The United Kingdom offers not only multi-ethnic cities and lush countryside, but also a fascinating coast. Here are the most beautiful cliffs in the UK.
If you explore the UK deeply, stepping outside the usual city sceneries of London, Manchester or Edinburgh, you’ll find that this country has miles of footpaths that stretch over fields, moors, mountains and hills, but it’s the coast of the island that impresses really.
Across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, dramatic clifftops attract keen hikers and sometimes mere strollers, with their winding paths and epic vistas.
Few countries in the world can compete with the UK when it comes to coastal scenery. From the high cliffs of Cornwall to beautiful Scottish bays, the UK coast is nothing short of enchanting.
The cliffs of Great Britain offer a crisp sea breeze, the rhythmic melody of the waves crashing against the rocks and the beauty of the seabirds in flight that often approach the coast.
Whether you enjoy strolling on the beach, walking high for cliff-topped sea views or getting lost in the wildlife taking in nature’s spectacle along the way, exploring the UK’s coastal paths will take you to countless picture-postcard beauties.
UK cliffs worth visiting
From the famous blocks of white chalk that make up Dorset’s Old Harry Rocks (thought to be named after a notorious local pirate, Harry Paye) to the white cliffs of Dover, we’re pretty sure you’ll be impressed by the UK’s coastline, whether whether you want to be enchanted by the panorama or to spend hours walking along its paths. Here are eight of the best cliffs from across the UK.
White Cliffs of Dover, Kent
The White Cliffs of Dover have been immortalized in poems, song lyrics and novels, making them worthy of a place on the list of the best coastal walks in the UK, and certainly one of the most famous.
Part of the North Downs formation, this region of the English coast facing the Strait of Dover and France boasts cliff faces reaching heights of 106 metres. Their striking appearance is due to a mixture of chalk highlighted with black flint.
Wandering along the clifftop you may come across grazing ponies, as well as spot a diverse range of seabirds. There is also a popular trail that winds its way along their summit, which can be taken at different heights and offers stunning views across the English Channel.
The White Cliffs of Dover are a source of national pride for the UK. Few know that a series of complex tunnels leading from Dover Castle, built during the Napoleonic Wars, are buried beneath the rock face. Beneath the castle, the tunnels were expanded and reused in a secret network linking it to Winston Churchill’s military headquarters during WWII.
Old Harry Rocks, Dorset
Truly impressive views of the Jurassic Coast beckon at Old Harry Rocks in Dorset. Although the distinctive chalk rock formations are the highlight of any walk here, the towering cliffs offer epic vistas all along the coast, with opportunities to extend a hike to discover even more of the southern England landscape.
You don’t have to be an expert nature lover to be enchanted by the peregrine falcons, rare butterflies and pink pyramidal orchids that you encounter along the way.
Seven Sisters, East Sussex
The Magnificent Seven Sisters are a series of grass-clad chalk cliffs stretching from Seaford to Eastbourne. The cliffs can erode naturally and as a result retain their brilliant white color unlike the White Cliffs of Dover which are turning green with vegetation.
Seen from Seaford Head, the ‘Seven Sisters’ are romantic and poignant. In fact, several filmmakers have used them as a dramatic backdrop in their films. The cliffs appear, in fact, in “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, “Atonement” and “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”, among others.
The point-to-point walk along the 22 kilometers of cliffs is well worth it. Look out for butterflies, wild flowers and of course some of the best seaside views in England.
The one to the Seven Sisters is one of the best excursions of our study holidays in Eastbourne.
Porth Dinllaen, Llyn Peninsula, Wales
The Llyn Peninsula is perfect for those who love walking and feeling like the protagonist of a novel from another era.
Porth Dinllaen clifftop allows it to be explored at a low level, strolling along beautiful beaches and flat terrain, or clambering over the rocks to discover spectacular views towards the bay.
What is special about this territory is that in some places there are impressive views in all directions, providing many photo opportunities.
St Kilda, Scotland
St Kilda is the most remote of all the Scottish islands, best known for their seabird colonies, as well as having been considered the archipelago at ‘the end of the world’ for centuries.
The highest sea cliffs in the British Isles can be found on the archipelago’s largest island, Hirta, which offers breathtaking views in all directions. Anyone looking for a spectacular cliff walk should book a trip here immediately.
Duncansby Head, Caithness
If you like dramatic pinnacles jutting out of the sea, waves crashing around them, then you can’t get much better than Duncansby Head, the most north-easterly point of mainland Britain (yes, even further north- east of John O’Groats).
Caithness is also part of the enchanting Scottish countryside and on the cliffs of Duncansby Head you can discover epic panoramas. But it is the sight of the black stacks emerging from the water that attracts keen hikers.
Duirinish Peninsula, Isle of Skye
Skye is full of spectacular clifftop walks, but perhaps the most impressive views can be found on the Duirinish peninsula in the northwest of the Scottish island.
The Trotternish peninsula, for example, is home to magnificent natural monuments, such as the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing, but the best views are seen from the other side of this wild and beautiful island.
If you’re adventurous and don’t mind unfavorable temperatures, the hike from Ramasaig to Orbost is one of the most challenging cliff-top walks in the UK, but well worth it.
Compton Bay, Isle of Wight
On the Isle of Wight, beautiful beaches stretch as far as the eye can see, and you can fully admire them from the cliffs overlooking Compton Bay.
An impressive coastal walk follows the chalk ridge that runs through the center of the island, offering spectacular sea views and plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife, including seabirds, colorful butterflies and wildflowers.
Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, Wales
Stretching for almost 300 kilometres, from St Dogmaels in the north to Amroth in the south, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path is one of the best long-distance walks in the world.
It might take two weeks to complete the entire trail, but it’s easy to dive in and out for half-day or full-day excursions. Just a two hour drive from our college in Cardiff this is one of the best hikes to take on a nice day
The rugged cliffs offer breathtaking sea vistas with epic views of the waves crashing against the rocks below. The contrast of the rocks and the scattering of wildflowers lining the cliffs make for excellent photographic opportunities.
