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You can’t beat a trip to the beach. Fish and chips, a quick dip and a spot of sunbathing? Absolutely perfect. So it’s fortunate that the UK’s coastline is dotted with stunning shores, from sprawling white stretches in Cornwall to rocky coves in Scotland. Now, a new study has officially ranked the most beautiful beaches in the country, so you can plan your summer getaways accordingly.
The slightly dubious research, by bookings site luxuryhotel.com, compared Instagram data with beach length to discover where had the most ‘hashtags per metre’. We’re not convinced this is the most scientific way to measure ‘beauty’, but then again, it is a difficult thing to quantify, without getting seriously philosophical.
The results are pleasingly unexpected, too. Cornish beaches do particularly well, but we’re not talking Falmouth or St Ives. The top ten includes a mix of well-known locations and some lesser-known spots, making it a pretty good guide for whatever kind of beach day you fancy.
At number one is Kynance Cove in Cornwall. It’s a National Trust beach, with gorgeous white sand and dramatic, towering rock formations. It’s a 15-minute walk down to the beach from the surrounding clifftops, which makes it quiet even in the height of summer. And best of all, there’s a cafe selling pasties and ice creams nearby, too.
Busy, ever-popular Brighton Beach takes the second spot, followed by Fistral Beach, another Cornish entry. Then we head north to Scarborough, where you can find both natural beauty and all the fun of a traditional Victorian seaside resort.
Here’s the top ten in full:
- Kynance Cove, Cornwall
- Brighton Beach, East Sussex
- Fistral Beach, Cornwall
- Scarborough Beach, Yorkshire
- Botany Bay, Kent
- Seagrove Beach, Isle of Wight
- Porthcurno Beach, Cornwall
- Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon
- Durdle Door Beach, Dorset
- Loch Morlich, Glenmore
Looking for more amazing UK scenery? Here’s our ranking of the country’s 30 best beaches.
Plus: these are the UK’s 14 best hidden beaches.