
8 Amazing Hidden British Beaches To Discover
Explore, swim or just relax in perfect solitude at these stunning coastal spots
Britain has some of the most beautiful coastline in the world, with plenty of secluded seaside gems to discover. So don’t follow the crowds when the next heatwave hits – beat a path to these hidden beaches and coves instead.
The white sand and turquoise water of Pentle Beach makes it feel positively Mediterranean


5. Covehithe Beach, Suffolk
This stretch of the Suffolk coast seems to be somewhat forgotten, perhaps due to the alarming rate at which it’s eroding into the sea. But the forces of nature at work here have created Covehithe Beach and its brackish lagoon, a birdwatcher’s paradise.
Close your eyes while you sit on the sand and all you’ll hear are crashing waves and the calls of birds, from sand martins to marsh harriers.
Getting there: From the A12 at Wrentham take the turning for Covehithe. Park near the church and take the footpath opposite through fields and over dunes, before scrambling down to the beach.
6. Kilmory Bay, Isle of Rum, Scotland
The lure of the perfect beach is that it lies on a remote and deserted island. The Isle of Rum doesn’t quite qualify, but with only a handful of permanent residents and a single ferry service from the mainland, it comes pretty close.
Kilmory Bay lies on Rum’s northern coastline, and with its white sands, clear waters and incredible views out over the sea, it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in Britain. You’d be hard pushed to get there and back in a day, but it makes an epic spot to wild camp.
Getting there: Take the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry to Rum from Mallaig. From the slipway, walk into Kinloch and take the path that broadly follows the Kinloch River before heading north along Kilmory Glen to reach Kilmory Bay.
7. Carreg-y-Tŷ
Also known as Traeth Bach (‘the little beach’), this secluded cove is hidden along the stretch of coast between the Welsh seaside villages of Llangrannog and Penbryn.
To the right of the beach is a rocky outcrop, connected to the mainland by a sandy isthmus at low tide – at high tide, you’ll just have to swim to reach it.
Getting there: Follow the coast path one mile south from Llangrannog or one and a half miles north from Penbryn – to get down to the beach, take the steep path that leaves the coast path at the corner of a field, near a gate.
8. Pentle Beach, Tresco, Isles of Scilly
The Isles of Scilly are known for their picture-perfect beaches and sub-tropical climate, yet luckily even in the height of summer you can enjoy relative isolation.
The white sand and turquoise water of Pentle Beach makes it look and feel positively Mediterranean. Soak up the sun here with only strutting oystercatchers for company.
Getting there: Take the ferry from Penzance to St Mary and hop on a boat to Tresco. Pentle Bay is a short walk from either of the quays that you might land at via the path that runs around the edge of the island.
Words: Matt Jones
Photos: Botany Bay, Broadstairs © Petras Gagilas, Covehithe Beach © Andrew Stawarz, Porth Iago © Chris Morriss