This beach is predominantly public, which makes it hugely popular. In the corner there’s a lovely private beach club called Royal Beach, which is open from late April/May to end of September (weather dependent).
This is a great beach with an exceptional view and good facilities. Even better, the wide promenade with shady trees and park benches is a place where everyone likes to gather and walk in the evenings, giving it real character year-round. However, in mid-summer, be prepared to get to this beach early otherwise you might find yourself queuing for a patch of sand and waiting for others to leave.
In the long summer twilights, big groups of families and friends gather at this beach for volleyball and picnics until late, and there’s a gorgeous walkway or ‘promenade’ behind the beach with lots of park benches shaded by trees where you can sit and look out to sea.
It has disabled access via a long paved walkway behind the beach and ramps rolling down to the sand. In high summer, the council has cordoned off a part of the beach with a mat rolled right down to the water for wheelchair users. There are free public toilets on the far side of the Sailing Club building or some coin-operated toilets mid-way along the beach in the carpark. There are showers on the edge of the water.
Dogs: From mid-April until October dogs are ostensibly forbidden on these beaches between 06:00 and midnight due to the crowds. However, you’ll find that on wet or windy days or early in the morning the locals still walk their dogs there anyway.