Lesser known UK seaside towns

[SquatBetty]

Can you let me know your hidden gems? Happy to travel wherever in the UK and extra points if they have a sandy beach!

Seamill, on the west coast of Scotland.

North York coast has lovely beaches:-

Saltburn

Marske
Cattersty Sands <- this one is v surprising

Minehead in Somerset. The Butlins puts off as many people as it attracts, but it's a lovely beach in a pretty setting.

Withernsea sands and Sand le Mere in Yorkshire. One side of the spit at Spurn Point is really sandy and it's a lovely (but long and gruelling) walk to the end and back.

Like @gogohmm, I am reluctant to reveal the hidden gems of Somerset and just over the border into North Devon, but, since you twisted my arm...

All along the Bristol Channel are some stunning secret places although, caveat, none have sandy beaches except Dunster and Minehead. Kilve, Donniford, Quantoxhead and St Audries Bay brilliant for fossil hunting, Watchet has a gorgeous harbour and, during the summer holiday period, the Town Council put on many free activities for children. Further along is Blue Anchor Bay with free parking all along the sea wall. Beyond Minehead the A39 coast road takes you to Porlock and then across the fringes of Exmoor where you will see the wild exmoor ponies grazing, the hauntingly beautiful Doone Valley and beautiful views across the Channel to Wales. And, at night, when the moon is rising and shining across the Channel, it always brings to mind the song ' Moon River' from 'Breakfast At Tiffanys'. From Porlock you next reach Lynmouth/Lynton with the amazing furnicular railway and, just outside Lynton, the Valley Of The Rocks - a very special, tranquil and beautiful hidden valley with, allegedly, the highest sea cliffs in the UK. The true story of the 'Overland Launch' starts at Lynmouth and, if you follow its route back to Porlock and the descent down Porlock Hill, it is a mindblowing tale of human endeavour and selfless heroism.
Now I have given it all away, but, being fortunate enough to live nearby, it would be selfish to not share it!

I love going to Filey with its lovely long, sandy beach.

I am a massive fan of North Yorkshire. I want to add the Goatland to Grosmont steam railway is not the coast but is a brilliant and beautiful addition to a North Yorkshire (above the Humber) holiday. My Grandma had a caravan at Withernsea and I went every year as a nipper and loved it and from there we went to Spurn Head and up all the way to Robin Hoods Bay for day trips and Whitby on my Granddads fishing boat etc. Fab bit of coast.

South Shields. The town itself is rundown but the beach is gorgeous. We stayed there recently in a lovely chalet right on the beach, and had a fabulous time.

Couple more.

Oh nevermind, that's the same one again!

Winchelsea Beach. Has sand, rockpools, sunken forest, WW2 remains, little cafe, interesting nearby pretty town of Winchelsea on a Norman grid plan, you can walk to Rye.

What a great thread. We've got a nervous dog who loves the beach and walks but he gets stressed in a busy environment. Will look at some of these suggestions

Oh my god! Porlock Hill, once done never forgotten. I know someone who attempted that while towing a horsebox!

Kingsand and Cawsand in Devon.

Whoops...Kingsand and Cawsand are in Cornwall.

Quite a few of these suggestions won’t be particularly quiet!

Bognor Regis and the nearby area has the most stunning, sandy beaches, especially at low tide.

Thanks for the tip about Staithes getting busy, DH and I are up that way soon (before the schools break up) so will try and go on a weekday morning.

Thornwick bay near Flamborough, East Yorkshire.

I was going to say this. Are you from that way?

Beaches galore on the Isle of Wight

Silecroft beach in Cumbria is lovely.

Agree West Wales. New Quay, Tresaith, Penybryn, Mwnt, cardigan bay and down the coast into North Pembs - Newport (not the one near Bristol).

Thorpeness in Suffolk. It's a pebble beach. I go there a lot & it's never crowded.

Many of these suggestions are quite awful. Forget them. Everyone, forget them.
Why in earth would you want to sit on huge unspoilt beaches, paddle and search for water wildlife in clear rock pools, eat crispy fish and chips sitting in w sun-warmed dunes. Stay away, i tells you!
Try Newquay or Margate.