10 of the best � uk beaches

Summer 2011 tlm � the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk 71

Blue Flag accolade for the past 22 years – Sandbanks isone of five beaches in Poole and comprises three milesof soft, golden sands on a peninsula ranking as Britain’smost expensive piece of real estate. Thankfully, youdon’t need to be a millionaire to enjoy its glorious sands.Activities: Cycle along the beach promenade to Brank-some Dene Chine and on to neighbouringBournemouth. Swim and windsurf off the beach. Takethe chain ferry to visit the National Trust’s StudlandBeach and Nature Reserve. Sandbanks Beach hosts theBritish Beach Polo Championships each July.Stay: The Sandbanks Hotel (www.fjbhotels.co.uk) isright on the beach and offers a terrace with direct beachaccess, indoor pool, gym, beauty rooms and a watersports academy.www.pooletourism.com

4. Scilly Isles: Par Beach, HigherTown, St Martin’sThe wow factor:A crescent of white sand slopinggently into the sea, this stunning family beach lies closeto Higher Town on the magical Scillies island of StMartin’s and is perfect for a picnic under the sun.Activities: Safe swimming, relaxing walks or justlaying back in the long grasses, you can be as energeticor inactive as you want on Par Beach.Stay: Just a short walk from Par Beach, St Martin’s onthe Isle (www.stmartinshotel.co.uk) opened in 1989after the island’s landlord, Prince Charles, gave permis-sion for it to be built two years earlier. The only hotel onSt Martin’s, it nestles into a hillside to resemble a clusterof granite cottages and has its own quay.www.simplyscilly.co.uk

5. Northumberland: BamburghBeachThe wow factor: Overlooked by the famous castle –one of Northumberland’s most iconic sights – this gemis a long, sandy beach which offers beautiful views ofHoly Island and the Farne Islands.Activities: The beach never gets packed and its smoothsands make it perfect for beach cricket or rounders.Behind the beach are sand dunes which are great fun forchildren to play on. Take a boat trip to the Farne Islandswhere you can see puffins.Stay: Less than nine miles from Bamburgh, DoxfordHall (www.doxfordhall.com), near Alnwick is a

family-friendly, four-star Georgian hotel set in its owngrounds with a maze, pool, leisure centre and spa.www.bamburgh.org.uk

6.Cornwall:Carbis Bay Beach, St IvesThe wow factor: Mile-long Carbis Bay’s beach is thequiet, lesser-known neighbour to bustling resort St Ives,just a three-minute train ride or 20-minute walk away. ABlue Flag beach of golden sands and turquoise sea, itsexquisite beauty was the inspiration for sculptorBarbara Hepworth, whose home overlooked the bay.Activities: Carbis Bay is ideal for families with its safebathing and lifeguards in summer. Paddle in the clearwaters or build sandcastles on the beach. The moreactive can go surfing, fishing, sailing and windsurfing,hike the South West Coast Path, ride the scenic rail lineto St Ives or take a boat trip to Seal Island.Stay: The luxury Carbis Bay Hotel (www.carbisbayhotel.co.uk) has a dramatic water-front location with direct access to the beach. CarbisBay Holidays (www.carbisbayholidays.co.uk)offers beach-front apartments to luxury villas, includ-ing one with an outdoor hot tub. www.visitcornwall.com

70 tlm � the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk Summer 2011

1. Norfolk: Holkham BeachThe wow factor: One of the country’s most unspoiltand beautiful stretches of beach, you can follow inthe footsteps of Gwyneth Paltrow, who walkedacross its sands at low tide in the closing scenes ofthe movie, Shakespeare in Love. Four miles ofgolden sands are edged by grassy dunes, creeks andsaltings home to many rare flora and fauna species.The beach forms part of Holkham National Nature

Reserve, one of the UK’s largest nature reserves.Activities: Visit nearby stately home Holkham Hall.See colonies of seals and terns in Blakely NationalNature Reserve. Watch glassmaking demonstrations atLangham Glass. Take a trip on the narrow-gauge, steamWells and Walsingham Light Railway. Stay:The Victoria Hotel (www.holkham.co.uk/victoria)is located on the coast road, a 10-minute walk fromHolkham Beach. It is known for its relaxed, colonialfeel, with furniture from Rajasthan and Victorian-themed, individually-designed rooms.www.holkham.co.uk

