8 Best Beach Riding Destinations (Accessible from London)

Below, we highlight eight top beach riding destinations near London (with booking tips), along with essential info on riding legally, gear and safety, a sample weekend itinerary, and answers to common questions.

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1. Camber Sands, East Sussex

2. West Wittering Beach, West Sussex

3. Studland Bay, Dorset

4. Hayling Island (West Beachlands), Hampshire

5. Holkham Beach, Norfolk

6. Ogmore-by-Sea, Glamorgan (South Wales)

7. Brean Beach (Brean Sands & Berrow), Somerset

8. Pembrey Sands (Cefn Sidan Beach), Carmarthenshire (Wales)

• Sample Weekend Itinerary (London → Holkham Beach)

• Beach Riding FAQ

1. Camber Sands, East Sussex 

Just over two hours from London, Camber Sands offers nearly five kilometres of firm, golden sand backed by sculpted dunes, perfect footing for a canter or full-on gallop when the tide is out. Dawn and dusk rides reward you with mirror-like wet sand and pastel skies.

Riding Rules at a Glance

Last Thursday before Easter → 30 September

• Weekdays only

• Be off the beach by 8:30 am or wait until after 7 pm

• Ride within two hours either side of low tide

1 October → last Wednesday before Easter

• Riding is allowed seven days a week

• Low-tide window still applies for safety and space

Miss the window and beach staff will turn horses away—at high tide the sand all but disappears.

Parking & Practicalities

• Central Car Park (TN31 7RH) has dedicated horse-box bays; pay-and-display only.

• Height barrier in place; tall lorries must leave before staff finish late afternoon.

• No permit needed beyond parking.

• Clear all hay and manure before leaving.

• Check Dover or Dungeness tide tables (Camber mirrors their times) and aim for low tide.

• Questions? Call Rother District Council Coastal Office on 01797 225207 for day-of conditions.

Don’t Have Your Own Horse?

Local stables occasionally run experienced-rider beach hacks in the quieter months. Book early and ensure you’re comfortable riding at walk, trot, and canter in open spaces.

2. West Wittering Beach, West Sussex — A Bucket-List Gallop

Roughly two hours south-west of London, West Wittering treats riders to sweeping views of the Solent and Isle of Wight plus a mile-long ribbon of firm low-tide sand, perfect for a head-clearing canter toward the East Head spit.

Powder-fine sand, gentle surf, and fiery sunsets make every visit feel cinematic.

Riding Rules at a Glance

1 October – 30 April

• Riding is allowed seven days a week.

• Stay off the beach during the three hours either side of high tide.

• Keep speed sensible, give other beach users plenty of space, and never jump the wooden groynes (local by-law). 

Miss the window, and Estate staff will turn horses away—the sand all but disappears at high tide.

Parking & Practicalities

• Horseboxes/trailers are banned from the Estate car park—plan ahead. 

• Cakeham Stables (≈100 m from the beach) offers secure horsebox parking and direct beach access for £10-£20; call ahead to book.

• Alternative: park at Bracklesham Bay (slipway) or East Wittering and hack along the shoreline at low tide.

• Always check Chichester Harbour tide tables; aim for a very low tide to maximise riding space.

• Sunny weekends—even in winter—get busy; dawn or weekday rides give you the sands (almost) to yourself.

Don’t Have Your Own Horse?

There’s no large commercial yard on-site, but local BHS coaches (e.g., Deborah Basley) occasionally guide experienced riders on private beach hacks—book well in advance. Nearby B&Bs such as Racing Sea Horses offer stabling if you’re staying over.

3. Studland Bay, Dorset — Jurassic-Coast Ride of Dreams

About 2½–3 hours from London, Studland Bay gives you four miles of golden Jurassic-Coast sand, turquoise shallows, and jaw-dropping views of Old Harry Rocks. The National Trust keeps it blissfully undeveloped, so outside peak season it can feel like your own private film set.

Riding Rules at a Glance

1 May – 30 September

• No horse riding on the beach (National Trust bathing-season ban).

1 October – 30 April

• Riding allowed with a National Trust permit (daily or annual).

• Stick to the tide line, keep speeds sensible, and avoid the dunes. 

• Only five daily permits are issued, so book ahead.

Miss the window and rangers will turn you back—the beach all but vanishes at high tide.

Parking & Practicalities

• Riders’ car park: left-hand pay-and-display at Knoll Beach (free for NT members).

• Pick up or pre-arrange your permit at Knoll Beach visitor reception (studlandbay@nationaltrust.org.uk | 01929 450500).

• Wear the orange permit armband while mounted and tidy any droppings before you leave.

Don’t Have Your Own Horse?

Studland Trekking Centre runs two-hour beach rides for experienced riders October–June and offers private beach walks for novices; email or call well in advance,  slots sell out fast.

4. Hayling Island (West Beachlands), Hampshire — Year-Round Riding with a Solent View 

Around two hours from London, Hayling Island’s West Beachlands offers broad, compact sand flats at low tide and sweeping views across the Solent.

