Naturist / Nudist Beaches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland
List
Clockwise from London
Region | County | Status | Name | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
South East | Kent | Official | Leysdown / Shell Ness - Isle of Sheppey | A long drive to a flat shingle beach at the far end of the island. 15-20 mins level walk along the beach path from parking. |
South East | Kent | Warning | Long Rock Beach - Swalecliffe | Short walk out to a beach on a small flat headland - a rare quiet / rural spot on the north Kent coast. Overlooked with no cover by a new coast path. |
South East | Kent | OK | Botany Bay - near Margate | Flat sand dunes at the quiet end of a spectacular sandy beach backed by low white cliffs. Easy access. |
South East | Kent | OK | Sandwich Bay | An expensive car-park on a private estate, or a long but easy walk, to a quiet beach. |
South East | Kent | Warning | Abbot's Cliff - near Folkestone | Long easy walk, or short steep descent down into the Warren, an under-cliff, to a hidden beach overlooking the Channel to France. Reports of council hostility. |
South East | Kent | Closed | Sandgate - Folkestone | The promenade has been extended, so this area is now part of the main seafront. No longer used by naturists |
South East | East Sussex | OK | Camber Sands - near Rye | Sand dunes at the far end of a small resort's long sandy beach. |
South East | East Sussex | OK | Rye Harbour Nature Reserve | Quite beach in front of Rye nature reserve |
South East | East Sussex | OK | Fairlight Glen - near Hastings | Great hidden sandy beach in a beautiful setting surrounded by forest covered cliffs. Long 500 feet (150m) descent, the last part thanks to a local's maintained beach path |
South East | East Sussex | OK | Norman's Bay - near Bexhill | Very quite. Flat shingle beach on rare un-built-up part of the south coast |
South East | East Sussex | OK | Birling Gap - near Eastbourne | NT car park and a staircase descends to a pebble beach under white cliffs |
South East | East Sussex | Official | Brighton (Kemp Town) | Official beach on Brighton's city seafront. Very popular. No shade or cover - very open. Lots of tourists. Pebble beach. Easy access. |
South East | West Sussex | OK | Shoreham (Portslade) | Secluded and tranquil pebble beach hidden in front of a working port behind a tall sea wall. Good access - near Hove centre. Many regular users. |
South East | West Sussex | OK | Church Norton - near Chichester | Quiet. Pebble beach a short walk through a picturesque nature reserve from a remote Church |
South East | West Sussex | Closed | Selsey (West Beach) | No longer remote. Large caravan park complex by a shingle beach leading to a newly breached seawall to create a tidal wetlands RSPB reserve. |
South East | Hampshire | Closed | Browndown Point (Stokes Bay) - near Southsea | MOD land overlooking the Solent. The MOD are actively asking naturists to leave. Nearby Meon recommended. |
South East | Hampshire | OK | Meon - near Lee on Solent | Quiet. Shingle beach on the east side of the Solent, overlooking the estuary |
South East | Hampshire | Official | Eastney Beach - Portsmouth | Popular shingle city beach at the end of the Portsmouth / Southsea seafront. |
South East | Hampshire | OK | Yaverland - Isle of Wight | Far end of mile long beach sandy beach with good swimming beneath red cliffs |
South East | Hampshire | OK | Blackgang - Isle of Wight | Steep descent, almost scrambling - there's a rope to help - to a great hidden beach |
South East | Hampshire | Warning | Calshot | Quiet pebble beach on the west side of the Solent Estuary. Owner's don't want naturists. |
South West | Dorset | Closed | Hengistbury Head | Sandy beach below a low cliff on a headland south of Chichester Harbour. Seems abandoned by naturists. |
South West | Dorset | Official | Studland Beach - Purbeck | Official. Well known. Near Bournemouth. 1km section of sandy beach backed by dunes and NT pay carparks. Shallow sea protected by sandbar good for swimming |
South West | Dorset | OK | Ringstead Bay | Secluded, pictureque, NT owned south facing beach in Purbeck, east of Weymouth. Level access from village, or NT car park on cliffs above. |
