A VILLAGE in the north of England could be at risk of losing its sandy beach forever.
Located on the Holderness Coast in East Riding of Yorkshire, the village of Barmston is home to just 400 residents.
The sandy beach at Barmston sits on the fastest eroding coastline in Europe[/caption]
The East Yorkshire Coastline suffered up to 12m of coastal erosion, with chunks falling off[/caption]
While the charming Yorkshire village is known for its dramatic views and stunning coastal landscapes, its seaside location could be its downfall too.
This is because the Holderness Coast, where Barmston sits, is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe.
In 2024, the East Yorkshire coastline suffered up to 12m of coastal erosion, at much higher rates than elsewhere in the world.
Between Barmston and Fraisthorpe, erosion reached up to 5m in some parts of the coast last year.
Coastal erosion in Barmston isn’t new, with a storm bringing down 6m of its craggy cliff face back in 1967.
Barmston Beach has been directly affected by coastal erosion in other ways too.
The sandy beach once held Blue Flag status until it lost its status because of the constant erosion.
A large car park and an amusement park are both no longer accessible because of the erosion too.
Despite losing its Blue Flag status, the sandy beach remains popular with visitors because it’s both secluded and quiet.
Nearby lies Parkdean Resorts Barmston Beach Holiday Park, which has a 4.2/5 star rating from more than 1,000 reviews on Google.
The dog-friendly site sits right on the coast and is home to a heated outdoor fun pool and an adventure playground.
While other parts of the country, like Yaverland village on the Isle of Wight, are bolstering their sea defences, protecting the entire coastline in East Yorkshire is financially unfeasible, according to Richard Jackson, East Riding’s Coastal Change Manager.
Coastal defences in the area reportedly cost £20,000 per metre.
A £15million initiative called the Changing Coast project, which is being funded by Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, is aiming to support communities affected by erosion.
The project aims to help residents who have been forced to move because of erosion and relocate important community buildings and facilities in the area.
Elsewhere in the UK, Covehithe Beach in Suffolk is also at risk of disappearing.
Even though there have been attempts to reduce the risk of erosion, there are fears the beach could be gone by 2040.
Sun Travel’s favourite UK seaside towns
AS part of our Best Of British travel series, The Sun’s travel team have picked our favourite UK seaside towns, featuring everything from dolphin-spotting beaches to celeb-favourite fish and chip shops.
Tynemouth, North Tyneside – Ryan Gray, Travel Reporter
The North East is a much-overlooked part of the country for seaside towns, with Tynemouth standing out among the best of the ones on offer.
Longsands Beach is, in my opinion, the finest family beach in the UK with its mile-long expanse of shoreline blessed with perfect golden sands, a deep inky-blue sea home to both seals and dolphins, and fantastic child-friendly food and entertainment a stone’s throw away.
While some locals will be scattered across the sand, or out surfing in the fresh North Sea water, plenty will also be found in Crusoe’s, a wonderful little cafe right on the beach, serving everything from breakfast to booze, making it the perfect stop for seaside refreshments.
The beach is overlooked by the spectacular Tynemouth Priory and Castle, a 2,000-year-old Anglo-Saxon monastery, looked after by English Heritage.
Every summer, the atmospheric ruins of the priory host the Mouth of the Tyne music festival, with previous headliners including Sam Fender, Elbow, Billy Ocean and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas.
Just a stone’s throw from the priory is the town centre, where quaint bars and restaurants are found alongside classic fish and chip shops, like Marshalls, rumoured to have been named after Jimi Hendrix, when the musician is said to have visited the chippy for a fish supper after performing in Newcastle back in the 1967. An unofficial blue plaque in the window of the fast food spot commemorates his visit.
Any visit to Tynemouth should be made at the weekend, in order to take in Tynemouth Market, hosted in the town’s Victorian Metro station every Saturday and Sunday.
Trinkets, street food and collectibles can be found laid out across a number of stalls within the ornate surroundings either side of the platforms.
Mousehole, Cornwall – Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor
Cornwall is saturated with unspoilt coastlines, but, unlike many of the overcrowded spots, the village of Mousehole, on the far southern tip (just below Penzance), has somehow retained its chocolate box charm.
The small sandy bay is crammed with weathered fishing boats and backed by pokey cafes and airy art galleries where seaside-inspired works hang from the walls.
For impeccable views of a wild sea and homemade grub, head to Rock Pool Cafe which sits atop a craggy cliff.
Order a hot chocolate which is somewhat of a DIY experience, delivered to you on a board with a mug of piping hot milk and a tub of shaved chocolate shards in white, milk or dark to melt into the milk.
There are some impressive coastal walks – but be warned it can be hilly.
You can read more of our favourite seaside towns, here.
And Southport, one of England’s oldest seaside towns is at risk of losing its beach forever.
Elsewhere in the UK, another seaside town is making their beach bigger.
Signs have been erected to warn visitors about the dangers of the cliffs[/caption]
Barmston Beach (pictured) lost its Blue Flag status because of the constant erosion[/caption]
