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
Natalie Millar-Partridge
Mullion Cove
- Credit: Greig Barclay
The North Coast
This part of Cornwall flourishes during the summer months, offering some of the most exhilarating spots to explore with your four-legged friend. A walker’s paradise, boasting sweeping bays and dramatic cliff walks, with uninterrupted sea views for miles.
Daymer Bay
Daymer Bay boasts enviable views across the Camel Estuary and Atlantic Ocean; perfectly positioned for exploring the South West Coastal Path with its wild, rugged landscape, peppered with sandy beaches and coves. The dramatic rock-face is fused with spectacular beaches, with its huge expanse of low-tidal sands, dramatic sculptural rocks and slated skimming stones, it offers the ideal walk for you and your four-legged friend, with plenty of soft sand to run and play.