Romantic Things to Do on the Coast

Because love is better with a sea breeze and chip grease on your fingers 

Introduction

Valentine's Day is almost upon us and this often turns our minds to getting back on the old saddle of romance, you know the one that somehow you slid off during the rush of the festive season. So if you're anything like most people, you've probably been frantically searching for something more interesting to do than stare at each other across a candlelit dinner whilst a waiter judges your table manners. Fear not, dear reader! The British coast is calling, and it's time to pack your loved one into a car and head towards some proper romantic seaside adventures. We're talking stunning cliff-top walks, fish and chips that'll make you weep with joy, and the kind of memories that actually stick around (unlike that fancy restaurant meal you can't quite remember).

Whether you're looking to reignite the spark or cement your status as a couple-who-actually-does-things-together, we've rounded up seven absolutely brilliant coastal activities that'll make your romantic break unforgettable. And here's the bonus: you can do all of this whilst staying at one of our two absolutely gorgeous holiday lets, Belvedere Lodge in Swanage, Dorset, or Six Porth Sands in Porth, Cornwall. Trust us, your partner will be far more impressed with a romantic seaside escape than yet another box of overpriced chocolates.

1. Sunrise or Sunset Clifftop Walks: Because Romance Needs Dramatic Lighting

Nothing says "I love you" quite like trudging along a clifftop in February weather whilst the wind does its best to separate you from your dignity. Yet somehow, when the sun starts painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, all that windswept hair and numb cheeks seem absolutely worth it. A clifftop walk at sunrise or sunset is peak romantic cosiness, you'll feel like you're in a properly good film, minus the risk of seagull attacks (well, mostly minus that).

The British coast is absolutely brimming with stunning clifftop routes that'll make even the most cynical cynic melt into a puddle of sentimental goo. Swanage, with its dramatic stone formations and white cliffs, offers some particularly spectacular walks. The Old Harry Rocks viewpoint is particularly stunning at golden hour, you'll want to stand there holding hands whilst gazing meaningfully at the horizon. Just maybe check the wind forecast first, unless you fancy discovering a new aerodynamic hairstyle.

Sunrise on Swanage Beach

Here's a pro tip: pack a proper flask of hot chocolate (with the good stuff, none of that instant powder nonsense) and a blanket. Stop somewhere with a view, get cosy, and enjoy the moment together. Romantic? Absolutely. Practical? Definitely. Better than any restaurant? You'll have to be the judge, but we're fairly confident you won't regret it.

Porth Sands, Porth, Newquay, Cornwall: After a morning or evening clifftop adventure, this stunning Cornwall holiday home is the perfect place to return to and warm up. With spectacular views overlooking Porth Bay and stylish interiors, you'll feel utterly pampered as you settle in with a glass of wine and relive the romantic moments from your walk. The location puts you just minutes away from some of the most breathtaking coastal paths in England.

Chilling at the end of the day at Porth Sands

2. Fish and Chips by the Sea: A Love Letter in Battered Cod

Let's be honest: nothing is more romantic than sitting on a weathered wooden bench, salt spray in your hair, unwrapping a parcel of hot, golden fish and chips whilst seagulls circle overhead like tiny feathered vultures. There's something genuinely magical about sharing this most British of meals with someone special. It's unpretentious, it's delicious, and it's absolutely, undeniably romantic in a way that somehow bypasses all the fancy restaurants.

The key to an exceptional coastal fish and chips experience is finding a proper chippy, the sort of place that's been there for thirty years, run by someone's mum, with queue out the door on a Friday night. These establishments understand the sacred art of chip cooking. They'll fry your fish in proper batter, make your chips thick and fluffy, and serve them wrapped in paper that somehow keeps them at the exact perfect temperature.

Fish and chips on Porth Beach

Pro tip: Find a spot with a view, ideally somewhere you can watch the waves whilst you eat. Yes, you'll get some chips stolen by seagulls. Yes, you'll get salt and grease all over your face. Yes, you'll smell vaguely of chip shop for the rest of the day. But the memory of sitting there with someone you care about, genuinely laughing with your mouth full of chips? That's the stuff real romance is made of. Forget expensive restaurants with their "culinary experiences" give us fish and chips and the person we love any day of the week.

