Singing Beach

A picturesque crescent of soft golden sand between rocky headland is what makes Singing Beach one of the most popular on the North Shore. At around half a mile in length the beach here is backed by grassy slopes and woodland giving it a somewhat sechluded and peaceful feel.

Singing Beach is one of a select few beaches globally where the sand “sings”. We put that in quotes because it is actually more of a squeak than some sort of choral performance! It is only the dry sand that emits this odd behaviour and the exact mechanism is still not completely understood. However, we do know the sand grains need to be of a certain size and shape, the right humidity and contain silica. There must also be no pollution.

Having visited a few beaches with singing, squeaking and whisitling sand, I would point out that it can be something of an anti-climax, so try not to get too excited about the prospect of a musical beach. That said, Singing Beach has plenty of other attractions which make it one of the best around.

The scenery here is beautiful with the rocks around the sides and houses built up amongst the cliffs. The back of the beach is elevated and has benches and shade if you want to sit on the beach and just enjoy the view. The water is generally pretty calm and it’s clean.

Singing Sands is about an hour’s drive from Boston but the limited parking and abundance of other great beaches nearby help keep the crowds down. The beach is maintained by the town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, and there are public restrooms and a concession stand. There are lifeguards from the end of May to the beginning of September. There is limited parking, and it can be expensive. If you take a train, it is about a 15-minute walk.

They do charge for access to this beach, and a summer pass costs the same as approximately three days. If you plan to spend three days or more, the pass is an excellent idea. This is a nice beach with beautiful views and plenty of space to relax for the day.