Full list: Beaches worth making a trip to the coast for this summer holidays

When the sun is out and the temperatures are up, there can be nothing nicer than sitting back and listening to the surf.

Being around the middle of the country, anyone in our region wanting to bask in the summer sunshine by the sea has to travel to get to those sandy – or pebbly – shores.

But for those prepared to put in the miles, either for a day trip or a weekend or longer getaway, there are fantastic beaches to the north, west and south of our region, especially if you’re willing to set off early.

Many will head to the coast this summer if temperatures improve. The M5 travelling south is expected to be jammed this week as the school summer holidays begin, with the usual queues at pinch points around Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and Exeter. And the long and winding roads between the Midlands and the Welsh coast are also expected to be busy.

There are so many beaches to choose from, but here are just a few. We have deliberately mixed them up, in no geographical order.

Some are firm favourites with people from the West Midlands and Shropshire, and some are a little more off the beaten track.

Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth boasts multi-award winning beaches and five star water quality. The Victorian Pier has plenty seaside favourites for families to enjoy such as ice cream parlours, fish and chip restaurants, donkey rides and more. There are several different beaches in Aberystwyth giving people options to choose from depending on how they like to spend their time at the seaside. South Beach is popular with surfers and is known to be a popular surfing spot.

Barafundle Bay

Sat on the Pembrokeshire coast, this small bay has beautiful golden sand and crystal clear waters, and has been voted as one of the best beaches in Britain on multiple occasions. There no facilities at the beach according to its website, but Stackpole Village is just a short distance away which has restaurants and pubs serving meals. However, if you’ve got time for a weekend break, it’s worth the trip.

Barmouth

Barmouth Beach is a firm family favourite, always packed full of people from the West Midlands. Activities are available to enjoy such as amusement arcades, donkey rides, bouncy castles and more for children to enjoy. You can find lots of restaurants and cafes to indulge on your visit to the long sandy beach which is on the North Wales coast, near Snowdonia National Park.

Easily doable in a day – and it has a train station right by the beach – but you could turn your trip into a longer stay.

Black Rock Sands

No round-up of beaches would be complete without the beloved Black Rock Sands. A huge expanse with Snowdonia as a backdrop, this Welsh beach has room for everyone. And you can even drive your car onto the sands. Even though the name suggests a dark beach, you won’t see much in the way of blackness. Black Rock Sands is an open, wide beach with fine sands. The name comes from the area to the west of the beach dominated by a large, multi-coloured headland rock, low-tide caves and rock pools, an area rich in marine life.

Blackpool

Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach is one of, if not the most popular seaside resort in the UK. With seven miles of sand, a theme park, many attractions and shows, there are lots to fill the day out with.

Whether you’re looking for a family day out or you want a good time over a longer visit, it is a great option with dozens of activities, from the resident donkeys to Punch and Judy. And when the inevitable rain comes you can leg it inland for a day at the Pleasure Beach or losing your loose change on the 2p machines.

Brean Sands

If you like big beaches, this is one for you. The seven-mile stretch of sand and dunes that make up Brean beach lies just over two miles down the coast from Weston-super-Mare. It boasts one of the longest stretches of sand in Europe.