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British beaches can vary as wildly as their overseas counterparts with coastal spots on offer to suit a wide range of clients. Madeleine Barber rounds up top options for adventure seekers to fish and chip eaters.
With staycations on the rise due to Brexit and a weaker pound, UK holidaymakers are rediscovering British beaches and finding that there is more to them than soggy sandwiches and old-school arcades.
From sandy stretches awarded Blue Flag status for outstanding water quality, healthy marine life, clean, safe shores and top-notch facilities to Seaside Awards from Keep Britain Tidy for high standards of resort maintenance, our coastlines are achieving more accolades than ever before – and the British travel industry is poised to reap the rewards.
Whether your clients seek the perfect fish supper, an adrenaline junkie’s playground or a historical hotspot, they can find it at a beach here in the UK. We ask five tour operators for their top spots around the British Isles.
A five-mile stretch of sand and westerly Atlantic winds make Jersey’s St Ouen’s Bay ideal for adrenaline-fuelled sports such as surfing, kayaking and windsurfing. Blokarting – a unique cross between go-karting and yacht sailing – is also on offer. Debbie Goffin, head of sales and marketing at Premier Holidays, shares her own St Ouen’s Bay experience.
“I tried blokarting, with a tandem option to accommodate my youngest child, and we had great fun racing around. I’d also recommend El Tico Beach Cantina for post-activity food.
Agents should look to sell this part of Jersey to clients who like to engage in many different activities on an action-packed holiday.” The Marine Conservation Society also recommends the beach, so visitors can rest assured that the marine life at St Ouen’s Bay is thriving.
Book it: Premier Holidays offers four nights at The Atlantic, overlooking St Ouen’s Bay, from £395pp including Gatwick flights and B&B accommodation. Price is based on two sharing and valid October 1-28. trade.premierholidays.co.uk
Is there anything more satisfying than sitting on a sandy beach at sunset tucking into a fish and chip supper? The Channel Island’s Cobo Bay on Guernsey is the perfect place to bring this scene to life, with its crystal-clear water, hidden rockpools and plentiful foodie hotspots nearby.
Cobo Fish & Chip Bar sells fresh seafood within a seagull’s hop of the Cobo Bay Hotel, which offers guests a private sun terrace and sweeping sea views. Gill McCarthy, sales director at Airways Holidays, suggests telling your customers they can island hop to Sark and Herm from Guernsey.
“There’s increased interest in island hopping and it’s so easy to do as a day trip because of daily sailings,” she says.
Then clients can sample all the fish and chip suppers the Channel Islands have to offer.
Book it: Airways Holidays offers a seven-night stay at Cobo Bay Hotel from £783pp based on two travelling from Gatwick in July with flights included. airwaysholidays.com
This year Exmouth’s Sandy Bay continues to hold Blue Flag status. It is home to Haven’s Devon Cliffs holiday park, which is a wise choice for families.
Louise Tansey, national sales manager for Bourne Leisure, says: “We’re extremely proud to have the beach recognised as one of the best in the UK. So whether you’re a sunbather, a keen swimmer, sandcastle champion or you love walking along wonderful sandy beaches, the Blue Flag award provides assurance that there’s no better place to spend time with your family than Sandy Bay.”
The beach is also part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, so why not suggest clients try a little fossil hunting along the coast? Keen birders will be happy to hear that Sandy Bay is home to one of the largest kittiwake colonies in the UK too.
Book it: Haven has a four-night break at Devon Cliffs, from £269 room-only based on up to four sharing a deluxe two-bedroom caravan and arriving on June 19, 2017. haven.com
As part of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it goes without saying that Bamburgh beach is breathtaking. Tour operator Back-Roads Touring has picked up on its appeal, as Lockie Kerr, its UK sales manager, explains: “Our itineraries include visits to some of the UK’s most remote beaches.
Among these hidden gems is the beach sprawling untouched below Bamburgh Castle on the Northumberland coast, which clients visit on the first day of our Historic Eastern England tour. Without an ice-cream stall or touristy souvenir shop in sight, Bamburgh beach’s natural beauty remains untarnished and is a favourite for local horseback riders.”
The trip also visits the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, home to an ancient monastery, and Alnwick Castle, built following the Norman Conquest – both sure to be a hit with history buffs.
Book it: An eight-day Historic Eastern England tour with Back-Roads Touring starts from £1,895pp. backroadstouring.com
Scotland’s west coast is scattered with wow-factor islands, mountains and golden seashores, and the beach at Ayr, which has received a Seaside Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful, is just one of these.
Its golden sand lends itself to endless sandcastle building and the shallow shore is suitable for kids of all ages. Harking back to the Victorian era, Ayr promenade offers a putting green and Pirate Pete’s Family Entertainment Centre, which is perfect for family fun, explains Super Break national sales manager, Graham Balmforth.
“Agents should suggest Ayr when looking for a family beach destination for customers. It’s only a one-hour drive from Glasgow and offers excellent views over to Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran. There’s also a huge expanse of grass to play games on, and indoor and outdoor children’s play areas.”
Book it: Super Break offers a two-night B&B stay at the three-star Mercure Ayr Hotel, a 15-minute walk from the beach, for £84pp. Price includes dinner on the first night. superbreak.com/agents
