The 16 most beautiful hidden beaches in the UK

Where is it? On the south coast of Cornwall, two miles north-west of Lizard Point

Why go? In the rush down the A3083 to Lizard Point, many people miss the discreet sign on the right, pointing them to Kynance Cove. It’s a shame because this dramatic spot is heavenly. The spectacular contrast between the white sand beach studded with outcrops, arches and caves and the colourful 200ft cliffs behind them is reason enough to visit; add in the brilliant turquoise tones of the sea on a sunny day, and you have arguably the best beach in Cornwall. If you’re on the north coast, Bedruthan Steps’ crags and peaks are equally dramatic.

Nice neighbours: Poldhu Cove, Kennack Sands

Getting there: 300 miles/six hours from central London

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Where is it? County Antrim’s northern coastline

Why go? A glorious, three-mile arc of white sand tucked into a secluded spot on the otherwise very rocky Giant’s Causeway – the first World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland. The discreet location also keeps crowds away, even on sweltering summer days. There’s a backdrop of ancient dunes, Elephant Rock (a rock that looks freakishly like an elephant in the right light), and you might even catch a glimpse of dolphins or porpoises.

Nice neighbours: Portrush, Portstewart, Cushendun

Getting there: 500 miles/ten-11 hours from central London

Where: In the Dwyfor part of the Llŷn Peninsula

Why go: It’s sandy, secluded bliss. There’s a beautiful walk to reach Porthdinllaen – a natural harbour and old fishing village tucked from view by sweeping hills. No matter how blustery the trip, it’s almost always calm in this sheltered little cove, where the few tourists treat themselves to a pint from the Tŷ Coch Inn – once named among the ten best beach bars in the world. 

Nice neighbours: Porth Nefyn, Borth Wen

Getting there: 6 hours from central London

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Where is it? Just below Ventnor, on the southern coast of the Isle of Wight

Why go? It really is hidden. There’s no road access, so you’ll have to go on foot by winding down a narrow path – all of which means there’s no road noise, no pesky crowds and no shops selling awful souvenirs. Instead, you’ll find a charming, colourful bay with a slightly Mediterranean feel, fishing boats bobbing along peacefully, rock pools and fabulously fresh lobster. The beach itself is a mix of shingle and sand, and while it may not have the jaw-dropping, tropical-imitating ‘WOAH’ factor of some headline UK beaches, Steephill really does have its own unique charm. Spend five minutes here, and you’ll see why.

Nice neighbours: Ventnor, Bonchurch

Getting there: 100 miles/three-four hours from central London

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Where is it? Just outside West Pentire village, north coast of Cornwall

Why go? Known locally as ‘Polly Joke’, this handsome sandy beach sits between two bays. Although it’s only a few minutes walk from the nearby village of West Pentire, the spot feels super remote due to there being no facilities (it’s all al fresco here, baby). If you can, head there in late spring to see the nearby poppies in full bloom, where vibrant red flowers contrast with the blue of the sea: glorious.

Nice neighbours: Crantock beach, Hollywell Bay

Getting there: About five hours drive from London

Where is it? Halfway between Portsmouth and Bognor Regis

Why go? This Blue Flag beach is backed not by brash amusement arcades but a 20-acre expanse of grasses, wetlands and reedbeds filled with butterflies and birds. As if that weren’t enough, the gently undulating South Downs lie not far beyond. The sand dune spit of East Head, reached from the far western end of the West Wittering beach car park, makes for a great bit of exploration as an SSSI (site of special scientific interest), as do the shallow pools that emerge at low tide. Pack a picnic, and you’ve got the perfect day out from London.

Nice neighbours: East Wittering, Bracklesham Bay

Getting there: 90 miles/two+ hours from central London

Where is it? On the mouth of the River Dart in Dartmouth, Devon. 

Why go? We love Dartmouth, but sometimes peak tourist season can get a little too much. That’s easily solved; take a 20-minute walk from town to the secluded Sugary Cove, a glorious beach known only to the locals (and the more determined tourists) and accessed only by foot or boat. Traverse a beautiful track along the coastal path to a shingle beach where swimming is safe and dogs run free. Magic.  

Nice neighbours: Castle Cove, Blackpool Sands

Getting there: 5 hours from central London 

Where is it? On the Jurassic Coast

Why go? Thanks in no small part to its arresting array of limestone-carved arches and amazing views of them from the South West Coast Path, Dorset is a deserved chart-topper when it comes to outstanding beaches. For our money, Man O’War beach tops that list for being a respite from the crowds of more famous and more accessible spots (it’s a steep 800-metre-long footpath from the clifftop car park, with 150 steps), for being a great (and safe) swimming spot, for its appealing mix of sand and fine pebbles, and for its clean, shallow waters.

