Beach breaks in Cumbria

Cumbria is home to exquisite beaches that provide breathtaking scenery with a dramatic backdrop of imposing hills. There’s something to be enjoyed by everyone along this coastline. From seal-watching to sunset horseback rides, dog walking to swimming, you can also spot some of the country’s rarest wildlife here.

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Biggar Bank Beach

This sand and pebble beach runs an impressive 11 miles down the coast in the Irish Sea, at the top of the Furness peninsula. Located on the more exposed part of Walney Island at the southern tip of Cumbria, this beach encapsulates that remote island feeling perfectly. With gorgeous views of the sea and crashing waves against the shore, this beach is both aesthetically pleasing to the eye and convenient for a range of activities. The beach attracts many people all year round for kite surfing, swimming and windsurfing. There aren’t any beachside facilities at this location, but there is plenty to see and do a 15-minute walk away in the town centre of Vickerstown.

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Earnse Bay

Earnse Bay, also known as West Shore, is a sand and shingle beach on the western side of Walney Island near Barrow-in-Furness. The beach boasts panoramic views of the Irish Sea, the Isle of Man and the Lake District mountains, with wind farms in the foreground. This open sandy beach is a popular spot for fishing, windsurfing and kitesurfing and is used as a venue for national kitesurfing championships. Its western coast is exposed to the Irish Sea, meaning it’s a windy spot and faces in precisely the right direction for the UK’s predominant winds. Couple that with the flat water lagoons that form once the tide goes out, and you’ve got the perfect beach for wind/kitesurfing. The beach is also backed by grass and an extensive sand dune system forming a nature reserve to the north.

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Roanhead

Also known as Sandscale Haws, this beachy area has been named a National Nature Reserve, housing some of the best wildlife across the country. With stunning views out across the Duddon estuary, this windswept beach promises wonderful views of the summer sun. Hidden amongst the dunes that back the sand and pebble beach are several varieties of flowers and plants that flower throughout the year. Take a scenic walk along the coast passing by pools of seawater, grassy plains and miles of sand at low tide. We advise against swimming at this beach though, as the current makes it unsuitable for recreational water activities. The beach has plenty of worthwhile facilities, such as a nearby car park and the Red Hut – a café serving drinks and refreshments throughout the peak of summer.

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St. Bees Beach

This coastal location has all a beach can offer – an area of stunning sand just by the coast, pebbles and rocks down by the beach groynes, and a walkable pavement promenade making this beach accessible to all. With stunning sunset views at dawn and noon, this beach is truly perfect for relaxing with the family or if you want to get a beautiful snap of the open ocean. Backed by grassland and dunes, lies St Bee’s Head, a red sandstone bluff, one of the most dramatic natural features along the entire Nort Western coast of England. The beach is also close to a local RSPB nature reserve, perfect for spotting colony birds such as Puffins and Black Guillemots.

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