The most accessible beaches to visit around the UK
Sun, sea, and sand: the perfect ingredients for a relaxing getaway. But for those with mobility challenges, finding the perfect beach can be a daunting task. Fear not, for the UK is home to a myriad of accessible beaches, ensuring that everyone – regardless of mobility – can enjoy a beach getaway.
In this blog post, we’ll take you on a journey to explore the best wheelchair-accessible beaches to visit around the UK, offering a range of facilities and amenities that cater to all needs.
From popular hotspots to hidden gems, these accessible beaches boast stunning scenery, unique experiences, and a wealth of resources to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable beach experience for all.
From the sandy shores of Summerleaze Beach in Cornwall to the breathtaking landscapes of Benone Strand in Northern Ireland, these accessible beaches cater to a wide range of needs, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable beach experience for all. Here, we unveil the best wheelchair-accessible beaches the UK has to offer.
Summerleaze Beach, Cornwall
Summerleaze Beach in Bude in Cornwall is a popular choice for wheelchair users thanks to its level of access and flat viewing areas. With accessible beach huts and toilets available, visitors can enjoy a comfortable day at the beach. Cornwall Mobility provides sand chairs for a smoother experience on the sandy beach, just a five-minute stroll from the centre of Bude, making this one of the wheelchair-accessible beaches you should consider.
Disability-friendly amenities at Summerleaze Beach include:
- Access to sand wheelchairs
- Accessible beach huts
- Disabled toilets
- Flat viewing areas
Brighton Beach, Sussex
Brighton Beach, situated on the south coast of England, is renowned for its wheelchair-accessible features. With designated wheelchair-accessible areas on the beach, boardwalks, accessible toilets, and all-terrain wheelchairs available for hire, Brighton Beach has earned its reputation as one of the most accessible seafronts in the country.
Disability-friendly amenities at Brighton Beach include:
- Easy access to Brighton Pier
- Wheelchair parking
- Wheelchair bikes
- Accessible beach and boardwalk access
Bournemouth Beach, Dorset
Bournemouth Beach in Dorset is an amazing destination and is one of the most accessible beaches in the local area. Boasting fully accessible cliff lifts and land trains, visitors can conveniently access the pier and sandy beach, as well as traverse the promenade with ease.
Disability-friendly amenities at Bournemouth Beach include:
- Access to sand wheelchairs
- Accessible toilets
- Disabled parking
- Beach huts
North Berwick Beach, Scotland
North Berwick Beach is found on the east coast of Scotland and not only offers stunning views of the North Sea coastline but also provides free manual and power beach wheelchairs to ensure everyone can enjoy the beach. These wheelchairs can be found at the Beach Hut in North Berwick Harbour.
The North Berwick Beach Hut is open from April to October, offering accessible beach huts, and wheelchairs are available to hire. In our opinion, it’s one of the best beaches in Scotland thanks to the sandy beach and availability of disabled parking nearby.
Disability-friendly amenities at North Berwick Beach include:
- Wheelchairs for hire
- Flat viewing areas
- Disabled parking
- Beach huts
Benone Strand, Northern Ireland
Image: Luke Carre
Surrounded by stunning mountains and majestic cliffs, Benone Strand in Northern Ireland offers an unforgettable beach experience. With accessible facilities such as adapted surfboards, hoists, beach wheelchairs, changing benches, walkers, and floating chairs, everyone can enjoy the golden sand and calm waters.
Disability-friendly amenities at Benone Strand include:
- Wheelchairs for hire
- Beach mobility equipment
- Bookable hoists
- Buoyant chairs
- Adapted surf and paddle boards
Boscombe Pier Beach, Bournemouth
Boscombe Pier Beach in Bournemouth is another hidden gem, featuring Mobi-Mats for easy wheelchair access to the sand and sea. Accessible parking spaces are also available on the promenade, between the piers. With adaptable beach huts that can comfortably fit up to four wheelchair users, this beach is perfect for families. Visitors can also enjoy exciting water activities, such as swimming, surfing, kayaking, and paddle boarding.
Disability-friendly amenities at Boscombe Beach include:
- Easy wheelchair access
- Disabled car park facilities
- Wheelchair-friendly beach huts
Broad Haven South Beach, Pembrokeshire
Nestled in Pembrokeshire, Wales, Broad Haven Beach offers a 1-mile level walk through the enchanting Bosherston Lily Ponds, as well as concrete ramps and slipways for easy access to the beach. Below the cliffs, visitors can explore captivating rock pools and caves, adding a sense of adventure to this picturesque beach.
Image: JKMMX
Don’t forget to take a stroll around the nearby tranquil lily ponds for a truly serene experience. With its stunning views and diverse wildlife, Broad Haven South Beach is the perfect destination for a day out. If you’re looking for a day out while visiting, the relatively nearby Aberporth beach is just an hour’s drive away, with the Pembrokeshire area being one of the Three Welsh National Parks.
Disability-friendly amenities at Broad Haven South Beach include:
- Multi-level access ramps and slipways
- Concrete walkways
- Nearby car park facilities
Paignton Sands, Devon
Paignton Sands in Devon provides a wonderful beach experience for everyone. It has two ramps from the promenade to the beach, accessible toilets and level access to the promenade and harbour. This makes it easily available to all. Visitors can enjoy a variety of exhilarating activities, such as swimming, sunbathing, and beach sports, all in the idyllic setting of Devon’s coastline.
Disability-friendly amenities at Paignton Sands include:
- Levelled access to the promenade
- Nearby rest-stops
- Car park facilities near the beach
- Bookable sand wheelchairs
Llandudno Beach, Conwy
No list regarding the UK’s many incredible beaches would be complete without including Llandudno Beach, regarded by many as the jewel of the North Wales cost. When it comes to wheelchair-accessible beaches, Llandudno scores pretty well with a fully-accessible pier, one of the UK’s longest, while the wooden boardwalk and jetty are also accessible for those on wheelchairs.
As beaches in the UK go, Llandudno is one of the very best, so it should not be a surprise to learn that it’s a massively popular tourist destination. It’s loved by many, who often also visit the other wheelchair-accessible beaches in the local area, travelling a short way down the coast to Rhos on Sea and Colwyn Bay.
Disability-friendly amenities at Llandudno Beach include:
- Nearby disabled parking
- Disabled toilets
- Single level pier and boardwalk
- Wheelchair accessible
Blackpool Beach, Blackpool
While Blackpool may not have the sandiest of beaches in the UK, the long accessible boardwalk certainly makes up for it, while there will be no shortage of fun thanks to the many amenities cherished by tourists. Whether it’s heading up Blackpool Tower to the wheelchair-accessible lookout or getting some cotton candy in the town centre during the summer months, Blackpool has something for everyone.
Disability-friendly amenities at Blackpool Beach include:
- Long, level boardwalk
- Accessible wheelchair lookouts
- Accessible town-centre parking
- Many disabled toilet facilities
Discover the UK’s beaches with the help of our mobility scooters
From the bustling shores of Brighton Beach to the serene landscapes of Benone Strand, the UK is home to a wealth of accessible beaches that cater to a wide range of needs. With comprehensive accessibility features, specialist equipment, and additional resources at your disposal, these beaches offer unforgettable experiences and breathtaking scenery for all.
So, if you’re planning a summer holiday to remember, don’t let mobility challenges hold you back. The UK’s accessible beaches are waiting to be explored, offering unforgettable views and a sense of freedom that everyone can enjoy. Monarch Mobility is here to help with a variety of mobility scooters, meaning you can get out and about and discover the UK’s scenic coastline for yourself.
Browse our range of mobility scooters for sale today to find your perfect way to get around.
