Withernsea Beach

A long, straight sand-and-shingle beach on the fast-eroding Holderness coast, watched over by the unusual inland Withernsea lighthouse and the town's twin pier towers. This far south-east corner of the region has a wild, wind-scoured feel: the flat, endless beach runs for miles between low boulder-clay cliffs and sea defences, and the big open skies over the North Sea give plenty of room for clean, uncluttered flying. It is one of very few genuinely quiet English coastlines where you can spread out well away from people, especially outside the summer holidays. For pilots the wide firm sand at low tide is an ideal take-off surface, with excellent sightlines and no cliffs close by to block signal. The coast here is eroding rapidly, so the cliff edge and sea walls make dramatic subjects, but keep clear of the promenade, pier towers and any beach users, and mind the groynes and defences at the water's edge. There is no airport flight restriction zone nearby; Humberside airport lies well to the west across the estuary. Because the beach faces open sea, expect a steady, sometimes strong onshore wind and gusty conditions near the sea wall, so watch your battery margins on the way back. Low tide on a bright, breezy day gives the best combination of space and light.