Coastal Cities, Towns, Villages A – Z

Oban is a picturesque resort town located in western Scotland. A dramatic coastal landscape of coves and rocky shorelines surrounds the town, along with patches of luscious woodland that reach down to the water’s edge, and the green rugged hills of the Isle of Kererra, which faces onto the mainland. The town curves around much of Oban Bay, and has grown over the past 200 years as a popular resort town. Grand Victorian-built hotels and townhouses overlook the bay, including the large Columba Hotel and a range of large guesthouses on Corran Esplanade. The pleasant town centre is packed with many independent family-run businesses, and a number of cafes and restaurants. Oban is rather famous for McCain’s Tower – built to resemble the Colosseum in Rome, it is a ring of stone arches that sits on the top of a hill overlooking the town. Constructed in the late Victorian era, it is open to the public, and sits within a park that provides great views of the town and the bay.

Located on the western side of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, Ogmore-on-Sea is a pleasant seaside resort village that overlooks a fine sandy beach which is sheltered beneath a row of rocky cliffs. Although the cliffs are rather minor compared to other stretches of Glamorgan’s coast, large rocky outcrops extend across parts of the shoreline, creating many small rockpools. To the south of the village, the cliffs grow in size significantly – the Wales Coast Path runs along the cliff tops towards Southerndown and beyond. The village itself includes a village store, a café and a gift shop.

Old Colwyn is a large village that lies just to the east of Colwyn Bay. It is a rather attractive village, with many Victorian houses built in stone or brick, a parade of shops and a choice of three pubs. The beach is located on the other side of the A55 road – it is a very pleasant beach of golden sand that is ideal for swimming and windsurfing, and is flanked by a promenade that runs past Colwyn Bay and on to Rhos-on-Sea. Old Colwyn is also surrounded by a rather pleasant rural landscape, with a woodland named the Fairy Glen located in a valley that runs south of the village, and up into the rolling hills of Conwy.

Old Grimsby is a lovely hamlet on the north-eastern side of Tresco. A collection of cottages that faces onto a lovely sandy bay, Old Grimsby is a quiet hamlet that is surrounded by some rather idyllic scenery. A small beach café borders the beach, and a few holiday lettings can be found here. A coastal footpath runs through the village, linking it with Kettle Point, where rocky cliffs wind their way around the island’s northern headland.

Located only a stone’s throw away to the north of Hunstanton, its larger neighbour, Old Hunstanton is a pleasant coastal village. Its highlights include The Mariner, a traditional inn with buildings dating back to the 17th Century, and lines of beach huts sitting on the sand dunes, facing the sea. An extensive sandy beach makes up the shore.

Old Town is a small village on the southern side of St. Mary’s, located on the eastern side of a lovely bay. Old Town Bay is just one of the many tranquil beaches that the archipelago is renowned for – it is arched by a beach of golden sand, with waves of crystal-clear water lapping against the shore. The village itself is a fine collection of cottages, with a hotel, a bed and breakfast and a pub named the Old Town Inn. A scenic coastal footpath follows the coast southwards to Peninnis Head, and along the southern side of the island.

Situated close to the banks of the Severn Estuary, Oldbury-on-Severn is a rather pretty Gloucestershire village that includes old stone-built cottages and a lovely country pub named the Anchor Inn. Several footpaths, including the Severn Way, link the village to the edge of the estuary, providing amazing views across the channel – the hills of the Forest of Dean rise on the other side, and the M48 Severn Road Bridge is visible to the south. Although much of the land surrounding Oldbury is rather flat, a small hill is located to the south of the village, upon which stands a 13^th-Century church.

A collection of relatively new suburban-style homes makes up part of Ollaberry, whereas the rest of the village consists of more traditional cottages and farmhouses. A small village, Ollaberry overlooks a bay with the same name, and is placed adjacent to a small hill named the Back of Ollaberry. The green rolling slopes slide gracefully down to the edges of the bay, and a small sliver of golden sand makes up part of the beach.

Pinned between the shore of Loch Linnhe and a large coastal hill, Onich is a small linear village made up of traditional cottages, and a selection of guest houses and holiday lettings. Onich provides spectacular views of the surrounding scenery, with the large mountains that tower over the loch, and a swathe of lush coastal woodland. A shop, post office, petrol station and a church are located in the village.

Orford is an incredibly picturesque English village, filled with many centuries-old cottages built on the side of winding streets and lanes. The southern side of the village borders the estuary of the River Alde, and includes a small quay and a beach packed with small boats. The estuary separates Orford from Orford Ness to the south. With a long history going centuries, much of the village looks like the sort of place you would find in a picture postcard. Orford Castle, a rather complete 12th-Century keep, looms over the western side of the village.

The small village of Orinsay overlooks a rocky inlet, which is flanked by rows of coastal hills that slope down to the water’s edge. It is a small collection of cottages and bungalows that is located in a particularly remote part of the island of Lewis.

Nestled in a valley on the coast of Dorset, Osmington Mills is a small hamlet surrounded by some lovely scenery. It is flanked by cliffs on either side, with outcrops of rock that make up the shore. Being part of the Jurassic Coast, the cliffs and the shore are rich in fossil remains. A traditional pub named the Smugglers Inn is located in the hamlet – during the 18^th century, Osmington Mills was a popular landing place for smugglers.

The village of Overcombe lies at the northern end of Weymouth Bay. It is bordered by a long beach of pebble and sand, and is flanked by Bowleaze Cove, an inlet sheltered by a row of cliffs, to its northeast. The village is home to a couple of cafés and a bar and restaurant named the Spyglass Inn. Additionally, an amusement park is placed next to Bowleaze Cove, as is the Riviera Hotel, a stunning Art Deco building. The clifftops provide an amazing view across Weymouth Bay, with the Isle of Portland in the distance.

Located 3 km (2 miles) to the south-east of Cromer, the village of Overstrand is rather quiet, with a pleasant high street lined by old townhouses, and a village green flanked by leafy trees. A row of cliffs stands between the village and the sandy beach below, with a couple of paths taking people safely between the two. The beach offers a more tranquil alternative to the bustling shore at neighbouring Cromer.

Perched on the western end of Oxwich Bay, the largest bay on the south coast of Gower, the pretty village of Oxwich enjoys an incredibly beautiful landscape. It overlooks a lovely sandy shore that sweeps around much of the inlet, and is flanked by a forested coastal hillslope that reaches south-eastwards to Oxwich Point, a large coastal headland. An abandoned Tudor manor house named Oxwich Castle lies on the hill next to the village. A few footpaths, including the Wales Coast Path, travel through the glorious landscape, providing great walking opportunities. A beach café and a restaurant overlook the beach, as well as the Oxwich Bay Hotel.

Oystermouth encompasses the south-eastern corner of the Gower Peninsula, including part of the Mumbles headland, and borders part of the western side of Swansea Bay. It is a rather pretty village that includes the Mumbles themselves, two tidal islands at the extreme tip of the headland, and a couple of small rocky coves – Bracelet Bay and Limeslade Bay. A long seafront extends from central Oystermouth towards The Mumbles; numerous cafes, restaurants and pubs are located along the side of the bay, as well as a Victorian-built pier situated near the tip of the headland. The waterfront provides great views across the bay, with both Swansea and the large hills of South Wales visible on the other side. A series of independent stores and chain shops are located in the centre of Oystermouth, along with a couple of art galleries. The splendid remains of Oystermouth Castle, a fortress dating back to 1106 AD, overlooks the village.