Luckily there are also plenty of lesser-known coastal areas where you can while away an afternoon without being bothered by crowds. These are 25 of the best hidden beaches in the UK - from Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands.
1. Lunan Bay, Scotland
Lunan Bay offers a secluded spot on the Angus coastline, backed by sand dunes and low cliffs. The ruins of Red Castle, which dates back to the 12th century, overlooks Lunan Bay (Photo: Shutterstock) Photo: Shutterstock
2. Swanlake Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Swanlake Bay is a shingle beach back by low cliffs, but at low tide golden sands and rock pools are unveiled. It is only accessible from the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path and rarely has more than a handful of visitors at any one time (Photo: Shutterstock) Photo: Shutterstock
3. Presipe Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales
At low tide, the beach boasts a wide stretch of golden sand and is backed by sandstone cliffs. The beach becomes very small when the tide comes in, so it’s worth checking the tide times when planning a visit (Photo: Shutterstock) Photo: Shutterstock
4. Cart Gap, Norfolk
Cart Gap is a popular place to walk along the Norfolk Coast Path. The main beach is calm and peaceful and is accessed through Cart Gap Road, which is a narrow single road (Photo: Shutterstock) Photo: Shutterstock