Did someone say heat wave?! You won't find us complaining about it! Instead, we'll be heading to the coast this weekend to make the most of the stunning weather. We've picked three beaches that the OS team have recently been to which you must go and check out, plus we've curated the pieces we'd wear at each one. So, pack the picnic, put the wine in the cooler, and save up your best expletives for the inevitable onslaught of wasps... life's a beach, even in the UK!
Whitstable
Even though the Kentish coastal town of Whitstable can get rammed with people peak summer, the trip down there is still well worth it. One of the most picturesque towns on the east coast, the pebbled beach gently slopes into the balmy English Channel from where you can frolic with the odd common seal if you're lucky. Hot tip: the further away you walk from the harbour, the emptier the beach gets. Hot tip 2 (literally): get ensconced by one of the groynes, those wooden structures that striate the coastline and prevent the beach from being swept away - you'll be protected from the wind.
When in Whitstable, you must sample the local oysters. The Whitstable Oyster Fishery Company (which traces it origins back to the 15th century) has a few restaurants in the town and supplies some of the top restaurants in London but also sends the valuable mollusc to Billingsgate Market in London, and to some of the oyster bars in the capital.
Additionally the Lobster shack is located right on the seafront, tucked away behind piles of oyster harvesting equipment right by the harbour. Looking down onto the beach from the terrace, you can see the piles of oyster shells scattered across the beach. The food here is fresh and unpretentious, exactly what you want to eat when sat in the sunshine!
 Riviera Jersey Shirt |
Drawstring Shorts |
Paraboot Thiers |
Corpus Natural |
Pembrokeshire
Situated in the south-west of Wales, Pembrokeshire boasts some of the most stunning beaches and coves in the whole of the UK. If you want postcard-perfect dramatic coastline then you'll be spoilt for choice here. Don't just take our word for it though: National Geographic magazine experts voted it the second best coastline in the World. With 186 miles of magnificent and varied coastline and over 50 beaches, you won't need to elbow your way onto the sand either. St Davids (the smallest city in Britain not including the City of London), Barafundle Bay and Newport are great options if you want a bit of peace and tranquility, whereas the likes of Tenby is a bit more lively. From Tenby you can take a short boat trip across to Caldey Island, a small private island just off the coast.
Surf heads should make a beeline for Whitesands Beach, reputed to be the best surf spot in the whole of Pembrokeshire. Foodies will want to head to Cafe Mor at the Old Point House in Angle. It's a solar-powered-mobile-converted-fishing-boat-seaweed-kitchen and is renowned for its signature lobster rolls.
Being a National Park, your best idea is to probably pick a coastal walk and go exploring, that way you'll take in the views, burn off the breakfast rarebit, and stumble across secret coves. It can be a little windswept at times so it's a good idea to pack a few lightweight cotton or linen layers to wear over a tee.
Cuban Short Sleeve |
Osborne Drawstring |
Solovair x Oliver Spencer |
Snow Peak |
Fowey
A Cornish gem, the ancient village of Fowey (pronounced 'Foy') is located in the south-east part of Cornwall, perched on a very picturesque part of the coastline. It was an important port town in medieval England and still has that lost in time feel about it. Readymoney Cove is the town's main beach, surrounded by stunning cliffs and makes for a great place to swim. From there you can also take the steep path up to St. Catherine's Castle, built by Henry VIII in the 15th century to defend the Fowey estuary. It's a great bit of coastline for kayaking or paddle boarding since there are so many tucked away coves. Take a picnic with you or chuck a line of feathers off the back in the hope of snagging some mackerel. Speaking of food, there are some great little places to eat in Fowey, too, not least Pinxto, a tapas and sherry bar, as well as The Dwelling House and Captain Hank's Crab & Snack shack where you'll find the freshest seafood for miles.
Penzance and Newlyn are not too far away and are great cultural towns. The former has an Art-Deco geothermally heated lido (the Jubilee pool) on the promenade which is well worth a visit, while Newlyn has a smorgasbord of art galleries to inspire and separate you from your hard-earned, plus - and we have this on excellent authority - some of the best ice-cream in all the land at Jelbert's (it involves clotted cream). The North Street Kitchen should be on your radar for fresh fish and a good bottle of plonk – it’s owned by the lovely fellows of Jolene and Westerns Laundry in London. Finally, the Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar is a fantastic culinary experience. It looks pretty unassuming from the outside but the cuisine is next level.
Timex Expedition North |
Buffalo Jacket |
Poten FujiKinbai |
Beaulieu Gold |
