HolkHam, Norfolk
Frequently voted best beach in the UK, Holkham is rightly known as the jewel of the North Norfolk Coast; at low tide, it stretches for miles, and you can walk in a blissful, unspoilt landscape of just sand, sea and sky. As part of Holkham National Nature Reserve, the beach is also home to large flocks of wintering birds and is an important site for breeding little terns, ringed plovers and oystercatchers. In the summer, the dunes are carpeted with yellow flowers that attract beautiful butterflies; could anything be more idyllic? Where to stay The elegant, 20-bedroom Victoria Inn is located within a privately owned estate with 600 acres of parkland, fallow deer herd and abundant wildlife. At the centre of the estate sits Holkham Hall, an 18th-century mansion that’s now lived in by Thomas Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester. Aside from the picturesque setting, the real draw to The Victoria is the food. Among the inviting seasonal menus are a few local treasures, including Galloway beef from the estate’s very own herd. Rooms from £130pn on a b&b basis; holkham.co.uk >>