a luxury restaurant

Pembrokeshire

penally-abbey.com/

Saundersfoot is a wide, sandy beach nestled just north of Tenby on the Pembrokeshire coastline. The small town has all the facilities you might need for an autumnal weekend stay, including an increasingly prestigious gourmet food scene. Coast is a beautiful purpose built restaurant just metres from the shoreline at Coppet Hall, where head chef Fred Clapperton crafts a seasonal set tasting menu using ingredients sourced from kitchen gardeners, farmers and fisherman in the local area.

For a wellness retreat

Isle of Wight

lakesideparkhotel.com

The Isle of Wight is one of the country’s original wellness destinations. Just ask Queen Victoria - the Osborne Estate, with its private beach, was certainly one of the premier holistic retreats of its day and the island has catered for people escaping the crowded south of England for decades. It’s still one of the best places to unwind - the Lakeside Park Hotel offers some of the best spa facilities, packages and treatments available on the island, all within a privately owned retreat featuring a 20-acre tidal lake and 17-acres of countryside to ramble through.

For a glamping experience

Llyn Peninsula

bertskg.com/the-huts-trefor

Bert’s Kitchen Garden, in Trefor on the Llyn Peninsula in Wales, is a perfect eco glamping retreat for the changing seasons. The Kitchen Garden was a dream come true for owners Ali and Ian, and they’ve spent years crafting and curating a beautiful space from an old, disused farm. The thriving kitchen garden and eco retreat features a back-to-basic campsite a short stroll from the sea, but in autumn, beautifully crafted huts feature roaring fires, hot showers and luxurious double beds for an ultimate glamping experience.

For seal watching

Donna Nook

lincstrust.org.uk/get-involved/top-reserves/donna-nook

For wildlife lovers it doesn’t get much better than the extreme east of England, and Doona Nook in Lincolnshire provides a wonderful opportunity every autumn and winter to watch seals. From early November until the end of the year, grey seals come to the coastline here to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes. Doona Nook was originally established as an RAF Air Weapons range to protect against Zeppelins entering the Humberside area, and although some of it is still owned by the Ministry of Defence, its a large, flat area that’s accessible to the public all year round with some basic facilities set up during seal season. Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust also run through the birthing season a ‘pupdate’ page on their website tracking seal numbers.

For autumnal bird watching

Norfolk Broads

norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-in-norfolk/wildlife-information-service/wildlife-calendar/october#

October and the changing of the seasons is the perfect time for birdwatchers to flock to the east coast to watch some of the rarest birds to grace our shores. Due to its geography and location, and the natural flatlands of the area’s nature reserves, Norfolk is one of the best places to watch rare migratory birds as well as common British species. In October, watch rare Eastern and Northern species stop off on their migration south to warmer climes - with many staying for the whole winter.

For learning to surf

Porth Neigwl

abersochwatersports.co.uk/products/surf-lesson

On the southern side of the Llyn Peninsula lies Porth Neigwl, nicknamed ‘Hell’s Mouth’ by locals. A rural, south westerly facing beach with a large sandy stretch at low tide, and a shallow shingle shelf at high tide, the beach has plenty of space and is perfect for surfers of all levels. Abersoch Watersports offers lessons for all abilities on the beach, whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced surfer looking to take your skills to the next level. The pretty Sun Inn in the nearby village of LLanengan offers the ideal post-water pick-me-up.