One of the UK’s last true wildernesses
“Strung with vast and often deserted beaches, the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is one of the county’s primary draws,” says Charlotte Wigram-Evans in National Geographic. “This dramatic, 175-square-mile stretch of rural England also features mudflats and salt marshes that teem with a rich variety of wildlife.” The coastline can be explored on foot on the Norfolk Coast Path, or you can take a sailing boat into the maze of tiny waterways flanked by towering sandbanks, which “feel like one of the UK’s last true wildernesses”. Stay at the Victoria Inn, says Wigram-Evans. A stone’s throw from Holkham Beach, it “brims with country charm” and is a perfect base for exploring the coast. See holkham.co.uk.
Whale-spotting in Northumberland
The Northumberland coast is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a place of high drama, says The Daily Telegraph, with sweeping sandy beaches and isolated islands. It’s a great place for walking, cycling, wildlife watching and water sports. The coastline is “punctuated by castles, at Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh and Warkworth, and the town defences of Berwick”. The Northumberland Coast Path follows the coastline for 100 kilometres and there are trails for all abilities. Hire a bike or take your own for miles of quiet lanes and traffic-free cycle routes. For the bird watchers, activity at the seabird colonies peaks in June and July, and whales and dolphins can be seen year round. Stay at the penthouse apartment in Craster Tower, a Grade-II listed country house with sea views, situated above a picturesque fishing village. See crastertower.co.uk.
A hidden gem in south Devon
Gara Rock Beach is a hidden seaside adventure playground, says Chris Haslam in The Times, situated near Salcombe in south Devon. It could easily “become your family favourite”, although its “magnificence as a picnic spot is rivalled by competition at the top of the cliff”, where you’ll find an outlet selling pasties and ice cream, and the sea-view terrace of the restaurant at the Gara Rock hotel. The hotel is a good spot to stay, with “a hipster-chic” vibe, a sea-view spa and a cinema. Double rooms from at £257 per night. See gararock.com.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
A taste of the Caribbean
The Isles of Scilly have the closest thing you can get to Caribbean beaches in the UK, says Roshina Jowaheer in Country Living. This “magical archipelago” sitsjust 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall and has the same sparkling turquoise water and laid-back island vibe of the Caribbean without the long-haul flight. “The Isles of Scilly have been blessed with some of the most beautiful sands in the world… You can bathe or kayak the crystal-clear waters, take in the beauty of the coast by walking along a trail, or soak it all up from a beach bar or cafe.” Stay at the Star Castle Hotel, a 38-bedroom family-run hotel that has an indoor pool, tennis courts and a golf course. Double rooms start at £179 per night. See visitislesofscilly.com.
-
Millions of state pension records ‘set to be deleted’ – putting thousands at risk of never getting their moneyThousands of families could miss out on money owed to them if the government deletes historic state pension records.
-
What makes you wealthy in the UK? Could it make you a target in Rachel Reeves’ Budget?Wealthy Brits could be at risk from a Budget tax raid – but how much money do you need to be considered wealthy in the UK?
-
Pinewood Technologies: a drive for growthPinewood Technologies’ platform is one of the best in the business. Investors should buy in
-
'EV maker Faraday Future will crash'Faraday Future Intelligent Electric is failing dismally to live up to its name, says Matthew Partridge
-
8 of the best houses for sale with folliesThe best houses for sale with follies in the grounds – from a five-storey Victorian Gothic tower in Tonbridge, Kent, to a former mill in Oxfordshire with gardens that include a folly on an island in a lake
-
Sotheby’s fishes for art collectors – will it succeed?Sotheby’s is seeking to restore confidence in the market after landing Leonard Lauder's art collection, including Gustav Klimt's Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer
-
Review: The Lakes by Yoo – luxury living in the CotswoldsTravel The Lakes by Yoo combines a luxury hotel stay with the convenience of a holiday rental in a gorgeous lakeside setting
-
8 of the best houses for sale with separate accommodationThe best houses for sale with separate accommodation – from a converted 17th-century threshing barn in Monmouthshire, to a Grade II-listed Queen Anne house in North Yorkshire with four apartments in the stable block
-
Review: Bequia Beach Hotel – nostalgic fun in the CaribbeanTravel Bequia Beach Hotel on the island of Bequia in St Vincent and the Grenadines is a resort with personality that is as luxurious as it is playful
-
8 of the best properties for sale with orangeriesFrom a converted Victorian Catholic school with a chapel in Kingston Upon Thames to a 12-acre country estate with mature gardens and a lake in Nantwich, Cheshire, we look at some of the best properties for sale with orangeries
