Self-catering cottages for beach holidays

Many families head for the beach during the summer because its an easy way to entertain the children.

Please use the links below to view seaside cottages near beaches

• Cottages near a beach in England
• Cottages near a beach in Scotland
• Cottages near a beach in Ireland
• Cottages near a beach in Wales

Beach holidays in the Uk and Ireland in self-catering holiday cottages

There is nothing quite like a British beach holiday for families.  Think of deckchairs, wind shields in the sand, children running in and out of the waves, buckets and spades, collecting sea shells, ice creams dribbling down chins, fish and chips, sand in your food and a bracing breeze.

 There are always traditional resorts that you can visit for shows, fun fairs, lights to rival Blackpool and British style seaside entertainment that amuses the kids.  Many resorts are still  proud of their wooden piers leading far out into the sea, which generations have walked year by year. 

A modern attraction is the summer weekend fireworks display from the pier. Some, like Southend have a miniature railway running the length of the pier for amusement and a welcome rest for the tired. Punch and Judy shows have mostly disappeared with the arrival of political correctness but you're still likely to find beautifully vulgar postcards of fat ladies on the beach, enough peppermint rock to keep dentists in business this century and Bingo in the amusement arcades. Yes, it's tacky and quite dreadful, but also a little piece of British tradition in decline that the children can enjoy before it vanishes altogether.

How's this for a wonderful beach?

And where is it?  Pembrokeshire in Wales, where you will find some of Britain's most beautiful and cleanest beaches.  This is where you can still have a safe and carefree beach holiday.  Relax and read on the beach whilst the children make sand-castles and paddle to their heart's content.

Take a look at our cottages in St. David's, Pembrokeshire, for the perfect summer beach holiday.  St. Nons Bay luxury holiday cottages near the beach. 3 delightful 5 star luxury cottages in the fishing village of St. David's or the Pembrokeshire National Park. Perfect for families with many family friendly features - cots, high chairs, stair gates and baby sitting all available. Close to safe sandy beaches and the Pembrokeshire coastal path. All Cottages have enclosed sheltered gardens with a patio and garden furniture and a games room with table tennis or a pool table. A mere 5 minutes walk takes you to the shops, restaurants, local beauty spots like Bryn y Garn and the historic cathedral itself.  

3 bedroom holiday cottage near the most fabulous beaches on the Gower peninsula in south Wales

Honeywell cottage is a lovely 100 year old single floor stone built cottage situated in the small village of Oxwich, South Gower in Wales.

The cottage is within walking distance of Oxwich Bay (recently voted No.1 beach in the UK and 3rd in the world), Oxwich Castle and 2 nature reserve. It is central to all the delights of the outstandingly beautiful Gower Peninsula. The views are magnificent and on a clear day, you can see to Devon, Lundy Island and over towards Pembroke.

It has just begun to be offered for self-catering lets therefore lots of availability in the summer holidays and also outside them. The location is simply fabulous with several clean sandy beaches and bays in the area.

The cottage is stylishly decorated with a minimalist approach. It is double glazed and has a full oil fuelled central heating system. It has wooden and tiled flooring throughout so may be suitable for people with allergies or young children. All doors, hall way and bathroom are wide for easy access, and it is on one level suitable for people with limited mobility

It has 3 bedrooms which sleep up to 8 people. All rooms have NEW Dorma bed linen and feather pillows and quilts. The main area of the cottage is open-plan with a modern fitted kitchen/dinner which has all cooking utensils, dish washer (well you are on holiday!) washing machine, fridge, larder fridge (no need to go back into Swansea to stock up once you arrive!), and separate freezer, microwave, electric cooker with timer, steamer, toaster, kettle, iron, ironing board, vacuum, rotary line, dining room table with 6 chairs.

The living area has a large leather three pieces suite, portable stereo, TV, DVD player, selection of novels and books on Gower. From the living area and dining area you can see all the views from Oxwich to Three Cliffs Bay. The spacious bathroom is fully fitted with walk in shower cubical with POWER shower and separate bath, wash basin and toilet.

Outside has a large patio area, with elevated decking area allowing you to relax and admire the amazing views of Oxwich Bay, Cefy byn, Three Cliffs Bay and Oxwich Castle. It has stylish garden furniture (chairs, table, parasol and bench) decking lights and outdoor electrical point. The cottage has ample parking for cars, boat or jet ski, an out door hose to wash boats/ski’s after use and ample safe storage for outdoor leisure equipment.

Short breaks out of season – Friday to Friday rental. Please phone rather than email due to problems with spam filters. Click on the cottage photo for contact details.

Lots of availability in this beach holiday cottage now onwards - newly available for letting.  

