SECRET SPOTS

WAULKMILL BAY

Orkney

While it may not be much of a secret to locals, this beach in the parish of Orphir, on the main island of Orkney, feels very much like a hidden pearl to visitors lucky enough to find it. Reached down a narrow, easy-to-miss unmarked road, a wildflower meadow gradually reveals a beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay below. Climb down the steep steps and, if you have timed it right for low tide, you will be treated to a vast sandy beach where yours may well be the only footprints and crystal-clear shallow waters. The nearby Foveran is an excellent restaurant with rooms (doubles from £137 per night; 01856 872389; thefoveran.com).

PWLLGWAELOD

Pembrokeshire

While the allure of South Pembrokeshire is well known, far fewer visitors make their way further round the coast and so the beaches are much quieter. A mix of dark sand and shingle give this beach a wild feel, further enhanced by its elemental Atlantic-facing position. Still, it’s strikingly beautiful and has rock pools to explore and coastal walks to attempt, including access to Cwm yr Eglwys on the other side of Dinas Island.

Make sure you pop into the Old Sailors (01348 811486; facebook.com/theoldsailorsdinascross) for a pint or a bite to eat. Stay at Dinas Island Campsite, with pitches from £20 (dinasisland.co.uk).

EMBLETON BAY

Northumberland

Northumberland has no shortage of expansive sandy beaches, nor castles for that matter, and Embleton Bay – overlooked by Dunstanburgh Castle – boasts both. But what makes this entry secret is not the beach itself, but the covert place to stay nearby. Dunstall Hill is a private campsite just a short walk away, which you can have to yourself, with the owner’s permission, following the ethos of Wild with Consent (wildwithconsent.com), which sources “wild” locations for campervans to stay for the night off-grid, without riling up locals. If you don’t want to cook in the van, book in for dinner at the Ship Inn, a very good pub at the end of the beach, which has wonderful sea views (shipinnnewton.co.uk).

NEWTRAIN BEACH

Cornwall

Padstow is certainly no secret, but while most visitors rush to find space on Harlyn Bay or Trevone Bay, those i Castle views: Northumberland’s Embleton Bay is overlooked by Dunstanburgh unbothered by a rocky beach should opt instead for quieter Newtrain, which has its own natural swimming pool as well as brilliant rock pools and opportunities for shell-collecting at low tide. Opening this July in Trevone Bay is Atlanta House, a Victorian holiday home offering Hamptons-style beachside luxury and sleeping 6-10 guests (from £1,450 per week; atlantatrevonebay.com) with optional extras such as wild-cooking lessons with chef James Strawbridge, beach horse-riding, and den-building. And, if you’re looking for a sandy beach while you are here, Porthmissen Bay, which lies beneath a natural blowhole, is also nearby.

TYRELLA BEACH

Downpatrick

Set within a conservation area, this flat, sandy beach, which is over a mile long and backed by 25 hectares of mature dunes, is an important habitat for local fauna and flora, and kept impeccably clean. It is an idyllic spot for picnics and watersports, yet it still feels off the tourist trail, perhaps because there’s not much else around it. Your best bet for dinner after a day at the beach is the Squid Shack in nearby Dundrum (facebook.com/squidshack), and Meelmore Lodge offers rooms from £70 (meelmorelodge.com).