As the UK heats up, the thought of a seaside visit with the sounds of lapping waves and falling sand between your toes sounds dreamy. However, for those living with a muscle wasting and weakening condition (or indeed anyone with a disability) the thought of a beach day, soon becomes a logistical nightmare.
‘Oh I do like to be beside the seaside’ – Sun, Sea and Accessible
Will there be disabled parking? Will there be a Changing Places facility or a suitable toilet? Will I be able to get on the beach?
Tops spots across the country
We’ve pulled together a list of the most ‘accessible’ beaches across the four nations recommended by the public.
We strongly advise that you research before travelling to ensure the locations fully cater for your needs.
- Beadnell Bay – North Devon
- Brighton Beach – Sussex
- Bournemouth Beach – Dorset
- Great Yarmouth Beach – Norfolk
- Paignton Sands – Devon
- Portwrinkle – Cornwall
- Sandbanks Beach – Dorset
- Skegness Beach – Lincolnshire
- Summerleaze Beach – Cornwall
- The Warren, Folkestone – Kent
- West Runton Beach – Norfolk
- Whitley Bay – Newcastle
- Benone Strand
- Cranfield
- Portrush
- Portstewart Strand
- Balmedie Beach – Aberdeen
- North Berwick – East Beach
- West Sands Beach – St Andrews
- Swansea Bay Beach – Swansea
- Caswell Bay – Swansea
- Porthcawl – Bridgend
Making the beach accessible
This year we’re delighted to have partnered with the Mae Murray Foundation and National Trust to host a FREE inclusive beach day, on Saturday 21 June 2025, at Portstewart Strand, Northern Ireland.
Graham Hawthorne, our Advocacy and Information Officer for Northern Ireland, who has attended previous inclusive beach days with his nine-year-old son, said: “Having a child with a disability shouldn’t make life restricting but due to the world we live in – accessibility can be incredibly hard for people to live their daily lives.
“By attending an accessible beach and seeing the joy on my little boys’ face, as he can freely enjoy a stroll on the beach or dip his toes in the water is amazing. It makes such a difference to my family and so many people to be able to enjoy a day at the beach.”
