Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire
A jumble of red-roofed cottages open on to a wide stretch of beach at Runswick, an under-the-radar gem. Rock pools, fossil hunting and acres of sand make it a great choice for families, and walkers can follow the Cleveland Way National Trail to Saltburn. Summer visitors should seek out the pop-up Runswick Bay Tea Garden (2 Ellerby Lane), while Runswick Bay Cottages (runswickbaycottages.co.uk) has the pick of self-catering properties.
Branscombe, Devon
âA stream leads you through picnic-perfect meadows to a working watermill and then to the seaâ: Branscombe, Devon. Photograph: Mike Henton/National Trust
Tucked into a glorious valley on the Jurassic Coast, Branscombe is a picturesque village with thatched cottages and a stream leading you through picnic-perfect meadows to a working watermill and then to the sea. Like the forge, and much of the countryside, the mill is owned by the National Trust. The shingle beach at Branscombe Mouth, dotted