As the weather warms up, many Britons will be beginning to plan their staycations – looking for the best spots to soak up some sun.
However, relaxing can be difficult if you’re packed into a sea of brightly coloured beach towels and have to queue for hours to get a space on the nearest car park.
If something more secluded is what you’re after, doing your research can lead to uncovering some beautiful hidden gems, where you hopefully won’t have to do the awkward sunbathing small talk.
From Cornwall to Scotland, there are plenty of under-the-radar beaches that are secret to most and far from the bustling crowds.
So, grab your sunglasses and a book and head off the beaten track to find one of the UK’s best hidden spots – MailOnline has rounded up seven of them below.
Man O’War Beach, Dorset
First up on the list is Man O’War Beach in Dorset which is located on the east side of Durdle Door.
To get to its stunning clear waters and golden sands, you will need to be wearing the right footwear to embark down a steep cliffside footpath, made up of 150 steps.
Situated on the historic Jurassic Coast, the beautiful cove is surrounded by dramatic cliffs and is a Unesco World Heritage Site. It has both pebbly and sandy areas.
The Dorset and East Devon Coast is named for the incredible Jurassic rocks and fossils that can be found there.
It’s important to note you will also be a fifteen-minute uphill walk away from toilets and the car park – aside from this, there are no toilets or other facilities at Man O’ War or Durdle Door beaches.
Vault Beach, Cornwall
As its name suggests, Vault Beach in St. Austell, Cornwall is a hidden gem that’s a 20-minute-walk from the village of Gorran Haven.
Surrounded by breathtaking cliff views, again it can be a bit of a climb to get down to the beach but once you are, it’s worth it.
The beach is most easily accessed by a ten-minute descent down the grassy hill from the National Trust car park at Lamledra.
For any movie fans, the long, sweeping expanse of fine sand and shingle beach was also a filming location for the 2013 Richard Curtis film, About Time.
The waters are calm, shallow, and ideal for swimming, while being far away enough for any nearby roads or towns to give it a peaceful and secluded feel.
However, it’s important to note that local tourism websites such as We Are Cornwall advise that the far southern end of the beach is unofficially recognised as a nudist beach due to its remote nature.
Broad Sands Beach, Devon
Nestled on the rugged coast of Devon between Watermouth and Combe Martin is a little-known cove called Broad Sands.
Although it’s small, it’s a perfect location for taking a dip in crystal clear waters and is known for its natural beauty – the hidden treasure is one of Exmoor’s best-kept secret swimming beaches.
But, it’s not for the faint-hearted as there are around 240 steep steps you will need to embark down to actually get to the beach – and climb back up afterward, which may be the more difficult part.
Barafundle Bay Beach, Pembrokeshire
The small bay of Barafundle Beach is backed by dunes and pine trees and accessible only by a half mile walk from the nearest car park.
Located on the south coast of Pembrokeshire between Broad Haven and Freshwater East, the bay is regularly listed as one of the world’s top beaches, with visitors claiming it could be mistaken for the Caribbean.
However, the long walk to get there, which is down steps from a cliff top, and the lack of facilities means it’s still quite a secret and isolated location.
It’s commonly described as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ and is ideal for soaking up the sun and pretending you’re not in the UK.
Penbryn Beach, Llangrannog, Ceredigion
Sticking to Wales, Penbryn Beach, which is located in the Welsh village of Llangrannog, is another sandy cove nestled between dramatic cliffs.
It’s situated directly next to Cilborth beach and the two are divided by the distinctive rock formation known as Carreg Bica -it’s the basis of a local legend about a giant and how he was relieved of his toothache.
Even on a warm day, the beach, which is managed by the National Trust, has a reputation for being a quiet spot to relax or stroll.
You may see a few surfers or kayakers, and even some white fluffy seal pups during seal breeding season (August to December).
The walk to the is a quarter of a mile along a tarmac road, with a steep climb down to the beach and back up to the car park.
White Park Bay Beach, Ballycastle
White Park Bay Beach is a hidden bay in Northern Ireland, located near Ballycastle, County Antrim, along the Giant’s Causeway Coastal Route.
The glorious three-mile-long sandy beach is backed by ancient sand dunes and forms a white arc between two headlands.
Its concealed location means that even on hot days there is plenty of room for the amount of visitors who show up to sunbathe.
However, it’s important to note that the National Trust website says the beach is unsafe for swimming due to dangerous rip currents. There are also high gradient steps and slopes to access the beach.
Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris
Finally, Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris in Scotland is described by Wilderness Scotland as a little slice of heaven where White sands ripple down to waters of turquoise.
It’s one of the largest and most spectacular beaches on Harris and its surrounding scenery includes sand dunes and the island of Taransay, which found fame for being the setting of the BBC reality TV show, Castaway.
From the car park it’s only roughly 100 metres over the sand dunes to the beach – although be warned that the path is sandy so suitable footwear is required.
The wild and remote beach is secluded enough for you to unplug for a while and get away from the hustle and bustle of summer.
