Lumley Beach is the city beach of Freetown — a four-kilometre arc of golden sand running between Aberdeen and the southern end of Lumley. It is busy and very social, with a string of bars, music venues, and grilled-fish places along the road behind. Weekends draw big crowds; weekdays are calmer.
The swimming is fine in the morning when the sea is flat. By afternoon a stiff onshore wind picks up and the breakers can be vigorous. Stick to the central stretch by Aberdeen Junction or Lumley Junction, where there are people about. The far southern end gets lonely after dark.