Belvedere Lodge, Swanage: This cosy Georgian property is literally a stone's throw from some of Dorset's finest fish and chip establishments. Grab your takeaway from a local favourite, The Fish Plaice, settle onto the golden sands, and enjoy the most convenient and utterly romantic dinner. When you're done, you can head straight back indoors without that awkward drive home smelling of fryer oil, absolute perfection.

3. Explore Hidden Coves and Secret Beaches: Adventure With a Side of Solitude

Forget the busy resort beaches with their ice cream vans and hordes of screaming families. The British coast is absolutely riddled with hidden coves and secret beaches that make you feel like you've discovered your own private paradise. These tucked-away spots require a bit of effort to reach, sometimes a scramble down a cliff path, sometimes a walk through a wooded valley, but that's precisely what makes them so special. You'll feel like proper explorers, minus the risk of dying of dysentery.

The South West Coast Path is absolutely brilliant for this sort of adventure. You can plot your own route, discovering little sandy alcoves and rocky outcrops that most tourists never find. There's something genuinely romantic about having an entire beach essentially to yourselves. You can paddle in the water without worrying about knocking someone's ice cream over, you can sit and chat without anyone judging your conversation, and you can take silly couple photos without feeling like complete numpty.

The exploration itself is part of the romance. Clambering down a slightly dodgy cliff path hand-in-hand, discovering a beach that looks like it's been lifted straight from a postcard, maybe paddling in water that's absolutely freezing (but who cares, you're in love), these are the moments you'll actually remember. Not the expensive meal where you couldn't hear each other talk, but the time you found a secret beach and ate sandwiches that tasted like pure joy.

Belvedere Lodge &  Porth Sands: Both properties sit literally on the South West Coast Path so are in ideal locations for coastal exploration. Swanage provides access to the stunning Isle of Purbeck coastline with countless hidden gems waiting to be discovered. Cornwall's Porth is surrounded by dramatic coastal scenery and secret beaches that reward even a modest bit of exploring. Either location gives you the perfect base camp for your seaside adventures.

4. Sunset Beach Picnic: Romance Served on a Tartan Blanket

There's something about preparing a proper picnic that feels inherently romantic. Maybe it's because it requires planning and effort, or maybe it's because you're essentially creating your own little bubble of cosiness in the middle of nature. Either way, a sunset beach picnic hits different from your standard dinner out.

Pack some nice bread, quality cheese, maybe some charcuterie that doesn't come from a supermarket shelf, throw in some olives, some chocolate for pudding, and a nice bottle of something fizzy. Yes, you'll get sand in approximately everything, accept this now and move on. The sand between your toes, grit in your sandwich, in your hair? That's just part of the authentic experience. Think of it as edible seasoning.

Find a secluded spot on the beach as the sun starts its descent. Spread out your blanket, unpack your provisions, and settle in for what might be the most unpretentious yet genuinely lovely dinner you've had in years. There's something about eating proper food in the open air, watching the sky turn purple and orange whilst the waves crash nearby, that makes ordinary cheese and bread taste like something from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Add in the fact that you're sharing this with someone special, and you've got pure magic.

Porth Sands, Cornwall: With direct beach access from your holiday apartment, preparing and enjoying a sunset beach picnic has never been easier. Pack your hamper, stroll out onto those golden sands, and create a moment that'll genuinely make your Valentine swoon. The beach at Porth is particularly stunning at sunset, with dramatic cliffs in the background creating the perfect romantic backdrop.

5. Visit a Charming Seaside Village: Time Travel Meets Romance

Forget theme parks and shopping centres. Real romance is wandering through a proper seaside village, the sort of place that feels frozen in time, with independent shops selling things you didn't know you needed, tea rooms serving actual home-made cakes, and a general aura of the 1950s (but with better plumbing and WiFi).

The British coast is blessed with absolutely charming villages that seem designed specifically for romantic strolls. Think cobbled streets, pastel coloured cottages, tiny boutique shops, and cafés where the owner actually knows your name after you've been there twice. These villages have a romantic quality that chain stores and big-box retailers could never replicate. There's something genuinely lovely about browsing an independent bookshop hand-in-hand, or popping into a proper sweetshop where they actually sell penny sweets.

