Coastal Cities, Towns, Villages A – Z

A small settlement covers much of the island of Easdale, sharing its name with the isle. Like Ellenabeich, it once formed the centre of the Scottish slate industry, and includes a collection of rustic white-washed cottages that once housed workers in the local mines. The once-roaring industry has since petered out, but a broad range of exhibitions about the island’s heritage, including slate mining, folk history and local geology, are on display here. A small hill is located in the centre of the isle, and provides a 360° panoramic view of the impressive surrounding coastal landscape.

Easington is a quiet and picturesque village, with a few narrow streets flanked with old terraced cottages, and the Grade I listed All Saints’ Church placed in the centre. A traditional pub called The White Horse is located in the village. Easington Beach – a shore of sand located below a low cliff – is located to the east of the village. The cliff along this stretch of the coastline, which borders a region known as Holderness, forms some of the fastest-eroding beach in the country. More here.

East Cowes is located on the northern side of the Isle of Wight, facing the larger town of Cowes. Both lie opposite each other at the mouth of the Medina Estuary. Although Cowes is generally the centre of both towns, which are linked by a regular ferry, East Cowes is also an interesting town. East Cowes Heritage Centre showcases the history of the town, including its role as a sailing and industrial hub. Even to this day, boatyards still line the coast of the Medina Estuary, and a GKN Aerospace testing plant is located here. The town is probably most famous for Osborne House – a large stately manor situated on the town’s outskirts that was a holiday home for Queen Victoria during her reign. The manor – and its large Victorian walled gardens – are open to the public.

A collection of bungalows and cottages makes up the small village of East Haven. Many people visit the pleasant sandy beach that passes the village – large outcrops of rock are exposed during low tide.

The small village of East Portlemouth is perched on the side of the Kingsbridge estuary, where it overlooks the town of Salcombe. A passenger ferry connects the village with the town. A quiet village, East Portlemouth is flanked by a few idyllic beaches, each of which are hidden away by the wooded hillslope. The largest of these – Mill Bay – is easily accessible, and is a lovely splash of golden sand flanked by lush woodland.

The quiet village of East Prawle is located around a mile from Prawle Point, a large rugged promontory that marks Devon’s most southerly point. Perched on top of a large hill, East Prawle overlooks a lovely coastal landscape, with large rocky outcrops that make up the shore. A fairly gentle footpath links the village with the shore below – other tracks meander their way across the headland, including the South West Coast Path, which provide a selection of great walking opportunities. Amongst the stone-built cottages, a cosy country pub named The Pigs Nose Inn can be found facing onto the village green.

The charming village of East Runton lies just 2 km (1.2 miles) to the west of Cromer. A collection of flint-built cottages – a common feature with North Norfolk settlements – flanks the high street that forms the centre of the village. A beautiful Blue Flag-certified beach, covered with a long line of golden sand, runs along the coastline.

Straddling both sides of a single road, the small village of East Tilbury lies close to the Thames Estuary, in south-east Essex. Despite its fairly close proximity to industrial ports and docklands, many of which straddle the estuary, the village is rather rural and is surrounded by marshland. The village ends just short of the Thames, which is where Coalhouse Fort is located, an impressive 19th Century fortress. Built to defend London from possible invasion, the fort is located within a park that is great for walking and picnicking.

The idyllic village of East Wemyss sits on the northern side of the Firth of Forth. It is a quiet village of traditional townhouses and cottages, surrounded by patches of woodland. A series of caves, famous for their Pictish symbols which are inscribed in its walls, are located along the coast, just to the east of the village. Archaeological excavations have also uncovered evidence of prehistoric and Medieval activity around and inside the caves.

