Beach wheelchairs: sea air, sandy adventures and seven UK beaches to explore
There’s something about the seaside that makes me feel better. The sound of the waves, the salty breeze, the chance to sit and stare at the horizon without anyone asking what I’m doing.
“Looking at the sea” is a perfectly acceptable activity. I can happily make an afternoon of it.
Add some fish and chips and I’m very content. Although the local seagulls usually have their own ideas about who ordered lunch.
But as a wheelchair user, a day at the beach involves rather more than packing sun cream and hoping for decent weather. There is one fairly significant obstacle.
Sand.
Lovely for sandcastles. Less lovely when your front wheels disappear into it and your seaside adventure comes to an abrupt halt.
Why getting onto the beach matters
An accessible promenade is a wonderful thing. I love a wander beside the sea, especially if there is a café somewhere along the way. But sometimes I want to get onto the beach itself.
I want to be down there with everyone else, close to the waves and part of whatever is happening. If the family is building sandcastles, I would quite like to be involved. I may even have some strong opinions about the positioning of the moat.
For many disabled people, the alternative is watching from a distance while friends and family carry on across the sand. You might have a lovely view, but you are still missing out on the conversation, the laughter and those little moments that make a day together special.
As someone who spends a great deal of time campaigning for access to the outdoors, I know how much these experiences matter. Nature gives me breathing space. It helps me feel like myself.
That feeling should be available at the seaside too.
Sea air and a better night’s sleep?
You know that pleasantly tired feeling after a day by the coast? When you get home, settle into your chair and suddenly find you have missed half the television programme?
There is some research behind the connection between coastal walks and sleep.
A National Trust survey of 109 walkers found that both inland and coastal walks were associated with benefits to mood and sleep. Coastal walkers were more likely to report better and longer sleep afterwards. The research also highlighted how the seaside can bring back memories of childhood, family and holidays.
It was a small survey, so a walk by the sea doesn’t come with a guaranteed eight hours of uninterrupted slumber. It also doesn’t establish whether people using beach wheelchairs experience the same sleep benefits.
Still, it is another reason to value time beside the sea. And if a good night’s sleep happens to follow, I shall consider that an excellent bonus.
Why an ordinary wheelchair struggles on the beach
Everyday wheelchairs do a very important job, but soft sand can defeat them remarkably quickly.
Small front castors sink, larger wheels lose traction, and pushing harder can leave you digging yourself a rather expensive hole. Shingle is hardly more cooperative, shifting underneath the wheels as you try to move.
Then there is the journey down. Steps, steep slipways, narrow entrances and deep sand can all get in the way.
A ramp is helpful, but if it ends in a stretch of sand your chair cannot cross, you are still stuck. Just slightly closer to the sea.
And while someone might cheerfully suggest, “We can carry you,” that isn’t a practical or comfortable solution for everyone. I would much rather have suitable access and the right equipment than become an unexpected family weightlifting challenge.
What makes a beach wheelchair different?
Beach wheelchairs are designed to cope with surfaces that ordinary chairs struggle with. Many have large, wide tyres that help spread the load across the sand, making it easier to travel without sinking. The Scottish charity Beach Wheelchairs uses specially adapted chairs with large rubber wheels to help people reach the beach.
They can look a little unusual. Some have wheels that would not look out of place on a small lunar expedition. But if they help me join everyone else on the sand, I’m interested.
The right chair can make a family picnic, a school trip or a quiet afternoon beside the waves possible.
However, different chairs suit different people. Seating, postural support, transfers and controls all matter. Many manual beach wheelchairs need a companion to push them, while some locations offer powered equipment.
It is also important to check whether a particular chair can enter the water. “Beach wheelchair” doesn’t automatically mean “let’s head into the sea”.
Seven UK beaches making access to the shore easier
There is no single beach that will suit everybody. Some people need a hoist, others need supportive seating, and some want a powered chair they can control themselves.
These seven beaches are worth investigating because of their published access facilities and equipment schemes. Check the arrangements directly before travelling, particularly outside the summer season.
1. Knoll Beach, Studland Bay, Dorset
Studland has a particularly useful combination of facilities at Knoll Beach: manual beach wheelchairs, an electric all-terrain wheelchair, beach matting and accessible parking.
There is also a Changing Places toilet with an adult-sized changing bench and hoist, alongside accessible toilets. Having those facilities can make a longer day out possible.
Mobility equipment is free to hire, with booking recommended. Some matting is seasonal, and tides and weather can affect access. The manual beach chairs require a companion to assist.
2. North Berwick, East Lothian
North Berwick deserves attention for its choice of equipment, including powered X8 all-terrain wheelchairs as well as manual beach chairs with different support options.
The Beach Wheelchairs charity operates from a hut at the harbour, where there is a fixed outdoor transfer hoist and an allocated customer parking space. Bring your own suitable loop sling if you need the hoist.
