From Margate to Cornwall, explore the very best of the British coastline this autumn with these seaside destinations
MAKE the most of the autumn sunshine and cosy up by the seaside.
Whether it’s a sunny day out in the traditional seaside town of Margate, a couples holiday in Cornwall, or a family getaway to Pembrokeshire – there’s something for everyone.
Friends and fam break
Margate, Kent
Writer Sarah Moir, husband Alastair and kids Isabel, 12, Charlie, 10, and Rose, seven, were joined by friends for fun beside the sea.
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Margate, like many British coastal towns, fell from favour after the ‘50s package-holiday boom made staycations old hat.
But a fast train from London and an influx of cool restaurants, bars and culture have put it back on the map.
Staying at self-catering 12 Arthur Road is a reminder of the town’s glory days.
Built in 1895 as a seaside escape for a wealthy London family, it’s super-luxe, with the five bedrooms boasting en-suites and roll-top baths.
REFUEL
Ask a local where to get the best fish and chips in town and they’ll say Peter’s Fish Factory.
Its location on the seafront means it’s a queue magnet, but it’s worth it. Cod or battered sausage with chips costs £4.95.
Five minutes further along the coast is The Bus Café, which is the perfect place to grab brunch while gazing out to sea. The halloumi fries, £5, are sublime ().
EXPLORE
Overlooking Margate harbour, the Turner Contemporary gallery is brilliant, free and hosts heaps of child-friendly events ().
The recent revival of much-loved vintage-style theme park Dreamland has re-energised the town.
It’s built for the ‘gram, with colourful retro rides, including a roller disco and waltzer. It’s free to enter, and rides are pay as you go or bag an unlimited rides wristband ().
Feeling active? Kent Cycle Hire rents out bikes for £18 a day (). Take a wheel along the seafront parade and the Viking Coastal Trail, a quiet 32-mile route that starts just opposite Margate station ().
DON’T MISS
Grab a souvenir from R G Scotts, an antiques emporium selling bargain furniture, architectural salvage and bygones galore ().
BOOK IT
Three nights’ self-catering at 12 Arthur Road, which sleeps 10, costs from £1,050 ().
Couple’s holiday
St Ives, Cornwall
Writer Kate Wills and partner Guy had a cool Cornish adventure.
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Trevose Harbour House is a beach pad fantasy with a Scandi- chic blue and white colour scheme, wood-burning stove, roll-top bath and mini hot-water bottles.
Run by a friendly husband and wife team, there’s an honesty bar for cocktails with a library and plenty of snug spots to hunker down.
With Neal’s Yard toiletries, fluffy robes and rooms overlooking St Ives Bay, this is the best spot in town to truly relax.
EXPLORE
In the summer St Ives is buzzing with tourists, but as the season cools it’s a great time to soak up the culture.
Tate St Ives has a rotating roster of exhibitions, entry £10.50, while the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden offers a great insight into the sculptor’s life, £7.70 ().
Fans of Poldark – which has mining at its heart – can hop on a tour of the Geevor Tin Mine, one of the largest preserved mines in the UK. Tickets cost £14.90 ().
REFUEL
Porthminster Kitchen has the best views of the bay, and a seafood menu featuring moules frites, £13, and Cornish fish pie, £17 ().
Or eat at The Loft, which does fab fish and chips, £15 ().
For a sweet treat, check out Bakery St Ives’ fluffy meringues and gooey cinnamon buns, from £1.95 ().
DON’T MISS
Walk the six-mile coastal path from St Ives to Zennor to see Man’s Head and Seal Island, home to Atlantic grey seals. Stop for a pint and cheesy chips, £4.95, at The Tinners Arms ().
BOOK IT
Double rooms at Trevose Harbour House start from £175 per night B&B ().
Family getaway
Angle, Pembrokeshire
Editor-In-Chief Sinead McIntyre, husband Alistair and twins Riley and Harris, eight, went to Wales.
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Hidden down a secluded track in Angle, three-bedroom Bangeston Barn is just 750m from a pebble beach, which is great for morning dog walks.
The cosy interior is perfect for snuggling up in the evening, while the garden, with three different types of swings, provides hours of fun for the kids – and you!
The outdoor pizza oven and BBQ make dining alfresco when the autumn sun is shining irresistible, and the main bedroom is stocked full of books and games.
EXPLORE
Pembrokeshire has an abundance of beautiful beaches.
Take a trip to stunning Barafundle Bay, regularly voted one of the best beaches in Britain and accessed via a bracing cliff-top walk.
Freshwater West – the backdrop for scenes in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – is ideal for surfing (in a wetsuit!), while tranquil West Angle Bay is safe for kids and great for exploring rockpools and caves when the tide is out.
Or head to Pembroke Castle, birthplace of Henry VII, where you can take a tour, meet falcons and watch outdoor shows by theatre company The Merrymakers. Tickets cost £7 for adults and £6 for children ().
REFUEL
Award-winning, solar-powered Cafe Môr is an upcycled fishing boat in the car park at Freshwater West, serving delicious food and drinks.
Warm up with a rum hot chocolate with cream and flake, £5. The crab roll with Welsh sea black butter, £8.50, is to die for, while kids will adore the burger with cheese, £5.50 ().
DON’T MISS
Oakwood Theme Park is the place for Welsh thrills and spills.
From the terrifying Megfobia rollercoaster, to the spooky witch hunt, this is a great family day out.
Tickets cost from £20.50 ().
BOOK IT
A week’s self-catering at Bangeston Barn costs from £599 for four, dogs £10 extra ().
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