Situated on the southern edge of Selsey Peninsula, East Wittering is a quiet seaside town that is mainly filled with low-lying bungalows and chalet-type houses. It is best known for its nearby beaches. As is common along this part of the south coast, East Wittering beach is mainly covered by shingle on its upper reaches, with a large expanse of sand being exposed during low tide. West Wittering beach is located on the town’s north-western side – a recipient of the Blue Flag Award – the sand at West Wittering is more extensive, even forming a low layer of sand dunes at the top of the shore. The coast along the southern side of Selsey Peninsula curves slightly around a natural bay known as Bracklesham Bay – due to a low beach gradient and a lack of obstacles, the entire beach is popular with surfers

Eastbourne is a large seaside resort town that is situated on south-east England. Often cited as the sunniest place in the UK, Eastbourne is a popular destination for holidaymakers. It has a rather vibrant seafront, with a large parade of mostly Victorian-built hotels and various other buildings facing directly towards the sea. The promenade itself is also designed in the 19th Century style, and includes a large bandstand and a large fortress named the Eastbourne Redoubt – built in 1805, this is located at the promenade’s northern end. A large pleasure pier extrudes from the promenade close to the town centre – this also has a rather traditional British seaside resort feel to it, and includes a fish-and-chip shop, Victorian-styled tea rooms and a bar. Beachy Head is located directly to the west of the town – reaching 162 metres high, these are the tallest chalk cliffs in Great Britain. The top of the headland gives spectacular views of Eastbourne to the east, the East Sussex coastline to the west, and of the vast English Channel to the south.



 

Easter Skeld sits at the head of Skelda Voe, a quiet inlet flanked by gentle hillslopes. The village consists of a collection of scattered houses and cottages, centred around a marina filled with pleasure boats. The area is rather quiet and serene, and is ideal for coastal walks.

Edinbane is a small village that sits at the head of Loch Greshornish. Surrounded by trees, larger patches of woodland and rolling hills covered in heather, it is placed in a rather scenic part of Skye. It is bypassed by a main road (the A850), meaning that the village centre is rather quiet. Two hotels – the Edinbane Inn and the Lodge Hotel – are based here, with the latter also hosting a restaurant. A pottery shop is also located in the village, where a wide range of pottery products are made on site and then sold.

The village of Elgol is located close to the tip of the Straithard Pensinula, on the southern side of Skye. Placed at the end of the B8083 road, it is a remote village that climbs from the rocky shore up onto the hill above. Elgol is a fairly popular village as the waterfront provides some amazing views of the Cullin Hills. These ‘hills’ refer to mountain range on the southern side of Skye; their rugged, towering peaks can be seen rising majestically above the water. Boat trips run from the village, which take people much closer to the mountains. The coastal landscape surrounding Elgol is also great for walking.

The large village of Elie and Earlsferry is the westernmost settlement on the East Neuk of Fife, a coastal region that borders the most northerly part of the Firth of Forth, and incorporates a number of scenic fishing towns and villages. Cottages, townhouses and narrow streets make up much of Elie and Earlsferry, which curves around a crystal-clear bay flanked by a lovely arc of sand. A collection of independent shops, cafes and even a couple of pubs are located towards the eastern side of the village. A couple of rocky promontories are situated nearby.

Located on the island of Seil, Ellenabeich is a small village placed beneath a row of rocky cliffs. Terraced white-washed cottages make up much of Ellenabeich, once used to house those who worked in the nearby slate mine. A traditional pub, named the Oyster Bar, is located on the shore next to the village. A passenger ferry connects Ellenabeich with the small island of Easdale, which is separated from Seil by a narrow channel.

Ellesmere Port is an industrial town in Cheshire, England. Ellesmere Port is located near Liverpool in the south of the Wirral Peninsula on the south bank of the mouth of the River Mersey.

The quiet village of Embo overlooks the sea, bordered by a lovely beach of sand, as well as a vast system of tall sand dunes – named Coul Links – which is located to its north. The lack of hills in the immediate vicinity provides grand, sweeping views of the Scottish Highlands to the north-west of Embo, and of the hilly coastline to the north. The village itself is a collection of terraced cottages, many of them single-storey, as is common around the Scottish coast.

The small town of Emsworth is placed at the head of Chichester Harbour, on the far eastern edge of Hampshire. It has a charming town centre, with a cluster of Georgian cottages and townhouses that border a network of narrow streets. A few cafes, restaurants and pubs are located in the town, including the flint-clad Lord Raglan pub – the Emsworth Museum is situated on North Street, and includes displays about the town’s heritage. Ponds flank either side of the town centre, and during low tide, the harbour drains to reveal large tidal mudflats. A yacht harbour is situated to the east of the town. Footpaths wind their way around the ponds and along the side of the shore, providing sweeping views across Chichester Harbour.