Loans are free, but arrangements depend on volunteer availability and the tides. Hire isn’t available at high tide because ramp access is restricted. The powered chairs must stay out of the water.
3. Saunton Sands, Devon
Saunton offers Sandcruiser and Hippocampe beach wheelchairs, supportive seating options, a mobile hydraulic hoist and an all-terrain rollator. Accessible parking and accessible toilets are also available.
The beach’s own access information is refreshingly clear: a sloping concrete slipway ends at soft sand, and the rubber mat at the bottom can become uneven or partly covered.
That is useful information to have before arriving. “There’s a ramp” can leave rather a lot unsaid.
Equipment must be reserved through Saunton Beach Shop, and the beach chairs require assistance rather than being self-propelled. At low tide, the sea can be a considerable distance from the entrance.
4. Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
Saundersfoot combines a sandy beach with a harbour to explore, making it worth considering for a seaside day out.
The beach is listed among Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s Easy Access Beaches, and a beach wheelchair scheme is available. Check the harbour’s accessibility page for booking information and confirm the collection point and suitable route onto the sand before travelling.
5. Portstewart Strand, Northern Ireland
Portstewart Strand is a two-mile National Trust beach with beach wheelchairs and walking frames available through the Mae Murray Foundation’s Inclusive Beach partnership.
Equipment loans are free and seasonal. Free foundation membership is required, and bookings should be submitted at least 72 hours in advance.
It is the sort of arrangement worth planning ahead for. I would rather spend a few minutes organising equipment at home than arrive with a picnic and discover my adventure ends in the car park.
6. Benone Strand, Northern Ireland
Benone became Northern Ireland’s first designated Inclusive Beach in 2017. Its long stretch of sand is supported by a free specialist beach equipment loan scheme through the Mae Murray Foundation and its council partner.
The published programme lists equipment availability during July and August. Confirm the current schedule, the equipment that suits your needs and the toilet facilities before booking. Foundation membership is free, with advance booking required.
7. Worthing, West Sussex
Beaches don’t have to be sandy to present a challenge. Shingle can be equally determined to stop your wheels turning.
Worthing offers free adult and child beach wheelchairs with large inflatable wheels, designed to help visitors travel over the shingle. A rollator is also available.
Equipment is collected from Splashpoint Leisure Centre, where a Changing Places facility is available for people borrowing it. Contact the centre to confirm collection arrangements and whether the equipment meets your needs.
What I would check before setting off
A little information beforehand can make the whole day feel easier. My questions would be:
Do I need to book, and is there a charge?
Will the chair suit my seating and support needs?
Can I transfer into it, and is a suitable hoist available?
Do I need someone to push?
Where can I leave my own wheelchair?
How far is it from parking to the equipment and beach?
Are accessible toilets or Changing Places facilities available, and when are they open?
How will the tides and weather affect the visit?
I would also check whether staff can assist with transfers or whether I need to bring someone who can help. Having equipment available doesn’t necessarily mean transfer support is provided.
Then I can get on with the more enjoyable planning. Such as lunch.
Everyone deserves to be part of the beach day
Through Access the Dales, I see the difference suitable mobility equipment can make to someone’s time outdoors. It opens up possibilities and gives families the chance to explore together.
Beach wheelchairs can do that at the coast.
They allow someone to join the picnic, sit beside the sandcastle and enjoy the waves from the beach itself. Those shared moments matter.
I want more people to have that opportunity, with equipment that suits them and clear information that makes planning easier.
Because a day at the seaside should leave you with happy memories, windswept hair and possibly a little sand somewhere unexpected.
And, if the research is anything to go by, you might sleep rather well afterwards too.
Just keep an eye on those chips.
Here are some charities helping people get onto the beach, Debbie:
Charity | Where they work | What they provide |
North East England | Free loans of specialist beach wheelchairs and mobility equipment through a network of coastal locations. | |
North Berwick, Portobello and Seton Sands, Scotland | Free beach wheelchair loans, with equipment varying by location. North Berwick also offers powered all-terrain chairs and a transfer hoist. www.beachwheelchairs.org | |
Lincolnshire coast | A volunteer-led charity providing free access to beach wheelchairs, hoisting equipment and an all-terrain Tramper. Check which equipment is available at each site. beachability-lincs.org.uk | |
Northern Ireland | Free beach equipment loans through its Inclusive Beach partnerships, including specialist wheelchairs. Free membership and advance booking are required; availability is seasonal. Inclusive Beach Access for Everyone | |
Jersey, Channel Islands | Free loans of manual beach wheelchairs for residents and visitors. Jersey is outside the UK, but this is a useful additional scheme for a coastal holiday. Jersey Sport |
Contact the charity before travelling to check booking arrangements, seating support, transfer equipment and whether you need someone to push the chair.
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