You don’t need to go abroad for a spectacular coastal holiday – our great staycations guide is packed with top accommodation and all the ingredients for a perfect summer getaway
Words Jenny Oldaker
1. FOR A TOTAL RESET
Herm, Channel Islands
Three miles from Guernsey, car-free Herm is the place to head for a complete getaway from day-to-day life. Although the island is small in area (roughly 1.5 by 0.5 miles), there’s plenty to keep visitors occupied – and, while Herm’s walking, fishing, kayaking and wildlife watching are all top class, it’s arguably the beaches that are the main attraction. The unspoilt white-sand bays, lapped by turquoise waves, have a decidedly tropical flavour, and range from sheltered coves like Belvoir Bay to popular expanses such as Shell Beach. The White House Hotel sits close to the island’s harbour, with rooms from £195 in low season and £230 in high season (herm.com/stay/white-house-hotel). Find out more about Herm at visitguernsey.com.
2. FOR A MULTIGENERATIONAL GET-TOGETHER
Hive Beach, Dorset
There’s something for the whole family at Hive Beach, with beautiful coastal walks on the doorstep, exquisite scenery on tap and a fine shingle beach that’s ripe for relaxing or as your base for kayaking or paddleboarding. It’s a key gateway to the Jurassic Coast, lively Dorset seaside towns like Bridport are nearby, and the famous Hive Beach Café is close at hand for premium seafood – dine in or take away. All of this adds up to an idyllic destination if you’re planning an extended family gathering. All Views is just steps from Hive Beach and features a games room and plenty of space for eating and socialising. It sleeps 12 in six bedrooms and starts from £2,824 for a week’s stay in low season and £4,900 in high season (ruralretreats.co.uk).
3. FOR WATER SPORTS
Woolacombe, Devon
With a raft of awards to its name and regularly gracing lists of the UK’s best beaches, family-friendly Woolacombe Beach offers superb conditions for water sports. Bring your own bodyboards to catch some gentle waves, or rent equipment from the hire facility on the slipway. Places like Woolacombe Surf Centre (woolacombesurfcentre.com) run private and group surf lessons for all abilities, as well as kayaking and coasteering trips around the local coastline. Stay close to the beach action at the Woolacombe Bay Hotel, which is set right above the sea and has a restaurant, spa, gym and cinema on-site, as well as an outdoor pool for when you’ve had enough of the surf. Double rooms start from £160 per night in low season and around £245
in high season (woolacombe-bay-hotel.co.uk).
4. FOR A CLASSIC FAMILY BEACH BREAK
South Milton Sands, Devon
You’ll find all the ingredients for a memorable family beach holiday on this lovely stretch of the South Devon coastline. The National Trust-managed South Milton Sands encompasses a graceful swathe of sandy shoreline presided over by the dramatic Thurlestone Rock archway. The beach is perfect for picnics and sandcastles, and there are plenty of rock pools to explore at low tide. When refreshments are required, the Beach House café is nearby for cold drinks and meals overlooking the sea. Stay right above the beach at 2 Thurlestone Rock, which sleeps up to six people and includes a terrace and barbecue area, as well as a shared heated outdoor swimming pool (open June to mid-September). Prices for a seven-night stay start from £924 in low season and around £2,150 in high season (toadhallcottages.co.uk).
5. FOR GREAT WALKS
Seahouses, Northumberland
The Northumberland coast is a glorious destination for a walking break, and Seahouses is well placed for getting out and about in the fresh air, whether you’re seeking a gentle amble along the beach or a serious coastal hike. Walk the three miles to Bamburgh Castle for iconic scenery, or head south on the Northumberland Coast Path for the more challenging trail to Craster (around 10 miles). If you’d prefer a quiet day, enjoy the sandy stretch of Seahouses Beach and its views across to the Farne Islands. The Beach House Hotel sits in a prime seafront position with scenic walks from its front door. Rooms, including breakfast, start from £99 per night in low season and £358 for a minimum two-night stay in high season (beachhousehotel.co.uk).
6. FOR A FAIRYTALE ESCAPE
Thorpeness, Suffolk
In the early 20th century, Stuart Ogilvie bought the coast-adjacent hamlet of Thorpeness with the intention of transforming it into a fantasy holiday village. More than 100 years later, its quirky mock-Tudor cottages and storybook House in the Clouds (originally a water tower) still delight visitors with their fantastical charm. The village is right beside a long strip of beach that sits between Sizewell in the north and Aldeburgh in the south – a pretty stretch that’s great for beachcombing, walking and picnics. Beachfront Chicoutimi overlooks the sea and sleeps six across three bedrooms, with seven-night breaks starting from £2,380 in low season and £3,500 during the high season (suffolkhideaways.co.uk).
7. FOR A DOG-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY
Old Hunstanton, Norfolk
Backed by dunes and blessed with picture-perfect sands and romantic beach huts, Old Hunstanton Beach is a popular place for families year-
round and comes into its own in the summer when the shallow, gently sloping sea is perfect for paddling or taking a dip. It’s a tranquil spot and dog-friendly year-round, so it’s a fantastic place for pets to join in with languid beach days or scenic walks. Old Hunstanton sits at the start of the 112-mile Norfolk Coast Path, so getting out for a satisfying hike is easy for both two- and four-legged visitors. The Old Dormitory sleeps eight in four bedrooms and welcomes up to two dogs for a small additional charge. A seven-night break starts from £1,685 in low season and £3,350 in high season (norfolkhideaways.co.uk).
8. FOR TRADITIONAL SEASIDE FUN
Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire
There’s no doubt that the expansive, sandy beach is a huge part of Saundersfoot’s charm, but the seaside town area has plenty more to attract holidaymakers and is well geared towards keeping the whole family entertained. From crabbing, boat trips, adventure golf and an amusement arcade to a raft of restaurants, bars and shops, it’s packed with activities and exudes a buzzy resort charm. Sleeping seven in four bedrooms, 5 Mariners Reach sits right on the beachfront and is also near the local amenities. Prices start from £1,256 for a seven-night break in low season and around £3,269 in high season (coastalcottages.co.uk).
9. FOR AN ACTIVE HOLIDAY
Perranporth, Cornwall
Cornwall’s north coast is a dream for surfers, walkers and sea swimmers alike, and Perranporth is an ideal base from which to enjoy the area’s charms. The waves here are just right for riding, while the shallows are clear and gentle enough for snorkelling or swimming – or, if you prefer still waters, the Chapel Rock tidal pool is just the place for a cooling dip. Hiking routes stretch in every direction, and a golf club and riding stables next to Perranporth village offer yet more options for active families. Grab a drink at The Watering Hole pub after an invigorating day of activities, and watch the sun set over the sea. Dune End is a self-catering house for 10 people, just 250 metres from the beach, starting at £1,813 per week in low season and around £6,040 in high season (beachretreats.co.uk).
10. FOR A SERENE SPA RETREAT
Inchydoney Island, West Cork, Ireland
Connected to the mainland by two causeways, this tiny isle is home to the Blue Flag Inchydoney Beach, a perfectly scenic spot overlooking the vast blue expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, backed by weathered rocks and verdant fields. Located on the Wild Atlantic Way, the island is also a great base from which to enjoy exploring the beauty of West Cork’s coastline. Inchydoney Island is home to a welcoming hotel with Ireland’s first seawater spa, offering various thalassotherapy treatments as well as a seawater therapy pool, sauna, hammam and ocean view relaxation areas. A double room with breakfast at Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa starts at €245 per night in low season and €320 in high season (inchydoneyisland.com).
