Following the launch of A Coast for All at the House of Commons, the conversation around beach accessibility has continued to gather momentum.
In May 2026, the findings of the report were featured by the BBC, helping bring national attention to an issue that affects thousands of people across the UK every day.
The coverage highlighted a simple but powerful finding from the research: for many disabled people and people living with long-term health conditions, arriving at the coast does not necessarily mean being able to access the beach itself.
The report, developed through a collaboration between the Beach Access Project and the University of Brighton, drew on responses from 1,071 people across the UK with disabilities, long-term health conditions, and additional access needs, alongside family members and carers responding on behalf of others.
The findings reveal a significant gap between the desire to access coastal environments and the reality of what is currently possible. While 98% of respondents said they would like to visit beaches more often and 85% wanted to reach the water’s edge, more than half were unable to access the beach itself during their most recent visit. For wheelchair users, only 13% reported being able to reach the shoreline or enter the water.
These figures are important because they challenge a common assumption that proximity equals access.
Across the UK, beaches are often viewed as public spaces that belong to everyone. They are places associated with family holidays, childhood memories, exercise, relaxation, wellbeing and connection with nature. Yet for many people, access ends at the promenade, car park or viewing point. They can see the sea but cannot reach it. They can accompany family and friends but are unable to participate in the experiences taking place around them.
One participant described spending years watching from the promenade while family members accessed the beach. Another spoke of being unable to join their children on the sand despite travelling to the coast together. These experiences were echoed repeatedly throughout the survey.
The findings also demonstrate that this is not an inevitable consequence of coastal environments.
Where appropriate infrastructure, equipment and support are available, access improves dramatically. Beach matting, boardwalks, accessible toilets, changing facilities, adaptive equipment, clear information and supported access programmes all play an important role in enabling participation. The report argues that the challenge is no longer identifying solutions but ensuring they are delivered consistently across the country.
What makes this issue particularly significant is that it extends beyond accessibility alone.
At its heart, this is a conversation about participation, belonging and equality. Beaches and coastal environments contribute to physical health, mental wellbeing, social connection and community life. When access is restricted, people are excluded not only from a place but from the experiences, relationships and opportunities that place makes possible.
The BBC coverage helped bring these issues to a wider audience, sharing the voices and experiences of those who contributed to the research and highlighting the need for coordinated national action.
The response since publication has been incredibly encouraging. Interest has come from policymakers, local authorities, charities, accessibility advocates, researchers and coastal organisations across the country, all exploring how beach access can be improved within their own communities.
This is exactly what the report was intended to achieve.
Research matters when it creates opportunities for conversation, collaboration and action. The hope is that A Coast for All becomes a practical resource for communities, organisations and decision-makers seeking to improve accessibility and inclusion within coastal environments.
If you are involved in coastal management, local government, community organisations, tourism, leisure, watersports or accessibility advocacy, I would encourage you to explore the report and consider how its findings might support conversations within your own area.
The report is available to download below. If you would like to discuss the findings, recommendations or opportunities for collaboration, please feel free to get in touch.
Together, we can move closer to a future where access to the coast genuinely means access to the beach.
