Sure, we do like to be beside the seaside – but is it losing its charm?

The number of people visiting the UK’s coastline has fallen by 20% over the last 10 years, according to a new report released by the National Trust. Too little time, overcrowded beaches, overpriced facilities and the lure of overseas destinations have all contributed to a decline in day trippers taking to the UK coast.

The latest National Trust could make grim reading for tourist firms, despite coming after Britain baked in sizzling temperatures over the weekend with temperatures rising to 27C at Gravesend in Kent, while tourist bosses in Cornwall said they were confident that the so-called Poldark effect, named after the BBC drama with Aidan Turner and stunning Cornish scenery, would continue to bring a tourist boom to the county.

The YouGov study of 9,000 people by the heritage charity documents a steady decline in the nation’s love affair with the coast, despite research suggesting 88 per cent of adults view the coastline as a “national treasure”. A full sensory coastal experience in the form of a giant shell, the “Shellsphere” will radiate aromas of salty sea air and seaweed, the sounds of waves and seagulls and magical interior lighting. This rises to 38 per cent among 55+ year-olds.

To further raise awareness, the National Trust is also compiling The Nation’s Ode to the Coast through #lovethecoast, a poem project curated by performance poet John Cooper Clarke.

Coastal value in the older generations saw 94 per cent of those aged 55+ agreeing that it is important that all parents give their children the opportunity to experience the UK’s coast or seaside.

The main reason stopping people visiting the coast more often was not having enough spare time, with 29% citing it as a reason, while 23% said UK coasts were too busy when the weather was nice, 18% said it was too expensive and 17% said transport was a problem.

“Cost barriers are of course a concern with families, also another factor may be the increase in recent years of many British cities becoming attractive places to visit with some, such as Sheffield, recreating a seaside resort with an “Urban Beach” in the city centre”.

In 2005 62 per cent had a day trip to the coast but this year the figure had dropped to 42 per cent.

Have you been to the British seaside in the past year?