Nice neighbours: Lulworth Cove, Studland Bay, Chesil Beach

Getting there: 130 miles/three+ hours from central London

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Where is it? 19 miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed

Why go? If a pristine white sandy beach set beneath a properly perfect twelfth-century castle isn’t enough, there are also lovely views of the Farne Islands, the pretty Bamburgh village (a three-mile walk at low tide from the lighthouse at Harkness Rocks to Seahouses) and boat trips from there to the Farnes, where seals and seabirds make the most of the remoteness and serenity. Nearby, Ross Back Sands offers three more serene miles of unspoiled dunes and beach – and with a one-mile walk from the nearest car park, you’re likely to have it all to yourself.

Nice neighbours: Holy Island, Embleton Bay

Getting there: 340 miles/six hours from central London

Where is it? Nine miles north of Whitby

Why go? Despite its glorious sweep, Runswick Bay is invisible until the last minute, when you crest an unassuming hill that leads down to it. From this point, surprises and hidden treasures unfold before you; the impossibly sweet village, comprising of 90 cute honey-coloured cottages capped with red tiles, doesn’t appear until you reach the bottom of the hill, packed in as it is under the shelter of the cliffs rising up Lingrow Knowle. Closer inspection of the beach and bay, stretching north to the head of Kettleness, reveals wooden huts, rock pools, picturesque staircases carved out of the cliffs and – at Kettleness – impressive fossils dating back 180 million years.

Nice neighbours: Sandsend, Whitby

Getting there: 275 miles/five+ hours from central London

Where is it? 18 miles east of Edinburgh

Why go? The stretch of coastline east of Edinburgh is filled with some lovely beaches, but Aberlady is a standout for its nature reserve, great views of Arthur’s Seat and the wreck of a submarine sitting ethereally on the expanse of golden sand. It’s a beautifully desolate spot that is transformed into a riot of activity in autumn when thousands of pink-footed geese descend.

Nice neighbours: Gosford Sands, North Berwick

Getting there: 390 miles/seven-eight hours from central London

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Where is it? East Anglia, forming part of the Norfolk Coast Path

Why go? Burnham Beach’s rich wildlife offering makes it a must-visit destination at any time of the year – expect seals, wading birds and all sorts of other marine life. The bay itself is one of the most unspoiled in the area, boasting miles and miles of pristine golden sand.

Nice neighbours: Scolt Head Island, Holkham beach

Getting there: Three hour drive from central London

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Where is it? On the Gower Peninsula

Why go? The Gower coast is filled with gorgeous beaches, but we love Oxwich for the alluring mix of sand dunes, salt marshes and woodland that back its two-mile sandy stretch and for the pretty village of Oxwich. Around the headland, Rhossili is staggering and dramatic, but Oxwich is gentler, with rolling hills behind it and safe shallow waters. These do make it a popular spot during the summer, but walk east, towards Tor Bay and Three Cliffs, and the crowds give way to walkers, twitchers and cyclists making the most of the glorious expanse of hard-packed sand. 

Nice neighbours: Rhossili, Broughton Bay, Cefn Sidan Sands

Getting there: 200 miles/four-five hours from central London

Where is it? Near Barnstaple on the north Devon coast

Why go? You’ll need strong legs to get to Saunton Sands, hidden as it is behind the largest dunes in Britain, but once you’ve conquered Braunton Burrows, what lies before you will have been well worth the effort. Three miles of gorgeous golden sands pounded by Atlantic breakers make it very popular with surfers, but video and film-makers have recognised its beauty too – as might you, from Robbie Williams’s ‘Angels’ video or Powell and Pressburger’s 1946 sci-fi film ‘A Matter of Life and Death’.

Nice neighbours: Lee Bay Beach, Wildersmouth, Mortehoe

Getting there: 220 miles/four+ hours from central London

Where is it? Halfway between Margate and Ramsgate

Why go? Older visitors will be humming ‘There’ll be bluebirds over, the white cliffs of Dover’ as they take in the chalk cliffs backing this lovely bay, but younger ones will be goggling at (and probably trying to scale) the towering stacks that characterise Botany Bay and hunting for fossils at low tide. This is when the beach is at its best, revealing rock pools, an extensive chalk reef deemed one of the best in Britain, and a hugely enjoyable shoreline walk to Broadstairs, an hour away. Stock up on sarnies and fizzy drinks from the friendly folk at the kiosk.

Nice neighbours: Viking Bay, Joss Bay, Minnis Bay

Getting there: 80 miles/two+ hours from central London

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Where is it? Nine miles north of Great Yarmouth

Why go? It’s not on the North Norfolk coast, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find cold-pressed coconut oil, but what you will find at Winterton is one of Norfolk’s best-kept secrets. Wind your way through the picturesque village to a huge expanse of beach (complete with a ridiculously cute holiday park whose Hobbit-like round huts were inspired by those in South Africa’s Hermanus Bay), dunes and grasses that are home to all manner of wildlife. Don’t miss the ace Winterton Dunes Beach Café, which serves massive slabs of homemade cakes and other treats.

Nice neighbours: Great Yarmouth, Cromer, Holkham beach

Getting there: 135 miles/three hours from central London