You might feel a bit landlocked in Cheltenham and the rest of Gloucestershire, but the good news is that you can be sunning it up on a beach within the hour if you know where you’re going.
Cheltenham has several beaches within a 90-minute drive, so pack up the car, the kids and the dog (don’t forget your sunscreen) and head off to one – or all – of these sandy destinations.
Cotswold Country Park and Beach
The nearest beach action is actually within Gloucestershire, at Cirencester’s Cotswold Country Park and Beach. This park offers visitors the UK’s largest inland paddling beach and so much more. You can relax by the lagoon if you want to, but you can also go paddleboarding, play mini golf, hire a barbecue or test yourself on the AquaVenture inflatable obstacle course.
It can get busy, though, so if you know there’s a sunny weekend on the horizon, call 01285 868096 to make sure you can get in!
Severn Beach
A little further afield than Cirencester is Severn Beach, near Bristol. It’s just 50 minutes from Cheltenham, along the M5, so while you’re not going too far, you’ll feel like you’re having a good old-fashioned day out.
Severn Beach was once home to a bustling holiday resort and was known as the Blackpool of the West in its prime. Nowadays it’s very popular with dog walkers, wildlife enthusiasts and cyclists, as well as just people who enjoy strolling along the estuary.
Berrow Beach near Burnham-on-Sea
If you’re after a slightly different beach experience, head to Berrow Beach. This quiet beach is between Burnham-on-Sea and Brean Down and if the tide’s out, you can see the wreck of the 19th century SS Normen, which ran aground in 1897.
The low tides do expose sinking sand in the area immediately around the shipwreck, however, so be sure to admire it from afar before exploring the six miles of sandy beach and sand dunes.
