This summer, pack light, bring the dog too and make for beaches you might not believe are in the UK, and neither will your kids. These are simply the best UK beaches. Deborah Cicurel
Pedn Vounder Beach, Cornwall
Pedn Vounder Beach: the jewel in Cornwall’s crown
Cornwall is well-known for its stunning beaches, but Pedn Vounder just might be the best of them all. Surrounded by craggy granite cliffs, and tucked away between Logan Rock and Porthcurno Beach, this teeny cove is mind-blowingly beautiful, and – despite an increasing presence on social media thanks to its appearance on Poldark – still appealingly remote.
Though there are two paid car parks about a 20-minute walk away from the beach, you still have to sing for your supper to make the most of Pedn Vounder, as getting there means quite a scramble down a steep-ish cliff, as well as timing your trip around the tide. So travel light, stick with a picnic, water and towels. And just so you know, it’s unofficially one of the best UK beaches for naturists.
How to get there: Pedn Vounder Beach is 20 minutes southwest of Penzance
Where to stay: 2-bedroom Seagull Cottage, Penzance (2 adults, 2 children) from £374 per week. Book Seagull Cottage
Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire
Barafundle Bay Beach: clean, serene and almost Fiji-esque
Recently crowned the UK’s cleanest beach, Pembrokeshire’s Barafundle Bay will have you blinking and rubbing your eyes to make sure you haven’t accidentally arrived in Fiji. The tiny, isolated cove rewards its few visitors with impeccably clear waters, soft golden sands and dreamy views of sloping dunes, vertiginous cliffs and pine trees.
It’s harder work to get there than most of the other beaches, as it’s a half mile walk over cliffs from the nearest car park at Stackpole Quay, and it’s not suitable for buggies due to some steep steps. However, this more challenging route keeps Barafundle Bay feeling undiscovered and remote even on the warmest of summer days. Once there, you and your kids will feel like intrepid explorers happening upon a desert island as you enjoy the solitude of the scenery or a chilly dip in the sea, if you dare.
How to get there: Barafundle Bay is 30 minutes west of Tenby in southwest Wales
Where to stay: Shellstone by Wigwam Holidays, Tenby, Standard Cabin (2 adults, 2 children) from £134 per night. Book Shellstone
Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth, South Devon
Blackpool Sands: one of the best UK beaches for sea kayaking
Thanks to its backdrop of verdant pines, rugged clifftops and thick evergreen trees, Blackpool Sands is an enduring family favourite that’s not just a pretty face. The privately-owned shingle sand beach is packed with activities for the whole family. Swelter in a newly-launched sauna on the beach, tap your feet to live music every Saturday morning, build sandcastles in purpose-built sandpits or acquaint yourself with the Devon coastline on guided paddleboard or sea kayak trips through secret coves.
Parents will appreciate the convenience of this well-prepared beach: there are showers, baby-changing areas and equipment hire, as well as lifeguards on duty and a café.
Also, the sea here is award-winningly clean, but make sure you pack water shoes for splashing about, so there are no complaints about pesky pebbles under little feet.
How to get there: Blackpool Sands is 40 minutes south of Paignton
Where to stay: Salty Dog Apartment, Paignton (2 adults, 2 children) from £167 per night. Book Sunnybeach Holiday Apartments
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Holkham Beach, Norfolk
Holkham Beach, Norfolk: endless sands and wildlife spotting
Lovely Holkham Beach, on the North Norfolk Coast is so stunning we list it in our most beautiful places in the UK.
It was also a favourite haunt of Queen Elizabeth II, and is such a cinematic spot that it’s featured as a location in movies as diverse as Shakespeare in Love and Deadpool & Wolverine.
Kids adore exploring the swathes of fine pale sand, shady pine forests and rolling dunes that make up part of the Holkham National Nature Reserve, as well as channelling their inner David Attenborough and discovering shy wildlife. You can even spot grey seals splashing about or snoozing on the sand here, and horses galloping on the water’s edge aren’t an unusual sight.
Like a lot of Norfolk beaches, Holkham seems to stretch endlessly, so make the most of all that space and take a long walk to tire out the kids. The vast spread also means you’ll always find a quiet spot, even in summer. There’s a car park on Lady Anne’s Drive, off the main coastal road, and from there, a tree-lined boardwalk goes down to the beach.
How to get there: Holkham Beach is 16 minutes west of Wells-next-the-Sea
Where to stay: 2-Bedroom Saltmarsh Lodge, Wells-next-the-Sea (2 adults, 2 children) from £991 per week. Book Pinewoods Holiday Park
Kites at Camber Sands, East Sussex
Camber Sands: one of the best UK beaches for flying kites
Stretching out for gloriously unbroken miles on the Sussex coast, Camber Sands offers arresting views and everything from kitesurfing and kayaking to stand-up paddleboarding. However, if you’re feeling bold, wade in the calm, shallow waters.
The beach is also prime kite flying territory or you can hop on board one of the local dinghy tours to spot playful seals lounging around offshore.
Pack a picnic for this one too and watch kids’ eyes light up when they spot the dramatic backdrop of undulating dunes: home to over 250 species of plants and tiny wildlife.
At low tide, stretches of damp sand make fertile foundations for sprawling sandcastles, and there’s free parking at Broomhill car park, so you can walk directly onto the beach.
How to get there: Camber Sands is 10 minutes’ walk from Camber on the East Sussex coast
Where to stay: 2-Bedroom Holiday House (2 adults, 2 children) from £735 per week. Book Stowaway Beach House, Camber
Horse riding at Lunan Bay, Montrose, Scotland
Lunan Bay, Montrose: one of the most secluded UK beaches
Every parent knows we all need a little peace and quiet now and then, and secluded, spotless Lunan Bay, near Montrose on the east coast of Scotland, is a great place to find it.
A far cry from crowds, this two-mile stretch of glorious dune-backed sands is the place to go if you want the place to yourself. Also, the beach is overlooked by an impressive red sandstone ruin dating back several centuries so you can tell your kids tales of how Lunan Bay’s Red Castle was originally built as a defence against Viking invaders.
As well as the fun of journeying back in time, there won’t be a phone in sight as you get stuck into all the adventures here, think surfing, horse riding, birdwatching, swimming, kayaking, fishing, and even hunting for genuine gemstones in the sand.
How to get there: Lunan Bay is 11 minutes’ drive south of Montrose in Angus
Where to stay: The Stables Holiday Cottage (2 adults, 2 children) from £500 per week. Book Kinblethmont House
Compton Beach, Isle of Wight
Compton Beach, Isle Of Wight: best for prehistoric adventures
Tie up your hair, get ready for some wind and delve into a world of prehistoric adventure.
Compton Bay, on the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight, is not only packed with ancient fossils you can find on the beach, it also has real dinosaur footprints, millions of years old. These sandstone casts can be seen at low tide, and will impress even the most blasé of teens.
Although, if the fact that the Isle of Wight is known as the “Dinosaur Capital of the UK” still isn’t enough to get kids excited, the promise of windblown fun should do it: Compton is the place to try out kitesurfing, windsurfing, and, even regular surfing.
As well as being heaven for kids, dogs love it here too. So bring yours to stroll on two miles of breezy beach, drinking in views of dramatic sandstone cliffs, rolling waves and colourful paragliders floating by.
How to get there: Portsmouth to Isle of Wight ferry from 45 minutes
Where to stay: Weston Manor, Freshwater, Family Room (2 adults, 2 children) from £145 per night. Book Weston Manor
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