10 Best Autumn Breaks By The Sea

We round up some of the best coastal breaks to take this autumn…

1. MUMBLES
As you wander down the bustling high street, complete with fishmongers, butchers and grocers, along with art galleries and a thriving café culture, it’s easy to picture this pretty seaside village as the flourishing Victorian resort it once was… READ MORE

2. RAMSGATE
Ramsgate, like many of Britain’s coastal resorts, fell from favour in the package-holiday boom of the 1950s, its Georgian and Victorian fabric shunned and allowed to decay. But a fast rail link from London, a wealth of affordable period properties and a host of home-grown initiatives are fuelling the town’s renaissance… READ MORE

3. TYNEMOUTH
Tynemouth is a bright little ruby of a town on the northeast coast, perhaps most recognisable for its clifftop castle and Benedictine abbey ruins that stand aloft over a sweeping headland of rocky outcrops and Blue Flag beaches… READ MORE

4. WEST KILBRIDE
Not so long ago, West Kilbride was a town on the skids. Once a thriving weaving and agricultural community in North Ayrshire, 30 miles south west of Glasgow, the village’s decline mirrored that of its two main industries. But its fortunes began to reverse in the 1990s after a community initiative to restore the church and old weavers’ cottages led to a new identity as Craft Town Scotland, the only one of its kind in the country… READ MORE

5. DEAL
Close enough to the ferries for a day trip to Calais, but far removed from Dover’s industrial bustle, Deal is a pretty town with well-preserved period buildings and Kent’s only pier jutting out from a long, unspoilt pebble beach… READ MORE

6. BANTRY
The Atlantic coastline of West Cork has for decades attracted artists, writers and craftspeople, their work inspired by the rugged surroundings, tranquillity and quality of light. Since 1998, when the Slow Food Movement took hold, it has also become a foodie haven, winning awards for its artisan breads, cheeses, seafood and meat… READ MORE

7. NORTHUMBERLAND
Massive castles sit atop these cliffs and bear witness to the county’s turbulent past, when Vikings sacked coastal villages and the Danish fought to rule over a thousand years ago. Sandwiched between Scotland and England, Northumberland has drawn its lifeblood from both. It has its own unique cuisine: kippers and stotties are beloved by Northumbrians, and you will find some of the finest seafood in the world, as well as grand stately homes, wonderful pubs and stunning wildlife… READ MORE

8. ARNSIDE AND THE SILVERDALE PENINSULA
Jutting out from the rocky Silverdale coast is Arnside – with its sandy shore, magnificent outlook and timeless charm. The best way to appreciate it is to approach by train from Grange-over-Sands but however you arrive, the place provides an idyllic weekend base, just off the M6… READ MORE

9. ROBIN HOOD'S BAY
With its cobbled streets, tiny alleyways and fisherman’s cottages tumbling on top of each other, it is easy to see why Robin Hood’s Bay was once a hotbed for smugglers… READ MORE

10. THE ISLE OF MAN
The Isle of Man is best known for TT motor racing, cats without tails and a curious three-legged symbol on a scarlet national flag. But among fellow Brits, it’s still a bit of a mystery; some of us don’t even know where it is. A pity, because this Irish Sea island –which, incidentally, lies roughly 80 miles northwest of Liverpool – has so much to offer… READ MORE

For more inspiration for holidays on the coast, look out for our 'Weekend In…' features in the magazine.