Holkham (and Wells) Beach
Drawing fame in the closing scenes of the 1999 movie Shakespeare in Love, where it represented the expansive shores of Virginia, Holkham Beach is an enchanting bay on the north Norfolk coast. The area is co-managed by Natural England and the Holkham Estate. Its vast miles of sand are backed by nature-rich dunes and shady pine forests – as a result, it is as popular with birdwatchers, walkers and horse-riders as it is with holidaymakers seeking a relaxing beach day. Walk far enough east and you’ll arrive at the similarly alluring Wells Beach, where colourful beach huts complete the idyllic seaside landscape.
Bamburgh Beach
Big skies, drifting dunes and an ancient castle are the order of the day at Bamburgh Beach, set within the Northumberland Coast’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Sprawling Norman fortress Bamburgh Castle presides over the skyline and looms magnificently over the miles of sand, while Bamburgh itself has been named the UK’s best seaside destination by Which? magazine for four years in a row. It’s easy to see why – not only is it a beautiful, pristine spot with a pretty, well-served village, but its beach appeal is wide, with great surf, spectacular walks, abundant wildlife and soft sand that’s perfect for sandcastles on sunny days.
Compton Bay
The Isle of Wight is renowned for its diverse clutch of delectable beaches, from secluded coves to colourful seaside resorts. One of its most beautiful stretches of coast is in the south-west of the island; Compton Bay is a two-mile stretch of sand backed by richly coloured sandstone cliffs and sweeping views around the coast to Freshwater Bay. It enjoys year-round appeal – just as beautiful for a bracing winter walk as it is for splashing and sunbathing in the warmer months. It is also a top destination for fossil hunters, with cliffs that are rich with prehistoric remains, and dinosaur footprints to be found in the
rocky ledges of the foreshore.
Sanna Bay
The Scottish coast abounds with white sand beaches lapped by clear turquoise water, and one of the prettiest of these Caribbean-esque shores is Sanna Bay. This rock-fringed beach is the most westerly in mainland Britain, sitting on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula and offering views out to the Small Isles – Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna. Backed by dunes and characterised by swathes of soft, fine sand, Sanna is a mecca for rockpool lovers at low tide – though the wildlife-watching opportunities extend beyond marine mini-beasts; depending on the time of year, visitors may even glimpse otters, dolphins or sea eagles.
Marloes Sands
It’s a fair walk from the National Trust car park down to Marloes Sands, but you’ll be rewarded with one of Pembrokeshire’s loveliest beaches. Its golden sand and craggy rock formations create a magnificent landscape, with plenty of sheltered spaces for relaxing and a clear, clean sea for bathing. Scramble over the rocks at Marloes’ western end to reach Albion Sands, a small cove named after the paddle steamer that ran aground here in 1837. At low tide, parts of the wreck can still be seen. This part of Wales is wonderful for wildlife, too, with nearby islands of Skomer and Skokholm teeming with puffins, and seals often sighted around the coast.
Kynance Cove
One of Cornwall’s most photographed beaches, Kynance Cove on the Lizard Peninsula has all the aquamarine appeal of a tropical paradise, coupled with sculptural rock formations that give the place its unique, rugged charm. Its popularity dates back to Victorian times, when tourists began to descend on the area, including eminent figures such as Queen Victoria and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Low tide provides perfect conditions for exploring and relaxing, but at high tide the beach is entirely covered, so it’s wise to check times before a visit. And, as you might expect, the summer months can be frenetic as beach lovers flock to this iconic cove.
