Summer walks: coast and beaches
Coastal walks for summer: cliff paths, beaches, bays and harbours, from Cornwall and Dorset to Norfolk, Fife and the Highlands. Below are free walks, each with a map, distance and starting point.
Every walk on this page is plotted on the map above. Zoom, drag or click a pin to explore, or search a county to list its walks.
Choose a county
South West
South East
East of England
Yorkshire
North West
North East
Wales
Scotland
Summer coastal walks by region
A starting point in each region: mostly circular routes of 2 to 12 miles, with no more than two from any one county.
South West
- Abbotsbury via South Dorset Ridgeway and Chesil BeachAbbotsbury, Dorset · 6.0 mi · back to start
- Abbotsham Cliffs Circular WalkWestward Ho!, Devon · 4.2 mi · circular
- ABOFA West Bay Groves LoopBridport, Dorset · 2.8 mi · circular
- Bantham via Thurlestone and South West Coastal PathSouth Hams, Devon · 3.3 mi · back to start
- Constantine Bay via Trevose Head LighthouseConstantine Bay, Cornwall · 5.2 mi · circular
- Dunster via Dunster Beach and CarhamptonDunster, Somerset · 6.0 mi · back to start
South East
- Alfriston via Beach via Cuckmere HavenAlfriston, East Sussex · 10.1 mi · back to start
- Brighton via Coastal Path and High HillBrighton, East Sussex · 11.9 mi · back to start
- Broadstairs via East Cliff and RamsgateBroadstairs, Kent · 9.5 mi · back to start
- Chichester Via Canal and HarbourChichester, West Sussex · 9.1 mi · circular
- Chidham Coastal LoopNutbourne, West Sussex · 6.6 mi · circular
- Colwell Bay via TotlandTotland, Isle of Wight · 2.0 mi · circular
East of England
- Ingoldishorpe Loop To Snettisham BeachIngoldisthorpe, Norfolk · 10.5 mi · circular
- Cromer to Sheringham via Norfolk Coast PathCromer, Hertfordshire · 4.3 mi · back to start
- Beacon Hill via Sheringham and Coastal PathWest Runton, Norfolk · 10.0 mi
Yorkshire
- Runswick Bay YorkshireRunswick Bay, North Yorkshire · 2.0 mi · circular
- Redcar To Salt Burn via Coast PathRedcar, North Yorkshire · 5.4 mi · one-way
- Whitby To Robin Hoods Bay Via The Cinder TrackWhitby, North Yorkshire · 6.8 mi · one-way
North West
- Ainsdale to Birkdale via the CoastAinsdale, Merseyside · 4.4 mi · back to start
- St Bees to Ennerdale via Coast to CoastSt Bees, Cumbria · 14.2 mi · back to start
North East
- Seaton Carew Seafront WalkSeaton Carew, County Durham · 3.7 mi
Wales
- Wick via Coastal Path and BroughtonWick, Vale of Glamorgan · 8.5 mi · back to start
- Southerndown Dunraven Bay To MarcrossSoutherndown, Vale of Glamorgan · 9.9 mi · one-way
- Whitchurch to St Davids via Pembrokeshire Coastal PathSt Davids, Pembrokeshire · 9.3 mi · one-way
Scotland
- Car Park To Slains & Harbour (Dracula Route 2)Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire · 2.4 mi · circular
- Fort Matilda Via Gourock To Lunderston BayGreenock, East Renfrewshire · 5.0 mi · back to start
- St Davids Bay Circular WalkDalgety Bay, Fife · 2.8 mi · circular
- Wick via Harbour and RiverWick, Highland · 2.5 mi · back to start
- Aberdeen Seafront LoopAberdeen · 4.8 mi · circular
Walking the coast in summer
Long days and warm weather make summer the time for the coast, with a swim or an ice cream at the end of the walk.
The South West
Most of our coastal walks are in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset, many on the South West Coast Path, England’s longest National Trail at about 630 miles.
The South and East
On the south coast there are walks in East and West Sussex and around the Isle of Wight, and in the east along the Norfolk coast and the Kent cliffs.
The North and Scotland
Further north, our coastal walks include Robin Hood’s Bay and Runswick Bay in Yorkshire, St Bees in Cumbria, and stretches of coast in Fife, East Lothian and the Highlands.
Choosing a walk
There are 416 coastal walks on this page, across 26 counties. Of those, 46 are under 4 miles, 107 are 4 to 7 miles, 70 are 7 to 10 miles and 165 are 10 miles or more. 142 bring you back to where you started, while 235 are one-way routes, best paired with a bus or train. The counties with the most are Cornwall (156), Devon (91), Dorset (57). Use the filters above to narrow the list, or search for a county to see every walk there.
How we chose these walks
These are walks whose title names the coast, a beach, cliffs, a bay, harbour, pier or headland, or the South West Coast Path. Coast to Coast walks that never reach the sea are left out.
Know before you go
Practical points for coastal walks in summer.
Tides
Some beach routes can be cut off by the tide. Check tide times before you set off and do not try to round headlands on a rising tide.
Cliff edges
Cliff paths can be close to unfenced edges, and cliffs can collapse without warning. Keep to the path and keep children and dogs close.
Sun and water
There is often little shade on coast paths. Take water and sun cream, and set off early on hot days.
Summer walks: questions
How many summer coastal walks are there?
We list 416 coastal walks across 26 counties. 46 are under 4 miles and 165 are 10 miles or more. Every route is free to view.
Which counties have the most?
Cornwall (156), Devon (91), Dorset (57), Kent (21), Isle of Wight (18), East Sussex (16). Search a county on this page to see every walk there.
Are there short circular walks?
Yes. 19 routes under 4 miles finish where they start, including Swanage Short Beach Loop (Dorset, 1.5 mi), Colwell Bay via Totland (Isle of Wight, 2.0 mi), Car Park To Slains & Harbour (Dracula Route 2) (Aberdeenshire, 2.4 mi). Choose Short walks back to start above to see them all.
Where are the best coastal walks?
Cornwall, Devon and Dorset have the most coastal walks on Walking Rambler. Use the county list above to see them, or the map to find routes near you.