Dorset is the UK hotspot for accessible beaches, a new study has found.
If you are a wheelchair user or have issues with your mobility, heading to a rocky or sandy beach on a warm day may feel like an ordeal.
Research from Oak Tree Mobility has scrutinised popular beaches across the UK to find which is the most easily accessible.
The beaches were judged based on a number of factors including their Disability Rights UK Survey score, how much a wheelchair costs to hire, and the cost of disabled toilet access.
Bournemouth Beach in Dorset came out on top, placing first out of all UK beaches in terms of accessibility.
For a start, the beach is easy to get to from the main promenade as this is smoothly paved over. Then of course the long and sandy stretch is always a firm favourite for those after picturesque views.
As with many of the beaches in the study, a wheelchair can be hired for a £50 deposit (this is refundable) and the disabled toilet accessed for £5 a day.
While the beach did score highly on accessibility terms, it has a very low overall Tripadvisor score, possibly because of how intensely busy it gets on sunny days.
For those planning a visit, you can find out more about facilities and accessibility on the Bournemouth council website.
All of the beaches in the top ten have ramps for wheelchair access and some even offer beach wheelchairs for hire equipped with specially designed wheels to cope with sand and shallow water.
Overall, Dorset is the go-to beach destination for people with mobility issues, with four beaches in the top ten located in the county.
According to the study, Portobello Beach and Perranporth Beach are the only beaches to offer free wheelchair hire, while also offering free disabled toilet access along with Sandbanks Beach and Porthminster Beach.
UK's 10 most accessible beaches
(Beach name, amount for a day's wheelchair hire, disabled toilet access, Disability Rights UK Survey score, overall accessibility score).
- Bournemouth Beach, £50 cash deposit, £5 per day, 9, 9
- Sandbanks Beach, £50 cash deposit, Free, 9, 9
- Porthminster Beach, £45 per week, Free, 8, 8
- Portobello Beach, Free, Free, 7.5, 8
- Perranporth Beach, Free, Free, 7, 8
- Brighton Beach, £25 cash deposit, £5 per day, 7.5, 7.5
- Weymouth Beach, Physical possession deposit, £5 per day, 7.5, 7.5
- Studland Beach, Physical possession deposit, £5 per day, 7.5, 7
- West Wittering Beach, £20 cash deposit, £5 per day, 7.5, 5
- Whitby Beach, £37 per week, £5 per day, 7.5, 5
You can find out more on oaktreemobility.co.uk.
