DRAMATIC BEACHES

1 Bedruthan Steps, Cornwall A few miles east of the manic crowds at Newquay, the Bedruthan Steps consist of a series of volcanic rock stacks, rising from the beach like mini mountains and making for a great walk along the fine white sand and the rugged coastline. The waves and the undercurrent are pretty rugged here too and swimming is prohibited.

The National Trust has created paths at the top of the cliffs to limit the damage caused by the many visitors. Steps down to the beach are steep; the name Bedruthan Steps originates from even steeper, treacherous, roughly cut steps that led to the beach in Victorian times. Details: www.visitcornwall.com. Sand 4 out of 5

2 Durdle Door, Dorset The giant limestone archway at Durdle Door is one of the most recognisable sights on Dorset’s Jurassic coast.

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There are undulating limestone cliffs plunging down to the waterfront farther on along the coast, while the beach at Man O’War Bay, a sheltered cove just to the east of Durdle Door, has shallow waters for bathing (but no lifeguards). The coast here is fantastic for walks and full of great photo opportunities. Details: www.purbeck.gov.uk. Sand 2 out of 5; Cleanliness: Recommended

3 Marsden Bay, South Shields Walking along the coast from the fine sand beach at South Shields, up along the Leas (the cliffs where the Great North Run ends each year), you come to Marsden Bay, a fine curve of coastline with Marsden Rock standing in the centre — usually covered with hundreds, if not thousands, of sea birds. The beach is pebbly and has wobbly-looking rock stacks sticking up near the sheer cliff faces. The Marsden Grotto has been converted into a pub-restaurant at the foot of the cliff with a lift inside to the top (www.marsden-grotto.co.uk). Details: www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk. Sand 0 out of 5; Cleanliness: Recommended

4 Compton, Isle of Wight This mile of golden sand beach on the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight is great for bathers and framed by an eye-catching chalk cliff at its northern edge. The beach has a car park and steps down to the sands, but no cafés or shops. Dogs are prohibited. The waters are popular with windsurfers and surfers, and the beach can get very busy in summer. The fossils of dinosaur footprints can be seen in rocks at low tide. Details: www.iwight.com. Sand 4 out of 5; Ceanliness: Recommended

5 Rhossili Beach, South Wales A dreamy beach consisting of a vast sweep of orange-tinged sand on the southwest tip of the Gower Peninsula — which some say is the finest sand of any beach in the country. This beach is so good that it merits a second entry in our top 50, for its surfing credentials. The beach stretches for three miles, with a wreck of a ship that sank in the late 19th century visible at the southern tip near Worm’s Head at low tide. Waves are not too big and currents are weak, so it’s suitable for bathing. Details: www.the-gower.com. Sand 5 out of 5; Cleanliness Recommended

6 Scarista, Western Isles With stunning wide-open vistas, turquoise waters, and rolling hills in the distance, Scarista beach on the Isle of Harris looks at the height of summer as though it might exist on a Caribbean island. Except it’s a bit colder, although many do still go swimming, and windsurfing and kite-buggying are also popular. For those who do swim they are guaranted one thing: the water of the Hebrides is incredibly clean. There is something elemental about the sheer vastness of the seascape, and the feeling of escaping the usual tourist hordes. Details: www.visitscotland.com. Sand 5 out of 5; Cleanliness: Recommended

7 Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire This golden beach on the southwest tip of Wales is framed by precipitous limestone cliffs overlooking the sweeping curve of bay that attracts people from across the country. However, being so remote, it doesn’t get overcrowded. The beach was recently selected (in 2006) as the best place for a picnic in the UK, beating the likes of Royal Ascot and Glyndebourne. The turquoise waters are usually gentle and are safe for bathing. Details: www.visitpembrokeshire.com. Sand 5 out of 5; Cleanliness: Recommended

8 Bamburgh, Northumberland Truly amazing scenery, with giant dunes seeming to disappear forever into the distance and Bamburgh Castle (www.bamburghcastle.com) sitting proudly on a hillock.

The sands are honey-hued and it’s long been a tradition for kids to try to build replicas of the castle out of the sand. There’s more than a mile of flat sand when the tide is out, and the water is good for paddling, although there are no lifeguards. Details: www.visitnorthumberland.com; Sand 4 out of 5; Cleanliness: Recommended

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