Cottage near Southwold Beach in Suffolk

Southwold is  alovely unpsoilt seaside town on the Suffolk coast known for its row of colourful beach huts backing the beach.

Click here for  seaside cottages in Suffolk

  The Dairy near Chesil Beach in Dorset

Spacious modern conversion offering high quality self-catering for up to 6 people plus baby in a country location near Weymouth in Dorset.

The Fleet Lagoon and Chesil Beach are about a mile distant. Tthe area around the village is particularly popular with walkers. Weymouth, Dorchester, Abbotsbury and Bridport are all only a short drive away. Further afield lie Corfe Castle, Poole, Blandford Forum, Lyme Regis and Bournemouth.

Explore other seaside resorts on the south coast.

Click on the cottage photograph to find out more about staying in a spacious modern self-catering bungalow near beaches on the south coast of Dorset

Another lovely cottage right on the beach in Bridport, Dorset - sleeps 18

Ship Cottage is in the perfect location, set on a beach in West Bay, Bridport, Dorset. It sleeps up to 18 people - perfect for families holidaying together.

West Bay, in the middle of the spectacular UNESCO Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site known colloquially as the Jurassic Coast, is the harbour that has served the market town of Bridport for centuries.

Once a busy ship building centre and fishing base it is now a very popular tourist destination, particularly following the television series Harbour Lights. It is also an ideal base to explore the many attractions of one of the few World Heritage Sites that are easily accessible to the public. Most of the West Dorset coastline is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there are wonderful walks in many directions that start at West Bay. There are also many sporting facilities all within easy reach of Ship Cottage.

The Jurassic Coast is a very interesting place to visit.

Click on the photograph of Ship Cottage on the beach to find out more.

Cottages and lodges near Minehead, Somerset

Woodcombe Lodges and Cottages

These smart pine lodges and holiday cottages sleep 2-8 people each near Minehead in Somerset and are set in 3 acres of wonderful gardens in the countryside looking towards Exmoor National Park.

They are only 1.5 miles distant from Minehead seafront with the beach and all its attractions.  

Perfect for family holidays. Click on image to find out more.

Cottage with great sea views overlooking St. Margaret's beach in Kent

The Gun Emplacement  (sleeps 2-6 in 3 bedrooms) is perched on the cliff top on Lighthouse Down, the National Trust's protected coastal expanse, which has come to be known as The White Cliffs.

It was formerly the home of Sir  Peter Ustinov who was billeted there during the Second War.  It is now a very comfortable one-storey, centrally-heated residence in a unique location, with uninterrupted views across the Channel to Calais, gardens back and front and offers total peace in glorious unspoiled countryside.  

Click on the cottage on the cliffs photograph for availability and booking this seaside cottage.

Luxury cottages near beaches on the west coast of Scotland

The beaches in Scotland are superb although the weather does not always guarantee sun bathing temperatures. For 5 Star luxury holiday homes with their own lochside beach try Melfort Pier and Harbour in Kilmelford, near Oban on the west coast of Scotland.  

Free fishing from the pier or a boat or canoe are included, email via the site for more info about these luxury cottages near beaches in Scotland.

Lochead Cottage (3 star) This traditional granite cottage sleeps up to 6 in a secluded and very beautiful part of Scotland on the scenic  Argyll coast.  The  L-shaped sitting/dining room has wonderful views of  Loch Caolisport. 

Check out seaside cottages on the Ellary Estate where you will find a new world of peace and unity with nature.  Boating, fishing, walking, cycling are all here to be experienced at your leisure. The cottage also has an open fire in the lounge for relaxing evenings. 

Click on the cottage photos for fill details of a self catering holiday in the remote Highlands of Scotland.

Perhaps sailing is more your thing, sunning on deck in your bikini, tacking across the bay,  or eating al fresco on deck. It's quite amazing how many sailing clubs there are all around the coast of Britain and how lovely it is to see yachts and small boats dotted about the water.

A seaside holiday in Britain can be much what you would like it to be. There are sandy beaches, pebble beaches, award winning beaches, sheltered bays and windswept swathes of coastline, cliffs and rocks, harbours, estuaries, tacky resorts, conservative resorts.  One marvellous thing about a beach holiday in Britain is that when you're tired of the beach in its many variations, its never very far to a selection of tourist attractions inland. Check out our self-catering beach holidays using the Feature Pages button in the menu.

Please use the links below to view many more seaside cottages near beaches

• Cottages near a beach in England
• Cottages near a beach in Scotland
• Cottages near a beach in Ireland
• Cottages near a beach in Wales
• British seaside holidays , self-catering accommodation Bridlington
• cottages by the sea