2. South Devon: Blackpool Sands,near DartmouthThe wow factor:With its golden sands cupped bypine-topped cliffs and lapped by crystal-clear water, youcould almost be in the Mediterranean. A Blue Flagwinner in 2010, Blackpool Sands is privately-managedand is cleaned daily.Activities: Supervised sand pits and lifeguards helpmake it one of the area’s most popular family beaches.Water sports include kayaking and boogie boarding,while you can rent surf-skis or hire a wetsuit andsnorkel to explore the waters. Walkers can enjoy theadjacent South West Coast Path. The sub-tropical

Blackpool Gardens, a restored 19th century plantsman’sgarden, are nearby.Stay:A range of accommodation is right on thedoorstep. Family-run Stoke Lodge Hotel(www.stokelodge.co.uk) is in the neighbouring villageof Stoke Fleming. Camping and caravanning and rentalholiday cottages are also available in the area. www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk

3. Dorset: Sandbanks Beach, PooleThe wow factor:Winner of more Blue Flags than anyother UK resort – it has held the coveted International

As summer beckons, many will be packing towels,parasols and flip flops to head to the coast. Here’sour pick of British beaches for those lazy, hazy days

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10 of the best � uk beaches

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7. Channel Islands: Plemont Beach,Jersey The wow factor: Unsung compared to more illustrioussouth coast beaches, such as St Brelade and PorteletBay, Plemont on Jersey’s north-west coast is a littlebeauty. You’ll need to get there before high tide as itgets completely covered; however, at other times it is astretch of fine sand hemmed in by rocks. There are alsofascinating caves to explore and a stream with a water-fall on the western side of the beach. Activities: Children can go rock pooling to hunt forcrabs and other sea creatures, or play in the shallowlagoons left on the beach by the retreating tide. Body-boarding is popular on the surf waves when there is toomuch swell for swimming.Stay: Book a self-catering apartment close to the beachor make it a decadent break and stay in one of StHelier’s luxury hotels, such as the Grand Hotel(www.grandjersey.com) or chic boutique propertyThe Club Hotel & Spa (www.theclubjersey.com).www.jersey.com

8.Wales:Marloes Sands,PembrokeshireThe wow factor:A huge expanse of sand at low tidewith rocks and interesting cliff formations; rock poolscan be found at the western end of the beach. At hightide the beach can disappear altogether, but at low tide,there’s plenty to explore. The rock strata have dividedthe beach up into little “bays” for added privacy.Activities: Climb over the rocks at the western end todiscover Albion Sands, a perfect little sandy beach. Atlow tide you can see the remains of a wrecked shipsticking out of the sand.Stay: The Clock House, in the village of Marloes(www.clockhousemarloes.co.uk), is a contemporary

B&B with a relaxing café/bar and restaurant.www.visitpembrokeshire.com

9. Channel Islands: Shell Beach,HermThe wow factor: Measuring just a mile and a half longand half a mile wide, Herm boasts several exquisitebeaches, with Shell Beach being the pick of them. Thesweep of golden sand stretches almost three-quarters ofa mile to Herm’s northern tip and around to dune-flanked sandy bays. It is named for the millions of tinyshells washed up by the Gulf Stream.Activities: There are no cars on Herm, so walking ispopular. You can go kayaking, fishing, charter a boat, goon an island RIB wildlife adventure, tour Herm’s gardensand discover its history. Go rock pooling on the beach.Stay: Herm has one 40-bedroom hotel, 20 holidaycottages and two campsites. Stays at the White HouseHotel, including sea or air travel, are offered by ChannelIslands Direct (www.channelIslandsdirect.co.uk). www.herm.com

10. Cornwall: Bedruthan StepsBeach, Mawgan PorthThe wow factor: Located on Cornwall’s rugged northcoast, this drop-dead-gorgeous beach is one of the south-west’s most photographed and is named for the giantgranite rocks which, according to folklore, were the step-ping stones for a Cornish giant. It is only accessible atlow tide via steep steps, so is only suitable for the fit andagile. But that makes it very quiet even in summer.Activities: Limited at the beach because access isrestricted but then with such views, who cares? TheSouth West Coast Path skirts the beach. The nearbyNational Trust car park offers welcome snacks and theobligatory Cornish cream tea. For finer fare, JamieOliver’s Fifteen restaurant is just 10 minutes away atWatergate Bay. Stay: Set on the cliff side, the Bedruthan Steps Hotel(www.bedruthan.com) was named Cornwall’s hotel ofthe year in 2010.www.visitcornwall.com

72 tlm � the travel & leisure magazine www.tlm-magazine.co.uk Summer 2011

10 of the best � uk beaches

Do you know of abetter British beach?Tell us on tlm’sFacebook page:http://bit.ly/tlm_facebook– and see oursuggestions for 10 ofthe rest.

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