12 things you should NEVER do at the British coast

It’s so easy to make mistakes on holiday at the British seaside – but it can be dangerous!

I live by the coast in Devon, and various mistakes are often in the local news down here. Living by the sea, there are a few very important things to consider that you don’t necessarily learn about if you’re used to being inland. 

So, I thought I’d put together the most common ones in a blog post – so you can avoid making the same mistakes when you visit!

Misjudging how quickly the weather turns

This happens all over  the country, but it can be much more dramatic at the coast!

You might set off in sunshine, but that doesn’t mean you’ll finish the day dry. Coastal weather changes fast, and forecasts often shift hour by hour. 

Tourists frequently arrive in t-shirts, only to be caught out by sea mist, a sudden drop in temperature or driving rain. 

So, I’d recommend packing a compact waterproof and warm jumper – even in summer. 

Sitting too close to the cliffs

Many visitors lay out picnic blankets at the base of a cliff without realising the risks. Coastal erosion is a constant issue around the UK, particularly along the Jurassic Coast in East Devon, where cliff collapses are common. 

It’s not always obvious when an overhang is unstable and cliff falls can happen totally out of the blue. There are usually warning signs, but avoid sitting or walking directly beneath cliffs.

Straying from cliff paths

It’s also vital to take care of the cliff paths when on the trail. Cliff falls really can happen any time, but the coastal path is positioned in such a way to only traverse stable portions of cliffs. 

I’d recommend staying on official paths – and definitely don’t wander past any fencing or ignore any signs. 

I’d also recommend putting dogs on leads whenever you’re close to the edge  of the cliffs. Tragically, a dog ran and fell off the cliffs at Devon Cliffs Caravan Park near Exmouth ran in 2023, and his owner lost his life trying to recover him. 

Assuming the sea is always safe for swimming

The water might look calm, but British seas can be deceptive! 

Hidden currents, steep shelving and sudden drops can catch people off guard. Not all beaches have lifeguards – particularly in shoulder seasons – and many swimmers get into trouble by entering outside patrolled zones or misreading flags. 

This is especially an issue in North Devon and Cornwall’s Atlantic Beaches, but can happen anywhere. I was stuck in a rip in the safe swimming area of Exmouth two years ago  – I was quite far out, but still within the swimming buoys. 

Always check for safety signs near the entrance and swim between red and yellow flags when lifeguards are present.

Not taking care for weever fish 

Weever fish are known as the “stinging nettles of the sea” and they’re common on the UK seabed in the summer months!

They’re around 17 cm long and have painful spikes on their back that if stepped on, can be very painful and cause swelling. They’re difficult to sea because they burrow into the seabed. 

To abate this pain, it’s recommended to put your feet in very hot water. 

But to avoid being stung all together, it’s recommended to wear shoes in the water or walk in by “shuffling” – moving your feet along the seabed which dislodges the fish before standing there. 

Walking out too far at low tide

In places like Morecambe Bay, Weston-super-Mare, or Dawlish Warren, the tide goes out for miles. 

Tourists often head out across sand flats without realising how fast the sea can return!

Some areas include soft mud, quicksand, or channels that fill from behind. 

Even experienced walkers can get caught out if they misjudge timings. 

Tide times vary each day – many beaches have a board with the tides written on, or a lifeguard will know. You can also check online. 

But don’t walk too far out without being 100% certain you can return before the tide comes in!

Feeding the seagulls

Feeding British seagulls is very unadvisable! Doing so causes them to associate humans with food. 

In St Ives, gulls have become so bold they’ll snatch food straight from your hands or dive onto café tables when people aren’t looking. 

They also target bags left unattended. 

Parking in residential streets

This very much varies on where you are, but if a residential street is already very busy and the houses don’t have driveways, I’d implore tourists to not park in them and instead use car parks in town. 

Where I live, we have big problems with parking (it’s a road with old Victorian buildings made when there were far fewer cars left on the road!), and it’s worsened  by people who don’t  live there using the space.

Some of these  roads  are permit holders only or have limits – so do double check restrictions as well before leaving your car anywhere. 

Forgetting the water is cold!

After living in Devon for around five years and swimming all around the year, I don’t find the midsummer sea too chilly now.

Cold water shock is a risk of water under 15°C – the max that the British sea reaches is around 18°C in high summer (usually August). 

Cold water shock can cause gasping, disorientation and muscle cramps – excess gasping can cause drowning. 

The safest way to enter the sea is to dip your toes first, pour some water over your wrists, get in gradually and keep swimming time short unless you’re used to it.

Using inflatables in offshore winds

A gentle breeze might not feel like much on the sand, but if it’s blowing offshore, it can carry lilos and inflatable dinghies out to sea in minutes. 

Dozens of coastguard callouts happen every summer for people stranded after drifting out too far. 

An orange windsock on the beach signals this danger. When it’s flying, keep inflatables packed away.

Turning up cashless

Some small coastal villages still rely on cash, especially for parking meters or public toilets. This is especially true in Devon and Cornwall’s small coves where there’s often no signal – ice cream vans and food kiosks might accept card only when the signal is working! 

Don’t assume contactless will be available everywhere – carry some coins or small notes to avoid frustration.

Expecting things to be open in the off-season

Out of season, many beach towns shut down entirely. 

Attractions, ferries, public toilets and even the seafront shops might only run April to September. 

So double check what’s open before heading to a beach town!

Visiting Devon or Cornwall? Check out my places to visit in Devon and places to visit in Cornwall articles.