The Best Smaller Seaside Towns To Visit By Coach This Spring
We might associate the seaside with summer trips out, but they can be even more enjoyable to visit in spring time. The winter chills have faded and the coast is blooming with renewed life, while the busy tourist season has yet to fully gear up.
The UK is blessed with many beautifully situated and historic seaside towns that are ideal for a day trip or a short spring break. If you are travelling in a group, organising a coach hire is a cost-effective way to make the journey comfortable and stress-free. Here are a few suggestions for some of the best smaller coastal destinations in the UK.
North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
North Berwick is a hidden gem of a seaside town, just a 30 minute drive from the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh. It’s got the classic features you would expect, including long sandy beaches, fish and chip shops and ice cream stalls. It’s also got an independent edge, with quirky cafes and restaurants, and cool shops and art galleries.
The town is an important base for wildlife too, with the 5-star Scottish Seabird Centre, and views across the Firth of Forth to the Bass Rock, which is home to the world’s largest northern gannet colony. The coastal islands around the town are also noted for their puffin populations, which are celebrated during the annual Puffin Fest.
In spring and early summer, the town is ablaze with vibrant life and colour thanks to the Berwick in Bloom initiative, which has created numerous award-winning gardens and floral displays. There’s plenty to see and do, with boat trips around the islands and the splendid Tantallon Castle and Dirleton Castle to explore a short distance away.
If all that isn’t enough for you, there’s a lively cultural and sporting scene, with events such as Fringe by the Sea and the North Berwick Highland Games. Finally, if you are a golfing enthusiast, this is the place for you: there are several golf courses nearby, including the legendary Muirfield, which has hosted some of the world’s greatest players.
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is not an official seaside resort, because it’s situated about two miles from the coast, on the banks of the River Dart. However, it has those happy seaside town vibes, with boat trips, the freshest seafood, quality restaurants and cosy pubs. There’s also an eclectic mix of shops and boutiques for clothes, gifts, and homeware.
Dartmouth also has a vibrant arts and crafts scene, with a reputation for attracting some of the country’s best artists, who are drawn to the beauty of the surrounding countryside and supportive artistic community.
If you are looking for a present or a piece of original art to take home, then this is the place for you, as there is a wealth of galleries to choose from, and many of them were established by the artists themselves.
Time your visit for Galleries Week in May (there’s another in October), when the galleries will be putting on special exhibitions by new and established local artists. There’ll be talks and demonstrations, and the chance to buy a work by an up and coming artist.
Lyme Regis, Dorset
Lyme Regis is a quaint and charming old fishing town on the south coast, with sandy beaches and plenty of tasty food outlets. However, it is also a magnet for fossil hunters, and this stretch of the Jurassic Coast is rich in geological history. It was home to the celebrated fossil collector Mary Anning, and you can buy beautiful fossils in the many gift shops.
It’s also a draw for literature fans, as the historic harbour wall known as The Cobb was the setting for a pivotal scene in Jane Austen’s Persuasion, and also features in John Fowles’ novel The French Lieutenants’ Woman. The 1981 film version of the book starred Meryl Streep as the heroine, and she was filmed standing on the windswept harbour wall.
