UK beaches that look like they’re abroad

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When most us consider holidays, what instantly springs to thoughts is flying abroad to seek out tropical beaches, historic cities or countryside retreats.

While many Brits look to overseas climes for his or her style of solar, sand, sea or metropolis break, they’re lacking out on what’s proper underneath their noses. The UK is blessed with an enviable variety of picturesque locations, whether or not you’re seeking to discover a brand new city, take a stroll in a National Park or spend a day by the seaside.

And, with the price of dwelling disaster having carefully adopted the “end” of the Covid-19 pandemic, to not point out a want for sustainable journey choices, loads of travellers are reconsidering their vacation habits and searching throughout the UK for his or her subsequent journey.

If you’re one in every of thousands and thousands of Brits planning a vacation nearer to house this spring or summer time, take a look at our listing of UK beaches so idyllic they look like they belong on the Med.

Durdle Door, Dorset

In 2001, the Jurassic Coast grew to become the UK’s first Unesco World Heritage web site. The 96-mile part of shoreline stretches from Exmouth to Studland Bay in Dorset, and Durdle Door is the jewel within the coastal crown.

The well-known limestone arch (pictured) was solid by way of waves eroding a gap within the rock and is without doubt one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks, in addition to being some of the common beaches on this listing (and a dog-friendly one too).

Achmelvich Beach, Scotland

Located within the north-west of Scotland, Achmelvich Beach provides the type of white sand often reserved for tropical climes – however is simply three miles away from Lochinver.

The seashore is a superb place for wildlife recognizing, with a spread of birds, porpoises, dolphins and even minke whales typically seen from the shore. It’s additionally common for these enamoured of water sports activities equivalent to fishing, windsurfing, kayaking and water snowboarding.

Kynance Cove, Cornwall

Visit Cornwall reckons that Kynance Cove is “probably the most photographed and painted location in Cornwall”, and for good cause.

Famous for the darkish pink and inexperienced serpentinite rock that makes up its cliffs – and which tempted Queen Victoria as soon as upon a time to put in a hearth made from it – the seashore sits on a part of the Lizard coastal stroll. Nevertheless, it’s the white sand and turquoise sea that actually entice hundreds of holiday makers per 12 months.

Pentle Bay, Tresco, Isles of Scilly

To be honest to different UK beaches, Pentle Bay’s sub-tropical local weather provides it the sting on the remainder of the British Isles.

Found on the island of Tresco throughout the Isles of Scilly, Pentle Bay has beforehand been named as probably the greatest beaches within the UK and has even made it onto a Wall Street Journal listing of “Under-the-Radar Beaches”.

Praised by the publication for “bone-white beaches” and “turquiose if chilly sea”, Pentle Bay is one in every of quite a few wonderful beaches on the Isles however shines as a consequence of its wild, untouched look and the very fact that it may possibly typically be discovered empty, even in excessive season.

Great Bay, St Martin’s, Isles of Scilly

Staying throughout the temperate Isles of Scilly, the island of St Martin’s is house to a different very good UK seashore that may have any customer pondering they have been within the Azores.

Back by inexperienced hills, the rugged, rocky shoreline of Great Bay gives the look of an Atlantic vacation spot solely reachable by a number of hours of flying, fairly than one only a brief distance from the Cornish coast.

Great Bay has been extensively praised as one of many Isles’ greatest beaches, however the islands provide loads of selection, in addition to laying declare to being the UK’s warmest location.

Fistral Beach, Cornwall

Fistral Beach has change into well-known throughout the UK as a well-liked seashore for surfers. The Cribbar – a close-by reef – can generate waves as much as 12m excessive and attracts skilled surfers from everywhere in the world.

Its recognition as a water sports activities vacation spot has led to it being missed by the non-surfers amongst us. As a end result, few have given this well-known seashore the credit score its aesthetics deserve. The excessive cliffs, headlands and sand dunes present a dramatic backdrop, whereas lengthy stretches of golden sand and blue sea await each surfers and onlookers.

Read extra on UK journey:

Barafundle Bay, Wales

Wales is probably not the place that springs to thoughts on the subject of golden sand dunes, pine bushes and crystal-clear water, however Barafundle provides all of them.

Look out in the direction of the ocean if you wish to really feel like you’re within the Caribbean, or look again in the direction of land to really feel like you’re on an Atlantic island.

What’s extra, the remoted location (half a mile from the city of Stackpole) and the following lack of services imply that this Pembrokeshire seashore stays untouched, so guests can take pleasure in a much less crowded expertise than at many different UK hotspots.

Holkham Beach, Norfolk

Another seashore that has been saved from commercialisation, Norfolk’s Holkham Beach boasts a seemingly limitless expanse of sand and sea. Backed by forest to shelter you from these days when the solar is an excessive amount of, the sheer dimension of this unspoilt panorama could have you feeling like you’re abroad.

Here, the attraction is the pure setting, with the grassy knolls and pine woods that sit behind the seashore just like some beaches within the US.

Portmeirion Beach, Wales

If charming, Italian-style Portmeirion village itself wasn’t sufficient of an attraction, Portmeirion can be house to a formidable seashore. It might not have the white sands or turquoise waters you’ll discover at a few of different entries on this listing, however the scenic backdrop – and it’s uniqueness throughout the UK – make this a worthwhile go to.

Located in northern Wales, the seashore right here is one that advantages from its setting: the pastel buildings and classical structure of the village are intertwined with basic British woodland to present your complete location a UK-meets-Italy really feel.

Luskentyre Sands, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Named as one of many 34 greatest beaches on the earth by Condé Nast Traveller, Luskentyre isn’t as simple to achieve as some beaches on this listing, however it’s greater than price the additional effort to get there.

With golden sand and nearly extremely blue water, it is a UK seashore the place the surroundings and geography lend themselves equally to sunny rest days or stormy mountain climbing ones.

That mentioned, go to on a heat summer time’s day if you wish to attempt to persuade your self that you’re someplace within the Indian Ocean fairly than in Scotland (however greatest to pack a water-resistant, simply in case).

Read our evaluations of the greatest UK accommodations