GO SEA IT
The little-known seaside resort town with one of the cleanest beaches in the world
Plus, the three best staycation spots to visit in the UK in 2024
THERE'S a little-known seaside town in the UK that is home to one of the world's cleanest beaches.
With a stunning sheltered, sandy beach nestled by a pretty town it is a perfect retreat for holidaymakers and day-trippers.
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Located between Tenby and Amroth, Saundersfoot is a small seaside resort town in South Wales.
Earlier this week, a team of travel experts at TripAdvisor revealed the world's best beaches.
Even though a UK beach wasn't named among TripAdvisor's best in the world, several beaches across the country ranked highly in a handful of subcategories, including the World's Best Sustainable Beaches.
Saundersfoot Beach was named as one of the cleanest beaches in the world by the travel experts.
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'Spotlessy clean'
Despite not being very well known, Saundersfoot Beach is already a popular spot among holidaymakers.
The beach is ideal for swimming, but it's also a good spot for canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and fishing.
Saundersfoot Beach is routinely praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with one person saying: "A clean expanse of beach with small shops, a few pubs and a fish and chip shop."
While another added: "The main beach in Saundersfoot is spotlessly clean with clear shallow water."
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In addition to the long sandy beach, there's also Coppet Hall Beach, which lies at the other end of Saundersfoot Beach.
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The beach has also been praised by holidaymakers.
One person wrote: "Our most favourite beach in Pembrokeshire. It’s easy to get to, clean and tidy."
A second person said: "A small beach, which is connected to the main Saundersfoot Beach, with plenty of parking and close to the tunnels."
The seaside town also has a busy harbour with several cafes, pubs, shops and restaurants nestled by a pretty village with quaint and colourful shop fronts.
Saundersfoot Harbour was originally built to transport coal from the nearby mines.
There's also Saundersfood Lighthouse, which was built in 1848 to mark the entrance to the harbour.
Holidaymakers can also book to go on boat excursions with Saundersfoot Pleasure Boats.
Other nearby attractions include Battlefield Live - a laser combat centre.
Saundersfoot is a 70-minute drive from Swansea, and it's a two-hour drive from Cardiff.
While there is a train station in Saundersfoot, it lies a mile away from the town, so it's a bit of a walk.
A direct train runs between Saundersfoot and Swansea, with journeys taking roughly 90 minutes.
There are plenty of overnight accommodation options in the seaside town, including plenty with views of the beach.
Sun Online Travel have found an overnight stay at Ocean Cabins for £66 per night per room.
Saundersfoot isn't the only little-known seaside town in the UK.
One of those places is Shaldon in Devon, which was named as one of the best coastal staycation spots in the country last year.
The judges praised the small village for its "elegant Georgian homes" and "neatly-kept bowling green" and called it "one of Devon's best-kept secrets".
But despite all its charm, the area is "mysteriously bypassed by the tourist trail", making it a great option for those who want to avoid the crowds.
There's plenty to do on your break, including a minigolf course, a Go Ape and red sandy beaches.
Aberdyfi, which is also located in Wales, has been named the best ";coastal hidden gem"; in the UK.
Last year, the holiday rental website released its Hidden Gem Index, finding the best UK destinations that are under the radar.
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The study looked at everything from summer weather and pubs to activities and how photo-worthy it was, with Aberdyfi coming in at number 10.
We've revealed our other favourite UK hidden gems including secret gardens and little-known beaches.
Best staycation locations for 2024
- 1. Bristol
The arty harbour city was the top spot on the list and is bursting with culture and trendy cafes scattered along the River Avon.
A bubbling hub for creatives, Bristol is the birthplace of street artist Banksy, and you can admire some of his best early works on a free walking tour.
- 2. Hull
The Humberside port city started to get recognition last year, and it has a thriving nightlife scene - if that's something you're after.
The old town is crawling with history and classy buildings, whose walls have many stories to tell and The Deep is a fascinating aquarium attraction.
- 3. Isles of Scilly
Just off the Cornish coast, it's easy to see why the archipelago made it into the top three.
Here, you can expect golden sandy beaches where you will be able to spot dolphins beyond the shoreline, as well as seafront pubs serving up hearty grub.
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