South West | Dorset | OK | Durdle Door - near Lulworth Cove | Steep but safe path down, then 1/3 mile walk along a pebble beach backed by tall chalk cliffs |
South West | Dorset | OK | Swyre / Cogden Beach | NW of Weymouth. Fine shingle beach protected by shingle bank from the coast path. SW facing. No shade. 1km walk downhill from Swyre village, or 1km along beach from road access |
South West | Dorset | OK | Burton Bradstock | Picturesque sandy beach backed by low cliffs |
South West | Devon (south coast) | OK | Haven Cliff - Seaton | Not as spectacular as other nearby beaches, but easy access along the seafront from the town centre |
South West | Devon (south coast) | OK | Weston Mouth Beach - near Sidmouth | 1km flat walk, then steep downhill trail, to secluded beach |
South West | Devon (south coast) | Official | Budleigh Salterton | Western end of the main town beach. Well used. Pebble / shingle beach by cliffs. |
South West | Devon (south coast) | OK | Petitor - Torquay | Small cove below high cliffs near Torquay town centre. Beach and path down from cliffs suffers from rock falls. |
South West | Devon (south coast) | OK | Scabbacombe Sands | Pretty, quiet NT beach. Access via 1km path from cliff top. South of Torbay / Brixham |
South West | Devon (south coast) | Official | Slapton Sands | Near Dartmouth. Access via 1/3 mile walk along fine grit beach backed by cliffs. Signs say used by naturists. |
South West | Cornwall (south coast) | OK | No Fear Bay - near Plymouth | low-tide only access sandy bay set back from the shoreline with many rocky outcrops and pools |
South West | Cornwall (south coast) | OK | Downderry - near Looe | Small coves with rocky outcrops, mix of pebbles and sand, at the bottom of a trail down from cliff top path. |
South West | Cornwall (south coast) | OK | Great Perhaver - St Austell | Small sandy beach. Difficult access from coast path. Just north of Gorran Haven |
South West | Cornwall (south coast) | OK | Vault Beach - Gorran Haven | Pretty coarse sand beach backed by steep sloping hill. Easy path down. |
South West | Cornwall (south coast) | OK | Arthur's Beach - Falmouth | 3 small coves at the bottom of a trail down from the cliff top path. Pebble beaches. |
South West | Cornwall (south coast) | Kenneggy Cove - near Penzance | Near Prussia Cove east of Penzance. Great beach. Clear water. Fantastic view. Use rocks on the far side. | |
South West | Cornwall (south coast) | OK | Pednevounder (Pedn Vounder) and Treen | Stunningly beautiful south facing beach near Lands End. Steep rocky path down. Beach useable at mid / low tide only |
South West | Cornwall (north coast) | OK | Porthkidney - near Hale | Sandy beach on North Cornwall coast near Hayle. Backed by the St Ives branch rail line. Access via coast path. Naturists keep to the dunes. |
South West | Cornwall (north coast) | OK | Fishing Cove - Godrevy Point | Beautiful little cove on the north Cornwall coast near St Ives, down a fairly good trail from the cliff top coast path |
South West | Cornwall (north coast) | Official | Perranporth | Large sandy beach backed by sand dunes. Naturism is now allowed on the beach only, but not in the dunes. |
South West | Cornwall (north coast) | OK | The Strangles | NW facing rock bound cove with pebble beach below high cliffs. Moderate/Easy trail down from cliff top path |
South West | Cornwall (north coast) | OK | Flexbury - near Bude | Small sandy coves with access from Bude or Northcott Mouth |
South West | Devon (north coast) | OK | Saunton Sands | Enourmous, long, flat, wide sandy beach backed by dunes, near Ilfracomb |
South West | Devon (north coast) | OK | Wild Pear Beach - Exmoor | Steep walk down to delightful little cove on north facing Exmoor coast |
Wales | Bridgend | OK | Kenfig Burrows | 2km walk through low dunes to sandy beach, south of Port Talbot steel plant |
Wales | Swansea | OK | Rhossili Bay - Gower Peninsula | Near dunes at north end of large, wide, stunningly beautiful sandy beach backed by grass covered hills, with great sea views of Carmarthamshire coastline |
