As the weather warms up, many Brits will start planning their holidays, looking for the best places to sunbathe.
However, relaxing can be difficult if you’re crammed with brightly colored beach towels and have to queue for hours to get a spot in the nearest parking lot.
If you’re looking for something more secluded, doing some research can lead you to discovering some beautiful hidden gems, where hopefully you won’t have to make the awkward small talk of sunbathing.
From Cornwall to Scotland, there are many unnoticed beaches, secret to most and away from the bustling crowds.
So grab your sunglasses and a book and head off the beaten track to find one of the UK’s best hidden spots – MailOnline has rounded up seven of them below.
Man O’War Beach, Dorset
To reach its impressive crystal clear waters and golden sands, it will be necessary to wear the appropriate footwear to embark on a steep path next to the cliff, made up of 150 steps.
First on the list is Man O’War Beach in Dorset, which is located on the east side of Durdle Door.
To reach its impressive crystal-clear waters and golden sands, you must wear the appropriate footwear to embark on a steep path next to the cliff, made up of 150 steps.
Located on the historic Jurassic Coast, the beautiful cove is surrounded by spectacular cliffs and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has areas of both pebbles and sand.
The Dorset and East Devon coast is named after the incredible Jurassic rocks and fossils that can be found there.
It’s important to note that you’ll also be a fifteen-minute uphill walk to the bathrooms and parking lot; Apart from this, there are no toilets or other facilities on Man O’ War or Durdle Door beaches.
Dome Beach, Cornwall
For any movie buff, this long, wide stretch of fine sand and pebble beach was also the filming location for Richard Curtis’ 2013 film, About Time.
As its name suggests, Vault Beach in St. Austell, Cornwall, is a hidden gem located a 20-minute walk from the village of Gorran Haven.
Surrounded by stunning cliff views, again it can be a bit of an uphill climb to get to the beach, but once you are, it’s worth it.
The beach is most easily accessed by a ten-minute descent down the grassy hill from the National Trust car park at Lamledra.
For any movie buff, the long, wide stretch of fine sand and pebble beach was also the filming location for Richard Curtis’ 2013 film, About Time.
The waters are calm, shallow and ideal for swimming, although they are far enough away that roads or nearby towns give you a feeling of peace and seclusion.
However, it is important to note that local tourism websites such as We Are Cornwall advise that the southern end of the beach is unofficially recognized as a nudist beach due to its remote nature.
Wide sandy beach, Devon
Although small, it is a perfect place to take a dip in crystal clear waters and is known for its natural beauty – the hidden gem is one of Exmoor’s best kept secret swimming beaches.
Located on the rugged Devon coast between Watermouth and Combe Martin is a little-known cove called Broad Sands.
Although small, it is a perfect place to take a dip in crystal clear waters and is known for its natural beauty – the hidden gem is one of Exmoor’s best kept secret swimming beaches.
But it’s not for the faint-hearted, as there are around 240 steep steps that you’ll have to walk down to get to the beach and climb back up afterwards, which can be the hardest part.
Barafundle Bay Beach, Pembrokeshire
Located on the south coast of Pembrokeshire, between Broad Haven and Freshwater East, the bay is regularly listed as one of the best beaches in the world, and visitors claim it could be mistaken for the Caribbean.
The small bay of Barafundle Beach is backed by dunes and pine trees and can only be accessed by walking half a mile from the nearest car park.
Located on the south coast of Pembrokeshire, between Broad Haven and Freshwater East, the bay is regularly listed as one of the best beaches in the world, and visitors claim it could be mistaken for the Caribbean.
However, the long walk to get there, which is down stairs from the top of a cliff, and the lack of facilities mean it remains a fairly secret and isolated place.
It is commonly described as the ‘jewel in the crown’ and is ideal for soaking up the sun and pretending you’re not in the UK.
Penbryn Beach, Llangrannog, Ceredigion
Even on a warm day, the beach, managed by the National Trust, is reputed to be a peaceful place to relax or stroll.
Continuing with Wales, Penbryn Beach, located in the Welsh village of Llangrannog, is another sandy cove located between spectacular cliffs.
It is situated directly next to Cilborth Beach and the two are divided by the distinctive rock formation known as Carreg Bica; It is the basis of a local legend about a giant and how he was relieved of his toothache.
Even on a warm day, the beach, managed by the National Trust, is reputed to be a peaceful place to relax or stroll.
You might see some surfers or kayakers, and even some fluffy white seal pups during seal breeding season (August to December).
The way there is 400 meters along a paved road, with a steep climb to the beach and back to the parking lot.
White Park Bay Beach, Ballycastle
The glorious three mile long sandy beach is backed by ancient sand dunes and forms a white arc between two headlands.
White Park Bay Beach is a hidden bay in Northern Ireland, located near Ballycastle, County Antrim, along the Giant’s Causeway coastal route.
The glorious three mile long sandy beach is backed by ancient sand dunes and forms a white arc between two headlands.
Its hidden location means that even on hot days there is plenty of space for the number of visitors who come to sunbathe.
However, it is important to note that the National Trust website says the beach is not safe for swimming due to dangerous rip currents. There are also steep steps and slopes to access the beach.
Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris
The wild and remote beach is secluded enough that you can unplug for a while and get away from the hustle and bustle of summer.
Finally, Wilderness Scotland describes Luskentire Beach on the Isle of Harris in Scotland as a little piece of heaven where white sands ripple into turquoise waters.
It is one of the largest and most spectacular beaches in Harris and the surrounding landscape includes sand dunes and the island of Taransay, which was made famous as the setting for the BBC reality show, Castaway.
From the car park it is only about 100 meters over the sand dunes to the beach, although keep in mind that the path is sandy, so it is necessary to wear suitable footwear.
The wild and remote beach is secluded enough that you can unplug for a while and get away from the hustle and bustle of summer.