A Cornwall spot has been ranked amongst the wettest coastal towns in the UK according to rainfall data.

Bude in north Cornwall featured in the top 20 following analysis of Met Office figures from 1991 to 2020.

Aultbea in the Scottish Highlands took the top spot with 121mm of rainfall each month.

However, on average, seaside towns are drier than the rest of the UK, with analysis showing they get an average of 75mm of rainfall a month, compared to 97mm for the rest of the country.  

Great British Life: Whilst Bude is among the wettest UK coastal towns it still gets plenty of sunlight as wellWhilst Bude is among the wettest UK coastal towns it still gets plenty of sunlight as well (Image: Getty Images)

The findings were compiled by Sykes Holiday Cottages, and former BBC weather presenter, Owain Wyn Evans, after research of 2,000 adults found 72% don’t let typical wet British weather get in the way of a good staycation.

Top 20 wettest coastal towns in the UK

The top 20 wettest coastal towns in the UK were found to be as follows:

  1. Aultbea, Scottish Highlands, average 121mm a month
  2. Tiree, Inner Hebrides, average 106mm a month
  3. Lochboisdale, Outer Hebrides, average 100mm a month
  4. Helensburgh, Argyll & Bute, average 137mm a month
  5. Portrush, Country Antrim, Northern Ireland, average 81mm a month 
  6. Fair Isle, Shetland, average 77mm a month
  7. St Bees, Cumbria, average 92mm a month
  8. Cardiff, South Glamorgan, average 100mm a month
  9. Tenby, Pembrokeshire, average 95mm a month
  10. Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, average 90mm a month 
  11. Killowen, County Down, Northern Ireland, average 88mm a month
  12. Morecambe, Lancashire, average 88mm a month 
  13. St-Athan, The Vale of Glamorgan, average 87mm a month 
  14. Mumbles Head, Swansea, average 85mm a month 
  15. Helens Bay, County Down, Northern Ireland, average 81mm a month
  16. Aberporth, Ceredigion, average 77mm a month 
  17. Bude, Cornwall, average 75mm a month 
  18. Slapton, Devon, average 93mm a month 
  19. Aberdaron, Gwynedd, average 76mm a month 
  20. Blackpool, Lancashire, average 73mm a month 

Graham Donoghue, chief executive at Sykes Holiday Cottages, which has also created a Rainy Day Guide to Seaside Towns with wet weather activity inspiration, said: “Rain is often part and parcel of a UK holiday, but our latest research shows that wet weather isn’t necessarily a dampener on people’s staycation experiences.  

“With our new Rainy Day Guide, we want to help holiday-goers make the most of their trips closer to home – come rain or shine.

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"Whether that’s visiting a museum or spending the day in a local paint-a-pot or board game cafe, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a packed staycation itinerary even when it’s raining.”  

Owain Wyn Evans, former BBC weather presenter, added: “I love that even in the rain, holidaymakers will still embrace a Great British staycation.  

“Us Brits won’t let a bit of wet weather keep us indoors, and I’d argue some activities can even be better with a few rain drops!"