What’s not to love about England’s coastline and with 2023 being the Year of the Coast, there’s even more reason to head towards the sea. 

To mark the completion of the epic National Trail, the 2,700-mile England Coast Path, 2023 has quite rightly been designated the Year of the Coast. 

Now, hold your horses, before you think we’ve gone complete bonkers and are going to suggest completing the whole trail – we’re not! Instead we suggest you cherry pick some of the best spots during a weekend away. 

Explore our full range or coastal adventures on our Year of the Coast 2023 page.

Here’s our pick of some of the top coastal places along the England Coast Path: 

The Seven Sisters on the South Downs Way

There’s something about seeing the towering chalk cliffs known as the Seven Sisters as we walk along the undulating South Downs Way that is awe-inspiring and very memorable. On a fine day the views across the English Channel and over to the iconic Beachy Head lighthouse can’t be beaten. 

https://www.largeoutdoors.com/south-downs-walking-weekend-the-seven-sisters

Swanage in Dorset 

It helps that our accommodation for the weekend boasts a lovely view over Swanage Bay, but Dorset’s coastline is at once both beautiful and intriguing. From the fossil flecked cliffs, the natural sculpted shapes gouged out from the chalk, through to sandy beaches that just make you want to kick off your boots and run barefoot into the sea.

https://www.largeoutdoors.com/dorset-walking-weekend-swanage

Exmoor’s coastline 

Rugged, romantic and ever so slightly quirky might well sum up Exmoor National Park’s coastline. After all, there’s the drama of the cliffs, the magnificent U-shaped valley called the Valley of the Rocks that once inspired romantic poets and is now roamed by feral goats. Plus there’s an extra dash of quirkiness in the form of the Victorian funicular-style Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway.

https://www.largeoutdoors.com/exmoor-coast-walking-weekend

Tintagel in Cornwall

Who doesn’t love a slice of Cornish coastline? It has pretty much everything – beautiful scenery at every turn, historical sights aplenty, quaint harbours, and heaps of myths and legends to recount. Plus there’s always the prospect of afternoon tea with Cornish clotted cream…heavenly.

https://www.largeoutdoors.com/cornish-coast-weekend-tintagel

 Lindisfarne in Northumberland

Ah, the castle-lined coastline of Northumberland, once the place where the English and Scots fought for territory, and now a fascinating place that enables you to imagine those turbulent times. All this, and the chance to follow in monks’ footsteps across the tidal causeway to Lindisfarne otherwise known as Holy Island, and take a boat trip out to the wildlife splendour on the Farne Islands. 

https://www.largeoutdoors.com/northumberland-coast-long-weekend-lindisfarne