It’s one of the few South Coast beaches that officially welcomes horses all year—making it a go-to for both winter gallops and summer dawn or dusk rides.

The bonus? The nearby Hayling Coastal Path (“Billy Trail”) adds a scenic bridleway option overlooking Langstone Harbour.

Riding Rules at a Glance

Good Friday – 30 September

• Riding is permitted only before 10am or after 7pm.

1 October – the day before Good Friday

• Riding is allowed at any time.

• Always aim for within two hours of low tide for the safest, firmest footing.

Hayling’s tide comes in quickly and from multiple directions due to offshore sandbanks—never venture far onto exposed flats unless you know the area well. Stick to the main shoreline if unfamiliar.

Parking & Practicalities

• West Beachlands car park (Beachlands) accommodates horseboxes; a flat fee of £17.70 for any stay length.

• No permit required—just follow posted seasonal time restrictions.

• You can drive close to the firm sand for easy unloading.

• Avoid riding on dunes or mud patches, and clear manure from the car park.

Don’t Have Your Own Horse?

While most riders bring their own horses, local stables such as Riding at Hayling occasionally offer beach hacks for experienced riders, especially off-season. Travel companies and equestrian holiday organisers also partner with area yards for one-off beach rides.

5. Holkham Beach, Norfolk — Sky-Wide Sands on the Wild North Coast 

Roughly 3½–4 hours from London, Holkham Beach spreads out like a desert of firm sand backed by dunes and pine forest within Holkham National Nature Reserve.

At low tide, the flats feel endless—perfect for riding two-abreast or opening up into a full gallop with nothing but sea, sky, and gulls around you.

Riding Rules at a Glance

Selected weekends Easter – end June & every day 1 July – 31 Aug

• Arrival 06:00 – 09:00 (leave by 11:00) or arrival after 14:00 (leave by 17:00).

• Stay below the high-tide line; dunes and salt marsh are off-limits.

1 Sept – end Easter holidays (excluding dates above)

• Ride any time—no hourly restrictions.

• Keep to firm sand and respect walkers and wildlife year-round.

These timings keep horses clear of the midday tourist surge. Check Holkham’s website for exact restricted dates before you travel.

Parking & Practicalities

• Horsebox parking only in the signed area on Lady Anne’s Drive; £25 fee includes an equine-only bridleway through the pines straight onto the beach.

• Café, toilets, and water taps are beside the parking—handy after a long hack.

• It’s a 10-minute ride or lead through the dunes; many riders bring a halter and lead rope to tie up for a snack stop.

• Tide matters: at high water, the sand all but disappears; at very low tide, the flats stretch far out—keep an eye on the sea so you don’t stray too far.

Don’t Have Your Own Horse?

Holkham has no public riding school, so most visitors trailer in. A few nearby yards, like Ridgeway Hack Horses or B&Bs such as Whitehall Farm Stables,  may arrange hirelings or guided hacks for competent riders if booked well ahead.

6. Ogmore-by-Sea, Glamorgan (South Wales) — Dunes, Rivers & Welsh Drama

About 3½ hours from London (or <3 hrs by train to Bridgend plus a short cab), Ogmore-by-Sea gives you a real adventure: canterable tidal flats, towering dunes in Merthyr Mawr Warren, and two shallow rivers to ford before you even reach the surf.

In one ride, you can splash across the Ewenny, climb the “Big Dipper” dune, skirt Ogmore Castle ruins, and gallop along a sweeping bay that often features in TV dramas.

Riding Rules at a Glance

July – August (plus bank-holiday weekends)

• A permit is mandatory for beach and dune access (£≈30 yr or a day pass) from the Merthyr Mawr Estate Office, 01656 662 413. 

• Start within two hours of low tide and aim to cross the Ewenny & Ogmore rivers when the tide is falling; currents strengthen on the flood.

• Keep clear of busy river mouth sandbars and watch for soft patches near the west end of the beach.

September – June

• Permit still required, but you can ride at any hour.

• Nine miles of way-marked horse trails through dunes & woodland come with the permit—follow the green horse symbols. 

Parking & Practicalities

• Candleston car park (CF32 0LS): pay-and-display horse-box parking with direct trail access; arrive with permit in hand. 

• Alternative: small beach car park by the Pelican in Her Piety pub on the Ogmore side; ride down the slipway at low tide.

• Expect to get your boots wet—both river crossings are 1-2 ft deep at low water.

• Check Bridgend tide tables and avoid incoming tides that can cut you off near Tusker Rock.

Don’t Have Your Own Horse?

Ogmore Farm Riding Centre runs guided beach treks for all levels; the two-hour experienced ride includes long canters through the shallows—book well ahead, weekends fill fast.