Spend the afternoon wandering, ducking into tea rooms for cake and coffee, perhaps browsing some local art galleries or craft shops. Have lunch at a cosy pub with creaky wooden floors and real fires. Watch your lovers face light up as they discover a little boutique selling something they've been searching for. These moments, completely unscheduled, utterly unhurried, are where real romance lives.

Belvedere Lodge, Swanage: Swanage itself is a picture-perfect seaside village with independent shops, excellent tea rooms (try Love Cake it’s awesome), and that distinctive charm that modern resorts simply cannot manufacture. The town is small enough to explore on foot, yet interesting enough to spend an entire day wandering. Return to Belvedere Lodge in the evening with bags full of local treasures and hearts full of memories.

6. Stargazing by the Sea: Getting Lost in the Universe (And Each Other)

There's something deeply romantic about standing on a beach at night, looking up at an infinite expanse of stars, and feeling utterly small yet somehow more connected to the person standing next to you. Coastal areas often have significantly less light pollution than inland towns, making them absolutely brilliant for stargazing.

You don't need fancy telescopes or astronomical expertise. Simply find a dark spot on the beach, grab some warm blankets, lie down on the sand, and look up. Download a stargazing app if you want to identify constellations and impress with your newly acquired astronomy knowledge. Or just lie there in comfortable silence, occasionally pointing at stars and making up ridiculous constellation names. Both approaches are equally valid.

There's something about the vastness of the night sky that makes everyday worries seem rather insignificant. It puts things in perspective in a way that's somehow deeply romantic. Plus, cuddling under blankets whilst looking at stars hits all the right notes for Valentine's romance—cosy, intimate, and utterly free.

Both Properties: The coastal locations of both Belvedere Lodge and Six Porth Sands offer excellent opportunities for stargazing. Away from the worst light pollution of major towns, you'll find the night sky genuinely spectacular. Our properties are positioned perfectly for heading down to the beach for a late-night stargazing adventure, then returning to warm, cosy beds.

7. Indulge in a Romantic Afternoon Tea Experience (Without Spilling Tea on Yourself)

Let's be honest: nothing says romance quite like attempting to balance a scone, clotted cream, and jam on your lap whilst simultaneously sipping Earl Grey without dribbling down your chin. But fear not, afternoon tea is the ultimate opportunity to feel fancy whilst being thoroughly British about it. If you're staying at Porth Sands, the gloriously opulent Headland Hotel in Newquay serves afternoon tea with views so stunning they'll distract you from the fact you've just stuffed an entire finger sandwich in your mouth. Alternatively, if you're ensconced at Belvedere Lodge, Love Cake offers an intimate, quirky setting where you can actually relax without worrying you're being judged by posh people for using too much jam (spoiler: there's no such thing). Finger sandwiches with the crusts off, scones wobbling precariously under mountains of clotted cream, miniature cakes that require a philosophical debate about whether you can really fit another one in, this is romance, coastal-style. Pair it with a glass of prosecco to celebrate the fact you've made it through without disaster, and you've got a romantic memory that'll warm your hearts (and probably your waistlines) for months.

Your Perfect Romantic Day Awaits

So there you have it, seven absolutely brilliant romantic reasons to head to the coast. Whether you're climbing clifftops at sunrise, eating chips by the seaside, discovering hidden coves, or stargazing from a remote beach, you'll be creating the kind of memories that actually stick around. The kind of memories that have you both grinning like idiots when you think back on them months later.

And here's the beauty of it all: you need somewhere special to return to each evening, somewhere to warm up after bracing coastal adventures, somewhere to cuddle up and watch the waves. That's precisely where Belvedere Lodge and Porth Sands come in.

Belvedere Lodge offers a charming Dorset retreat with stunning views, cosy interiors, and proximity to the best the Isle of Purbeck has to offer. Wake up to clifftop views, spend your day exploring golden beaches and stunning coves, then return to comfort and elegance. Six Porth Sands places you right on the golden sands of Porth, with the dramatic Cornish coastline at your doorstep. This beachfront property is perfect for couples wanting direct access to those romantic sunsets, secret beaches, and all the adventures the South West Coast has to offer.

This Winter choose real romance, choose the coast. Choose either Belvedere Lodge or Six Porth Sands, and create memories that'll make you fall in love all over again, not just with each other, but with the absolute magic of the British seaside.

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