LULWORTH COVE, DORSET
The perfect arc of sand at Lulworht is one of the most famous features of the British coastline. It’s a beautiful beach, although it can get very busy in the summer months. Lulworth is part of the Jurassic Coast, and you can learn more about it a the excellent visitor centre near the beach, but the best way to explore the area’s beauty is to walk from Lulworth over the cliffs to the extraordinary rock formation known as Durdle Door.
BAMBURGH, NORTHUMBERLAND
The combination of a brooding, dramatic ruined castle and a long stretch of golden sand makes Bamburgh one of the most stunning beaches in the whole of the UK. The beach stretches for miles and rarely gets busy, even in high summer. There are sandbars beneath the waves that create good surf and the 11th-century castle and views out to the bird-clad Farne Island give Bamburgh a truly unique feel.
CAMBER SANDS, EAST SUSSEX
The Long rolling dunes that back miles of unspoilt sandy beach at Camber make this stretch of coastline one of the most stunning in the south. Plan your visit according to the tide times; low tide, when there are acres of open sand, is good for beach games and kite flying, and older kids can take kite-surfing lessons on the beach. The cluster of old fishermen’s cottages that make up the village of Camber do a fine line in ice creams and fish and chips.
HOLKHAM, NORFOLK
Famous as the location of the closing scenes of the film Shakespeare in Love, Holkam is a vast stretch of beach that has a wonderful sense of space and freedom. This beach is better suited to walkers than swimmers at low tide the sea retreats half a mile from the shoreline. It gets busy in the summer months, but the further you walk from the pretty pastel-coloured beach huts, the more peaceful the beach gets. It is perfect for sunlit picnics and sandcastle-building competitions.
ROBIN HOOD’S BAY, NORTH YORKSHIRE
At low tide, the rocky beach at Robin Hood’s Bay becomes surprisingly sandy and fills up with families rockpooling and searching for the fossils for which the bay is famous. Surrounded on both sides by sheer cliffs, the bay has a natural peace and beauty, while the small village of the same name that perches to the left of the beach is a delightful cluster of old fishermen’s cottages on pretty cobbled lanes.
PORTHCURNO, CORNWALL
Nature dominates stunning Porthcurno. The beach is accessible by walking down a lush narrow valley that leads to a wide curve of honey-coloured sands. There is a wild beauty here, and the beach is free of any development, although there is an excellent cafe a few minutes walk away. Take a walk along the South West Coast Path towards Penzance to find Penberth Cove, a picture-perfect are of beach.
WOOLACOMBE, DEVON
This stunning wide beach is sandwiched between two National Trust Headlands, with dramatic cliffs that slope down to the swathes of rock pools that are revealed at low tide. Woolacombe is one of a trio (along with Croyde and Putsborough) of top surfing beaches on this stretch of coastline, but the gentle waves also make it ideal for families. It’s great for walking too; there’s a stunning hike up to the National Trust’s Baggy Point.