Wales | Swansea | OK | Whiteford Sands - Gower Peninsula | Large, hidden, quiet sandy beach backed by dunes and pine forest. Greate sea views. |
Wales | Carmarthenshire | OK | Cefn Sidan - Pembrey Forest Park | Massive beach backed by pine forest, and dunes at the far end. Some council hostility to naturists. |
Wales | Carmarthenshire | OK | Marros - near Tenby | East of Tenby. 2km walk to the cliff top, then a good but steep trail down to a secluded sandy south facing beach. |
Wales | Gwynedd | Official | Morfa Dyffryn - near Barmouth | Enormous sand dune backed sandy beach. 1 mile long 'official' area. Great for swimming. Long history of naturist usage |
Wales | Anglesey | OK | Newborough Warren - Malltraeth Bay | Large sandy beach, backed by pine forest, about 2km walk from car park |
North West | Lancashire | Closed | Formby Point - near Liverpool | Pretty NT beach north of Liverpool. No longer used by naturists due to Police/Owners/Council hostility. |
North West | Lancashire | Warning | Sefton Sands - Ainsdale - near Southport | Pretty NT beach north of Liverpool. Police/Council hostility. Be very discreet. |
North West | Lancashire | OK | North Beach, St Anne's, near Blackpool | Wide sandy beach backed by low dunes. |
North West | Cumbria | OK | Walney Island - near Barrow-in-Furness | Remote sand dunes at north end of Walney Island, off SW corner of Cumbria. |
Scotland | North Ayrshire | Official | Cleat's Shore - Isle of Arran | Official. Very remote. Very quiet. |
Scotland | North Ayrshire | Official | Ardeer | Official. SE of Glasgow. Long beach. Gritty sand backed by concrete breakwater. |
Scotland | Highland | OK | Crackaig Beach | Sandy beach near Helmsdale, between Inverness and Wick |
Scotland | Fife | OK | Kinshaldy Beach | SE of Dundee. Long sandy beach, backed by dunes and forest. Walk about 1km either south or north of the access point |
North East | Northumberland | OK | Ross Back Sands | Big sandy beach backed by dunes. Near Lindisfarne / Holy Island, between Edinburgh and Newcastle |
North East | Northumberland | OK | Druridge Bay | North of Newcastle. Sandy beach backed by dunes. Shallow sea. |
East Coast | Yorkshire | OK | Fraisthorpe Sands | Large sandy beach with low clay cliffs south of Bridlington. |
East Coast | Lincolnshire | OK | North Cotes - Northcoates Point - near Grimsby | Access along the sea wall path from Horseshoe Point car park now fine |
East Coast | Lincolnshire | OK | Theddlethorpe - Lincolnshire | Large remote beach backed by low dunes |
East Anglia | Norfolk | Official | Holkham Bay | Large, well known, sandy beach backed by dunes and forest, on north Norfolk coast. Access issues now resolved - naturism on beach only, not in the dunes. |
East Anglia | Norfolk | OK | Winterton Dunes - Horsey | Sandy beach / Sand dunes nature reserve, north of Great Yarmouth |
East Anglia | Suffolk | OK | Corton Sands - near Lowesoft | North of Lowesoft. Not the prettiest beach. Its 'official' status has been withdrawn, but its still used. |
East Anglia | Suffolk | OK | Shingle Street - Suffolk | Remote shingle beach |
East Anglia | Essex | OK | St. Osyth - near Clacton-on-Sea | Shingle. Not the prettiest beach, but very popular due to location. See trip reports. |
Ireland | Dublin | OK | Corballis | Sandy beach north of Dublin |
Ireland | Dublin | Whiterock - Dalkey | Pretty but rocky sandy beach near Dublin | |
Ireland | Wicklow | OK | Brittas Bay (Sallymount) | Sandy beach beacked by dunes south of Dublin |
Ireland | Wexford | OK | Curracloe - Wexford | Long sandy beach backed by woods. North of Wexford |
Ireland | Munster | OK | Inchydoney - Clonakilty Bay - near Cork | Quiet coves, SW of Cork |
Ireland | Munster | OK | Long Strand - Owenahincha - near Cork | Sand dune backed beach. SW of Cork |
Ireland | Kerry | OK | Inch Beach - Dingle Peninsular | Long sandy beach backed by sand dunes. |
Spain | Costa Brava | Official | Boadella Beach - Lloret de Mar | Official. Beautiful sandy cove. Beach Cafe. Easy walk from free parking. |
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The beach descriptions originally came from the closed NUFF website.
Thanks to its authors.