secret little beaches and coves in UK

[oaktreelady12]

This is an odd request I know. It is my husband's 40th next year and it is well timed to line up with a sabbatical over the summer. He has always dreamed of living by the coast in a quiet spot near the sea so we are going to try and live that dream for 2 months. What spots would you recommend?

Ideally in the SE or SW so we can visit an elderly relative but we can make anything in the UK work really.

Thank you very much!

No help.for actually suggestions bur there seems to be a Wild Swimming: Hidden Beaches book that looks very comprehensive and has some lovely photos and could be a great resource to look at together one evening. Enjoy your trip!

No one who enjoys their secret beach spot is going to post it on here!

Exactly

And that's not even starting on the fact that this is "AIBU"...

ok well if no one will spill their secrets I'll settle for mildly popular spots!

What time of year? Cornwall is the obvious choice. South Cornwall for smoother surf, north Cornwall for more stormy, surfing sort of conditions. Early autumn or mid to late spring would be ideal. It’s very quiet and a bit dismal in winter. The trick will be getting a short term rental. You will probably need to be guided by that more than the specific area.

You do realise that this site is read by millions dont you.

Only list your 'hidden' beach if you want it overrun by out of towners.

Yup. Sorry.

It will be the summer school holidays I am afraid - kids in tow! July and August

And yet here the search function (and the holidays and UK travel forum on Mumsnet) is your friend...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/uk/3282223-beautiful-english-beach-location-with-caves-adventures-etc

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/1296453-nicest-secret-beaches-on-the-kent-east-sussex-coast

@JacquesHarlow thank you!

There aren't any. Any at all 🤐

Cornwall. But in July / August it will be busy so not really many secret places unless it’s a remote inaccessible cove you’d probably have to scramble down a cliff to get to.

North Norfolk, especially away from the main spots like Cromer and Wells might be a good shout. Lovely uncrowded beaches, cute villages. There’s plenty to do in the locality. Lack of easy train access to the region seems to make the area less popular for daytrippers, so much less busy and hectic than many places with as much going for them.

Are you aware you can only rent a holiday let for up to 31 days in England? You are going to need two hidden beaches!

North Wales!

Polly Joke in Cornwall
Ross Sands in Northumberland

Pembrokeshire

They won't be secret when they're advertised on MN or any other forum.

I understand where you're coming from and would like it myself but it's kind of incompatible with society.

We want to enjoy things without other people being there. But that is fundamentally selfish and dis-social as everyone wants to enjoy beautiful things and keeping them secret is suggesting we are superior in a way to want to enjoy those things alone or with fewer others.

It's a form of gatekeeping i'm not very comfortable with as a member of society even though i'd prefer it.