Best beaches in the UK

For those seeking a little solitude with their seaside break, the Guardian has produced it’s guide to the best beaches in the UK, many of which have attained the Blue Flag standard and all of which are guaranteed not to include “kiss me quick” hats.

These are naturally not the kindof beaches you would find next to a popular seaside resort, so a little walking might be required, but the quiet nature of these locations and spectacular views make them well worth the effort. Here we’ve included a few of our favourites from the collection (link to full list at the end).

Huisinis on the Isle of Harris has a pristine cuticle of white sand overlooked by a cluster of crofts and cottages and the Atlantic ocean. The beach can be found along a 15 mile single-track road so is fairly likely never to be crowded.

Holkham Bay in Norfolk is easier for  many to reach and can be found off Lady Anne’s Drive at Holkham village in Norfolk. It is just as spectacular with dunes and powdery sands. As Nell Card puts it “The yellow sands here are mesmerically vast, and when the tide is out, the elements merge together, creating a bewildering, two-dimensional sense of space.”

Hopping across the Irish Sea to Whiterocks in Portrush, County Antrim, we find limestone cliffs and a labyrinth of caves and arches forming a truly dramatic backdrop.

Bamburgh on the North East coast is often missed when looking for beaches, but there are miles and miles of open beaches along the coastline along with views to Lindisfarne on Holy Island where the Lindisfarne Gospels are held.

Canford Cliffs Chine near Poole in Dorset is set between Branksome Chine and Flaghead Chine and has two very important criteria to recommend it – blue flag status and it’s where the locals go to escape the tourists during the Summer.

There are far too many to list all the selected beaches here, so hop over to the Guardian web site for their guide to the UK’s best beaches.