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The UK’s 17 best beaches – our poll of polls

There is poll after poll dedicated to the UK’s best beaches, so we counted up the votes to create our ultimate guide to the hottest sand spots in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland based on votes from experts across the UK press.

1/ Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland

UK's best beaches, Bamburgh Castle

This beautiful stretch of wild coast is set against the brooding background of Bamburgh Castle. Golden sands, clear seas and spectacular views across to Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands.

6 votes from Rough Guides, Telegraph, TimeOut, Countryfile, RedOnline, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Visit Northumberland

2/ Porthcurno, Cornwall

Best beaches in Britain, Porthcurno Beach

This gem of a white sand beach is lapped by turquoise waters and overlooked by the extraordinary Minack Theatre, which is crafted into the granite cliffs that surround the bay.

6 votes from Rough Guides, Telegraph, Metro, Countryfile, RedOnline, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Visit Cornwall

3/ Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire

Best beaches in Britain, Barafundle Bay

The pristine sands and crystal clear waters of Barafundle Bay can only be accessed following a 30 minute trek from the car park, ensuring the beach remains hidden and quiet.

5 votes from Rough Guides, CNTraveller, TimeOut, Metro, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Visit Pembrokeshire

4/ Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides

Best beaches in Britain, Luskentyre

With azure waters, a sparkling white stretch of sand and wild ponies, otters, dolphins and eagles for company, Luskentyre feels like a beach from another world.

5 votes from Telegraph, TripAdvisor, CNTraveller, TimeOut, RedOnline
Picture credit: Andrea Obzerova/Shutterstock

5/ Rhossili Beach, Gower Peninsula

UK's best beaches, Rhossili Bay

A regular winner of best beach polls, beautiful Rhossili Beach is a favourite of surfers with crashing waves from the Atlantic. The beach can only be accessed by a steep cliff path, which keeps it feeling remote.

5 votes from Rough Guides, TripAdvisor, Telegraph, CNTraveller, Daily Mail
Picture credit: City of Swansea 2014

6/ Studland Bay, Dorset

Best beaches in Britain, Studland

Pristine sands fall gently into milky-blue waters and everything is set to a backdrop of dunes and heathland on this wonderful stretch of beach. Don’t roam too far though, it includes the UK’s most popular naturist beach.

4 votes from: Rough Guides, Telegraph, RedOnline, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Visit Dorset

7/ Blackpool Sands, Devon

Best beaches in Britain, Blackpool Sands

This sheltered crescent of shingle beach is a wonderful spot for families, with calm and clear waters plus sand pits and a bathing raft.

3 votes from Telegraph, CNTraveller, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Visit South Devon

8/ Durdle Door, Dorset

Best beaches in Britain, Durdle Door

This Jurassic Coast beach is can only be accessed by a climb down several hundred steps, so overcrowding is never an issue. Durdle Door is the name of the limestone arch between two beaches, St Oswald’s Bay and Man O’War Cove.

3 votes from CNTraveller, Metro, Countryfile
Picture credit: Visit Dorset

9/ Pentle Bay, Isles of Scilly

Best beaches in Britain, Pentle Bay

With white sand, emerald waters and brilliant-blue sky, Pentle Bay is an isolated spot with a tropical style.

3 votes from Telegraph, CNTraveller, RedOnline
Picture credit: Visit Isles of Scilly

10/ Sandwood Bay, Highlands

Best beaches in Britain, Sandwood Bay

Brave the cold blasts from the North Atlantic to discover the magnificent sands that are also backed by a beautiful freshwater loch.

3 votes from Rough Guides, Telegraph, Countryfile
Picture credit: John A Cameron/Shutterstock

11/ Saunton Sands Beach, Devon

Best beaches in Britain, Saunton Sands

Having one of the UK’s largest sand-dune systems at its back helps to maintain Saunton Sands’ wild streak, although the wide open sands are a firm favourite with families.

3 votes from Telegraph, TripAdvisor, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Visit North Devon

12/ Slapton Sands, Somerset

Best beaches in Britain, Slapton Sands

Don’t be fooled by the name, this is a shingle beach, but the views are wonderful and you’ll find solitude here.

3 votes from TimeOut, TripAdvisor, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Andrew Roland/Shutterstock

13/ Southwold, Suffolk

Best beaches in Britain, Southwold

The iconic colourful beach huts are a reminder that this traditional sand and shingle beach is one of the UK’s most popular.

3 votes from Countryfile, RedOnline, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Visit Suffolk

14/ Watergate Bay, Cornwall

Best beaches in Britain, Watergate Bay

In a region blessed with great surfing beaches, Watergate Bay is one of the very best.

3 votes from Telegraph, RedOnline, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Visit Cornwall

15/ Woolacombe Beach, Devon

Best beaches in Britain, Woolacombe

One of the best and most popular family beaches in Britain, with three miles of soft golden sands and inviting waters.

3 votes from CNTraveller, TripAdvisor, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Hugh O’Connor / Shutterstock

16/ Compton Bay, Isle of Wight

Best beaches in Britain, Compton Bay

The Isle of Wight’s surf capital, Compton Bay is popular with both watersports fans and bathers.

2 votes from Rough Guides, Telegraph
Picture credit: Visit Isle of Wight

17/ Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Lancashire

Best beaches in Britain, Blackpool

The beach with the UK’s most iconic backdrop – piers, the ballroom and giant funfairs give Blackpool beach added edge.

2 votes from Rough Guides, Daily Mail
Picture credit: Aliboni/Shutterstock

 

See the original best beach lists in full. Follow the links to roundups from Rough Guides, the Telegraph, TimeOut, Countryfile, RedOnline, Daily Mail and TripAdvisor, CN Traveller.