In Suffolk, there are multiple beaches to explore, all with their own unique look and characteristics. From dog-friendly sands to peaceful stoney shores, there is a beach for everyone on our coastline: check out our beach guide to find the perfect day-trip spots for you on your Durrants cottage break.
Southwold, a picturesque seaside town on Suffolk’s stunning coastline, boasts one of the region’s most beloved beaches. Recently awarded the prestigious Blue Flag status in 2023, this classic British seaside town offers endless opportunities for family-friendly fun. Southwold’s expansive beach is divided into several distinct sections, including the North Beach, Southwold Pier Beach, and the dog-friendly Denes Beach. Check out our handy dog-friendly guide to check which beaches allow dogs seasonally or year-round.
You won’t go hungry: an array of beachside outlets provide refreshments and treats. Enjoy classic ’99 ice creams from the North Parade Beach Kiosk or try a gelato from the renowned Harris & James served from Southwold’s Pier. For a heartier meal, indulge in fish and chips from The Pier Fish ‘n’ Chip Shop or choose to dine in at the Pier’s Boardwalk Restaurant, taking in the breathtaking views of this part of the Suffolk Coast. Having a day out with the dogs? The popular Gun Hill Cafe is a favourite with dog-walkers. These and many other eateries can turn your beach trip into a full day out.
For the ultimate Southwold experience, consider hiring one of the colourful beach huts dotted along the promenade. These versatile huts offer convenience, comfort and charm, perfect for changing before swimming, relaxing or celebrating special occasions.
The beach at Covehithe is a peaceful stretch of sand backed by crumbling golden cliffs. It sits on a somewhat forgotten stretch of the Suffolk coast, although it has recently gained lots of media attention for its wild feel. The beach is set at the end of a lane that runs across fields before abruptly stopping at the cliff edge, evidence of rapid coastal erosion.
Dotted across the shoreline, Covehithe boast the remnants of trees that once lined the cliff top, now weathered and statue-like as they protrude from the sand. Both picturesque and haunting, this earthy sight is a stark reminder of the North Sea’s relentless advance. Covehithe is a serene setting perfect for a quiet stroll with company, a four-legged companion, or simply to spend time alone. With its driftwood-like trees adding character to the landscape, you might even want to try out some photography. There are no facilities available, but the village of Wrentham is just a short drive away and has two shops, two pubs and a cafe.
Lowestoft Beach North and South are both award-winning Blue Flag beaches, recently receiving Seaside Awards in recognition of their high standards of beach management, cleanliness, and safety.
This wide and sandy beach is backed by a promenade with newly constructed beach huts and Zaks cafe serving ice creams, drinks and snacks. There is also another beach kiosk further along the promenade towards the Claremont Pier with it’s traditional arcade machines and fish ‘n’ chip restaurant. With so much space, it is popular with families, perfect for digging and building sandcastles. It’s also a popular stretch for watersports, including paddle-boarding, surfing, jet skiing, wind surfing and kite surfing! If you’re looking for an active or traditional bucket-and-spade day on the beach, Lowestoft is a perfect destination.
As well as being a popular seaside spot for holidaymakers, Lowestoft Beach is also known for its First Light festival, a celebration of midsummer that takes place on the beach and throughout Lowestoft and is free to attend. Showcasing both local and global performers, there is something at First Light for everyone, with events happening throughout the day and right through until sunrise.
Walberswick beach, just across the River Blyth from Southwold, is a perfect spot for both dog-walkers and nature-lovers. A mixture of stone and sand, the beach is a fantastic spot for a coastal stroll in any season, and its nearby nature reserve is one of the most diverse in natural England, covering a range of unique habitats in a relatively small area.
Explorers who ramble through the nature reserve will pass from shingle beaches to woodlands, grasslands, saline lagoons, salt marshes, mudflats and Sandlings Heaths, one of the UK’s finest remaining heathlands.
As for the beach itself, as well as being a perfect spot for a peaceful coastal walk, it is one of the Suffolk Coast’s most dog-friendly beaches, with furry friends welcome year-round and ample pet-friendly shops and pubs nearby.
This beach is such a gem, it’s no surprise that it’s received a boom in press coverage of late: check out the recent stories.
South of Southwold, the historic village of Dunwich features a vast shingle beach front surrounded by marshes and heathland. Once a thriving seaport, Dunwich has contended with erosion from the North Sea over time, giving rise to legends of ghostly church bells being heard from under the waves from buildings now lost.
This idyllic beach makes an excellent destination for anyone seeking a peaceful coastal walk. Owned by the National Trust, beachside facilities and a handy carpark make the beach accessible, and walks can continue into the iconic marshes and heathland as desired. Dunwich beach also welcomes dogs year-round, and it is also a popular destination for fishing and beachcombing.
This charming shingle beach is made all the more picturesque by the village backing it: cottages in pastel colours line the coastal streets, providing an array of shops, pubs and other facilities for beach goers. You will have no trouble finding ice-creams and other treats, as well as plenty of places to eat. As for the beach itself, dogs are welcome year-round, and it a perfect place for a windy walk before or after a good pub lunch.
One of Suffolk’s pebble beaches, Aldeburgh is perhaps best-known as a beloved spot for famous British composer Benjamin Britten, who was a Suffolk local. Whilst living in the town, he would walk along the beach from Aldeburgh to Thorpeness most days. Why not try the walk yourself?
As neighbours, Aldeburgh and Thorpeness share similarly idyllic pastel-coloured cottages, and the beaches can be seen from one another. Aldeburgh beach is also supported by a well-supplied seaside town, complete with pubs, fish and chips, ice-cream and more.
Please note that dogs are only allowed on Aldeburgh beach for some of the year. Check out our handy dog guide for the best dog-friendly beaches.
Suffolk is proud of its connection to Benjamin Britten, and regularly hosts events to celebrate his life and work. Read more in our Events guide.
This is a shingle beach with a difference. As well as being a beautiful and atmospheric beach in its own right, Orford Ness is also popular due to its history as a military research establishment. Relics from this past include the Bomb Ballistics Building and the Black Beacon, an early radio navigation system in what looks a little like a bladeless windmill. Explorers can also find a number of abandoned pagodas along the shorefront – sci-fi looking buildings that blend in with and yet add mystery to the grassy sands, left over from abandoned plans for nuclear testing along the beach.
As you can imagine, these buildings and their curious atmosphere have attracted mystery enthusiasts, and many UFO sightings have been reported along this shore.
For those more interested in nature from planet earth, the National Trust owns a nature reserve that is well worth an explore, perfect for a peaceful coastal walk. Advanced booking for this walk is essential, as the nature reserve sits on an island accessed by ferry. Please note that dogs (with the exception of service dogs) and bicycles are not allowed.
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