7. Brean Beach (Brean Sands & Berrow), Somerset — Seven Miles of Open Gallop

Three hours west of London, Brean forms part of a seven-mile ribbon of firm sand stretching from Berrow to Brean Down—the Bristol Channel’s huge tides expose a playground so wide it once hosted land-yachting races.

With the Welsh coast silhouetted across the water and a photogenic headland at the southern end, it’s one of the UK’s easiest “big” beaches to enjoy on horseback. 

Riding Rules at a Glance

Year-Round Access

• Enter via Berrow or Brean; the Burnham-on-Sea town beach is off-limits to horses. 

• No racing or galloping near other beach users; keep faster work to the wide, wet sand by the water’s edge and well away from the protected dunes.

• Watch for soft patches and the exposed wreck of the SS Nornen on Berrow beach at low tide.

• Massive 15 m tidal range—start as the tide ebbs, enjoy the hard flats, and head back before it floods.

Beach safety wardens patrol 10 am–6 pm April–early November; outside those hours, you’re on your own for assistance.

Parking & Practicalities

• Berrow entrance (Unity Farm): warden collects £9 per horse box or £16 per transporter (day rate). Annual passes available.

• Brean entrance (near Brean Down): simpler drive-on access; horse trailer fee about £5. 

• Updated 2025 council tariffs list horse boxes at £12.50 full-day; large transporters £19.50. 

• Gates generally open 09:00–20:00 in summer (shorter in winter). To ride at dawn, park off-beach and hack in. 

• Keep clear of mud near Brean Down and the River Axe outlet—horses and vehicles have been stuck.

Don’t Have Your Own Horse?

Local centres such as Urchinwood Manor (near Weston-super-Mare) and holiday operators like HorseWorld Holidays occasionally schedule group gallops at Brean—check their calendars and book early. Most riders, though, trailer in for the day and make their own adventure.

8. Pembrey Sands (Cefn Sidan Beach), Carmarthenshire — Eight Miles of Blue-Flag Freedom 

Four hours from London, Cefn Sidan rolls out eight uninterrupted miles of clean, hard sand inside 500-acre Pembrey Country Park.

You can mix open-beach canters with pine-scented forest loops, then finish the day on-site with cafés, cycle trails, or even a dry-ski slope.

Riding Rules at a Glance

Year-Round Access

• No set time restrictions on the beach; its sheer size lets horses and visitors share the shoreline comfortably.

• Keep off the dunes and out of the small conservation zone between way-markers CE 53–CE 58.

• To use the 9 mi / 15 km of marked bridle trails in Pembrey Forest, pick up a free horse-riding pass from the visitor centre (a separate permit is also needed for forest access via Natural Resources Wales). 

Note: Park rules state that general horse access must be part of an approved equestrian activity; in practice,  this is satisfied by holding a parking/bridle pass or joining the riding centre’s organised beach treks. 

Parking & Practicalities

• Follow signs for horse-box parking inside the park; you’ll pay the standard vehicle entry (£5–£7) or can apply online for an annual horse-box permit (Factory Road scheme).

• Hard-standing bays back straight onto a horse-friendly track leading to the sand.

• Facilities: toilets, water taps, café, and a campsite that sometimes hosts equestrian events (check ahead if overnighting with your horse).

• Tides are moderate, but still plan to ride an hour either side of low water for the firmest going and maximum space.

Don’t Have Your Own Horse?

Pembrey Park Riding Centre runs guided treks through the forest plus two-hour beach rides for experienced riders (≈ £65 pp) and shorter sessions for novices — hats and body-protectors supplied. Advance booking is essential, especially on school-holiday weekends.

Those are our top eight picks for beach riding accessible from London. Each offers a unique landscape and experience

Sample Weekend Itinerary (London → Holkham Beach)

Beach Riding FAQ

Q: Can I ride on any UK beach?
A: No. Each council sets its own rules—many allow horses only off-season or at set hours. Always check the beach’s official site or signage first.

Q: Do I need a permit?
A: Sometimes. Studland (Dorset) and Ogmore (South Wales) require permits; Brean’s “permit” is simply the drive-on parking fee. When in doubt, call the local council or landowner.

Q: Best season for beach rides?
A: October–April. Fewer tourists, relaxed rules, endless space. Summer works too—just aim for dawn or dusk slots.

Q: Ideal tide?
A: Low tide. Plan to ride from two hours before to two hours after low water for the firmest, widest sand.

Q: Can beginners join?
A: Yes—via licensed centres that supply steady horses and a guide. Open beaches and fresh horses can overwhelm novices; choose a calm setting and professional supervision.

Q: What should I wear/bring?
A: Helmet, boots, layered clothing, hi-viz, charged phone, water for horse & rider, hoof pick, small first-aid kit, and cash for car-park fees or post-ride hot chocolate.

Q: How do I find horse-friendly beaches?
A: Check the British Horse Society beach directory, local council websites, or ask nearby livery yards. Equestrian forums and tack-shop noticeboards are goldmines for up-to-date local intel.