Our Best British Beaches this summer
It's the summer holidays!
Here, listed here in no particular order and chosen mainly for the proximity to good grub, are our favourite beaches, guaranteed to serve up great big dollops of traditional "British Seaside Fun" along with great ice creams (and Bloomin' Special Whitby Scampi - or course ?)
Runswick Bay - North Yorkshire
A pretty fishing village Runswick Bay, lies in a sheltered cove 9 miles north of Whitby.
Lingrow Knowle, the towering cliff, protects the bay from icy northerly winds, and rock pools teaming with sealife can be found on either side of the bay.
Narrow pedestrian lanes snake through the village and past the single pub and tiny tearoom, serving reviving cakes and teas, which is much needed after a life- affirming dip in the waters of the North Sea.
Sandsend - North Yorkshire
Found nestled against the sandy cliffs at the northern most end of the beach from Whitby, Sandsend is our quieter neighbour.
A popular haunt with fossil collectors and fishing enthusiasts. The beck provides ideal paddling for children of all ages and two handy beach-side shacks (one on either side of the beck) stand ready to supply the hungry hoards with hot drinks and ice-cream as well as light lunches.
The Hart Inn, situated just above the beach, serves great traditional pub grub (including - of course - Whitby Scampi), and Bridge Cottage Bistro serves consistently excellent modern British cuisine.
Porthcurnick - Cornwall
On the Roseland Penisula (cheekily named The Cornish Riveria), this south-facing National Trust beach lies just below the village of Portscatho.
A big sandy beach (especially at low tide), with a great many rock pools, it is very popular particularly as it is also the home a gem of a beach-side cafe.
The Hidden Hut, is all you could want for at the beach side cafe. Serving a simple menu of fresh local lunches between March and October, local couple Simon Stallard and Jemma Glass, have created a beach-side oasis. Their summer feast nights are sold out almost as soon as they go on sale, one dish per night is cooked and served on the beach.
A MUST visit, at least once in a life-time
(Do make sure you leave room for a cone of Roskilly's Cornish Ice Cream)
Walberswick
Just south of it's bigger, and more well know sister, Southwold, lies the quaint village of Walberswick, and thanks to the narrow bridge that crosses the watery inlet, it is still within easy walking distance.
The unmanicured beach is backed by sandy dunes closer to town and unlike Southwold beach, is dog friendly all year round.
Despite being a small village, Walberswick boasts 2 excellent pubs. The Anchor, with spectacular seaviews and a wood-fired oven in the garden, and The Bell Inn, run by Southwold's Adnams Brewery, is a 600 year old pub and welcomes well behaved dogs.
A mobile "Fish Hut" owned and operated by The Bell Inn, serves exceptional, freshly prepared fish and chips and at The BLack Dog Deli you can pop in for freshly made sandwiches and coffee or pick up some local cheeses, breads and pastries for a beach picnic.
Have you visited any of these, or have another recommendation? We would love to hear where you your favourite sandy spot is.
