Two visitors walk along the coastal path at the White Cliffs of Dover, with the man carrying a young child on their back. They're wrapped up in winter coats and the ocean can be seen behind them in the background. — Visitors walking at the White Cliffs of Dover, Kent | © National Trust Images/Megan Taylor

Coast and beaches

We care for more than 780 miles of coastline. Plan a visit to see the best beaches and islands near you, and embark on a coastal adventure.

A child's hands cup a collection of belemnites, bullet-shaped sandy-coloured fossils

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Best places to find fossils

Fossils can be found anywhere, but you can often find them on beaches where they've been washed out of nearby cliffs. Discover some of the best coastal spots we look after where you might find a fossil or two.

Common seals and sandwich terns at Blakeney Point, Norfolk

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Where to go seal watching

Find the best places across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to spot seals in the wild. Whether you're on a coastal walk or boat trip, there are plenty of places to see both grey and common seals as they come ashore to give birth.