Eoropie is the most northerly village on the Isle of Lewis, and is surrounded by a selection of rather tranquil scenery. A lovely beach of white-coloured sand is placed just to the south of the village, flanked by cliffs on either side, and backed by a large series of sand dunes. The Butt of Lewis, the tip of a large rugged headland that marks Lewis’ most northern extent, is located around a mile to the north of the village. A country lane links the headland with the village.

The small village of Erbusaig is located around 2.5 km (1.5 miles) to the north of the Kyle of Lochalsh. Perched at the mouth of a small valley, it is surrounded by coastal woodland and two rocky promontories. A railway line, linking Kyle of Lochalsh with the mainline to the east, curves between the village and the shore. The Tingle Creek Hotel is located in the village, as are a couple of holiday homes, alongside a series of cottages.

The small village of Evie is situated close to the Sands of Evie – a rather pleasant beach of white sand that arches around a small bay. A country lane connects the beach to the village. The grand peaks of the island of Rousay can be seen across the large Eynhallow Sound, which separates the isle from the Orkney Mainland. The Broch of Gurness – the remains of an Iron Age dry-stone structure – lies just to the north-east of the bay.

The quiet village of Exbury is situated in the New Forest, close to the Beaulieu River and The Solent. It is famous for Exbury House, a country manor that adjoins a beautiful garden of exotic tree and rhododendron species. The gardens are Grade II* listed, and are open to the public – a network of paths and a miniature steam railway winds its way through the gardens, offering great views of the lush scenery. The village itself is surrounded by woodlands and open fields, with a few footpaths and country lanes that link Exbury with the coast and the Beaulieu River.

Situated on the South Devon coast, on the eastern bank of the mouth of the Exe Estuary, Exmouth is a popular resort and port town. Like many 18th and 19th Century-built seaside towns, it has a promenade backed by rather traditional town houses, and a recreational marina that was once a rather bustling industrial port. An extensive sandy beach sweeps from the town centre all the way to Orcombe Point, a cliff headland located around 3 km to the east of the town. The headland is a great viewpoint, providing visitors with a wide and sweeping vista across to Dawlish, which is visible to the south-west. Orcombe Point also marks the most eastern extent of the Jurassic Coast, a world heritage coastline in southern England that is known globally for the high number of fossils that have been found here. Located to the north and east of the town, the Exe Estuary also gives idyllic views across the wide river channel.

Situated around 2.5 km (1.5 miles) to the southeast of Topsham, Exton is a small village perched on the banks of the Exe estuary. A lovely country pub named The Puffing Billy Inn is located in the village, just a stone’s throw away from the edge of the water. Exton is separated from the estuary by a railway line, with a station in the village. The Exe Estuary Trail, a high-quality footpath, follows the coast down to Lympstone and then on to Exmouth.

Nestled along a sandy cove flanked by rocky headlands on either side, Eyemouth is a small town in south-eastern Scotland. It is a rather traditional and picturesque place, with narrow streets and wynds (a local name for an alleyway) that pass many rustic cottages and townhouses. Like almost all towns on the North Sea, fishing was once a large industry here, but has since declined significantly. Historically, smuggling was a large practice in Eyemouth; many smuggled goods were hidden in Gunsgreen House, a large Georgian manor that overlooks the town’s small harbour. It is now open as a museum, and two holiday apartments are available for rent in the manor. Tourism helps to keep the town afloat, with many hotels and bed-and-breakfasts located here. A selection of independent shops, pubs and food outlets can also be found in the town.

Eype is a small village on the coast of Dorset, around a mile and a half away from the town of Bridport. It lies just above a shore of pebbles, in the heart of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. The beach is a magnet for tourists during holiday season, but the long extent of the shore means that it rarely becomes crowded. It is flanked by tall cliffs on either side, which add to the area’s stunning natural landscape. The village itself is a cluster of traditional Dorset cottages, some of which are available as holiday lettings. The New Inn pub and hotel is located in Eype, and a caravan and camping park is placed next to the shore.

The small hamlet of Eyre sits along the side of a small loch, one which branches from the much larger Loch Snizort Beag. Built on a hillslope, it overlooks both lochs, offering great views of the rolling hills which surround the hamlet. Eyre is made up of a collection of white-painted bungalows, some of which are available as holiday lettings.