Best Beaches in the UK – a little parochial I know!

Isn’t it strange, the way time moves? I could stand here and watch the sea crash beneath me for hours and it would feel like only minutes had passed.

Sjana Elise Earp

The sun is out, the temperatures are rising, there’s no rain in the forecast, and we’re finally allowed to travel further than the end of the street! So, what to do with all this new found freedom? Well, for me, living in London but brought up near the coast, well, in my early life anyway – I miss the sea. I miss the smell of the salty air, the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore, the feel of a sea breeze blowing through my hair, the taste of fish and chips, (always better near the sea!!), and the sight of people smiling and having fun – being near the sea seems to make everyone a little happier.

As an Island nation we’re blessed with some of the most beautiful coastline and beaches in the world and with conservation projects up and down the country, we have some of the best-preserved landscapes on the planet. Like many other countries around the world, the UK gives the coveted Blue Flag award to the best of the best. So, with society waking up and looking more and more at doing what they love, here’s a few of my favourites to whet your appetite;

Benllech Beach

Not the biggest, dare I say not the best however, a place that makes my heart burst with childhood memories! Set on Anglesey’s east coast, Benllech Beach is one of the most popular beaches on the island. It has fine golden sand and clear blue waters that are a delight for families to paddle and swim. At low tide the sand stretches for miles so there’s plenty of space for activities including swimming, building sandcastles, windsurfing, sailing and sea fishing. There are plenty of rock pools providing opportunities to see crabs, starfish and small fish up-close.

Backed by grassy cliffs, the beach has a promenade and the Isle of Anglesey Coast Path runs through Benllech village.

Botany Bay, Kent

One of Kent’s best-kept secrets, Botany Bay is in a less obvious location, making it quieter than other beaches on this stretch of Kent coast. With stunning chalk stacks, it’s also the most striking. There are no facilities other than toilets and the occasional ice-cream kiosk but you’ll find the lovely Botany Bay Tea Gardens on the cliff top above the beach. Once a hotspot for smugglers, the cliffs harbour caves, tunnels and holes that are perfect for stashing contraband.

King Edward's Bay, Tynemouth

A stone’s throw from the cafés and shops in Tynemouth, two stone staircases descend the cliff face, leading you to this perfect little sandy cove. Sheltered by grassy banks and washed by the North Sea, King Edward's is crowned by the ruins of Tynemouth Priory and Castle, which rise above the beach on a headland. Tucked under the cliff is Riley’s Fish Shack. Raved about by food critic Jay Rayner, this rustic spot specialises in local, sustainable fish, yummy!!

Achmelvich Beach, Lochinver

Way, way, WAY up North, tucked away down a single-track road, this crescent beach has impossibly white sands. The turquoise waters are perfect for paddling and bracing North Sea swims, and there are granite outcrops for exploring. Scramble over the rocks to find tiny beaches and Hermit’s Castle – the smallest in Europe. The beach is also a good place for windsurfing, sea kayaking and fishing.

Bring a picnic, as there are no amenities here, except for a small shop in the beachside Shore Caravan Site. On a bright sunny day, I would challenge anyone to find somewhere more stunning!

Trevone Bay Beach, Cornwall

Back in Cornwall, this golden inlet of sand is trimmed with rocky ledges. An SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), the bay has fascinating rock formations, including a dramatic blow-hole, which plunges 80 feet through the cliff. There’s also a semi-natural tidal pool that provides a calm place to swim while surfers ride the Atlantic waves. The rock-pooling is excellent too – look for pipefish, swimming crabs and cushion stars. If you go for a dip, be aware that the rip current on the right side of the beach can sometimes be strong.

Sea Palling, North Norfolk

The sand is softer and the sea is calmer than at many of Sea Palling’s neighbouring beaches. This is thanks to the nine offshore reefs that protect the area from flooding. It’s perfect for family days out, as there are cafés, a pub and a small amusement arcade behind the beach, plus a farm shop and stall selling local fish. To explore more, walk barefoot until the sands merge into Waxham beach, home to seals and Waxham Barn café – a restored Tudor threshing barn.

West Wittering, West Sussex

One of the last surviving areas of natural coastline in West Sussex, this swathe of white sand has a wild and windswept feel. The grassy parking area provides a sheltered picnic spot, and the windsurfing hut hires all manner of water sports equipment. The wildest part of the beach is at the eastern end, where the sand mixes with shingle and the coast hooks north into the Chichester channel. Bordered by wildlife-rich saltmarsh, this is the East Head peninsula – part of the Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), visited by seals, sand lizards and thousands of Brent geese.

Llanddwyn Bay, Anglesey

And finally, back to my beloved Anglesey! Stretch out on this magical sandy bay and marvel at the views of Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula. Llanddwyn is backed by dunes and a 2,000-acre conifer forest (Newborough Warren Nature Reserve, a favourite of both myself and my SL friend Kezy), which is crisscrossed with walking routes. At the western end of the beach is the tidal island of Ynys Llanddwyn. Trails lead from the beach to the island’s southern tip, where you’ll find a disused lighthouse and old pilot cottages, which are used for wildlife exhibitions, somewhere we didn’t go as kids however, somewhere I discovered years later whilst exploring with friends! A quick last aside about Llanddwyn, the lovely people from Google sent a man with a cam to the peninsula, so if you fancy a virtual walk around the headland take a look on Google maps and drop the little yellow chap onto one of the beaches – I was actually very pleasantly surprised by this little touch!

What’s on this week?