I’m a travel expert – here’s my guide for the ultimate secret staycation that avoids the crowds
BOOKING holidays has never been more stressful.
The cost of flights is rocketing and many airlines have introduced hidden costs, which put jetsetters off.
We revealed yesterday that more than half of Brits are planning staycations this summer to avoid the hassle of catching costly flights to faraway destinations.
But staying in the UK shouldn’t just mean heading to Cornwall or Devon.
With spectacular coastlines and beautiful beaches all around the UK, there are hundreds of places to choose from, and many may be just a short drive away from where you live.
Here, we reveal our pick of the best lesser - known staycation destinations.
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Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire
THE “jewel of Pembrokeshire’s beaches” Barafundle Bay is so dramatic that it has been said it’s like walking on to the set of Game Of Thrones.
Nestled on the edge of the Stackpole Estate between towering limestone cliffs, the bay is often declared one of the best beaches in the world.
It’s off the beaten track, with no direct access by road.
The nearest car park is at Stackpole Quay about half a mile away.
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But at just two hours from the Welsh capital, it’s definitely worth a visit.
Mersea Island, Essex
MERSEA Island has been called “Essex’s best kept secret” and is a hit with local celebs, including Denise van Outen and Stacey Solomon.
Only 7,000 people live on the island, and there’s just one way to get there – via The Strood causeway – but you can’t cross during high tide.
You can stay at one of the island’s many holiday parks, or head to the sand-shingle beach just for the day, perhaps renting out one of 125 cute little beach huts from The Little Beach Houses Mersea.
There are plenty of country pubs on the island, plus the Mersea Island Vineyard And Brewery.
Gaddings Dam, Todmorden, Yorks
YORKSHIRE is home to some of the country’s most incredible views, but it’s not often thought of as a place to take a dip on a sunny day.
However, Todmorden is home to Gaddings Dam, a secret beach where visitors can swim and sunbathe alongside the local cows.
Also known as Cow Beach, the reservoir, situated high on the moors above the West Yorks town, draws visitors looking to cool off in summer.
The Walking Northerners hiking blog has said it “provides gorgeous views, cracking walking trails, a sandy stretch of beach, plus one of the best wild swimming spots in the county”.
Gorleston-on-sea, Norfolk
VOTED the UK’s best beach in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2023, Gorleston-on-Sea is the perfect destination for families wanting some summer sun, thanks to a revamp.
The beach has recently welcomed a free children’s splash pad, 70 candy-coloured beach huts and several venues with seaview terraces to look out over the golden sands.
The Ocean Rooms, an 80-year-old entertainment venue with a unique circular shape, has also been given a new lease of life, playing host to legendary night out Bongo’s Bingo once a month.
Street artist Banksy even visited in 2021 and left his mark.
Dunwich Beach, Suffolk
NAMED in 2021 as one of the UK’s best-kept secrets, Dunwich Beach, nestled on the Suffolk coast, is a beautiful, quiet and unspoilt shingle beach – adored by nature lovers and sun seekers alike.
Famous for its thriving, and often rare, wildlife, the Dunwich Heath is home to nightjars, Dartford warblers, woodlarks, adders and antlions.
The beach and surrounding countryside are owned by the National Trust, which runs a beachside tearoom called Coastguard Cottages.
There’s also a children’s play area on the beach, and cafes and pubs in the nearby village of Dunwich.
Isle of Man, Irish Sea
THE Isle of Man, just 30 minutes from the Great British mainland, is home to some of the most unique wildlife in the world, and it’s the only place in the world to be entirely marked as a Unesco Biosphere.
Thanks to its location in the gulf stream, the island’s rich waters attract a variety of marine life, including seals, porpoises, whales and dolphins.
From mid-May until the end of August, the island is one of the best places to watch basking sharks up close.
On dry land, more than 500 wild wallabies call the island their home.
Their forebears escaped from captivity in the 1960s.
Margate, Kent
IF you’re looking for somewhere a bit quirky, like Brighton, then Margate is the cheaper alternative.
The seaside town has been likened to Ibiza, thanks to its lively bars and miles of sandy beaches.
And the Cliftonville area has been voted one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world by Time Out magazine.
With theme park Dreamland there, too – home to the oldest rollercoaster in the UK, the wooden Scenic Railway – there’s fun for all the family.
Margate also has the UK’s largest tidal pool at Walpole Bay, and a free wooden sauna run by local beauty brand Haeckels, on Palm Bay beach.
Traeth Llanddwyn, Anglesey
ANGLESEY in Wales is known for its stunning beaches, and Brits have been saying Traeth Llanddwyn in particular is on “another level” thanks to its golden beaches and clear waters.
It’s a Blue Flag beach, so it is clean and well looked after, too.
And with more than 3.5miles of sand, it’s likely to be much less crowded than the coastline in Cornwall and Devon.
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There are free toilets, BBQ areas, picnic benches and food trucks in the summer.
There is even a tidal island at the end, Ynys Llanddwyn, which has been praised for its “outstanding natural beauty” and remarkable views of Snowdonia National Park, Caernarfon and the Llyn Peninsula.