Photo: Getty
One of my personal favourites, this four mile stretch of golden sand is rarely packed, even in the height of summer. The sea may be nippy but it is Mediterranean blue and clear. Being owned by the National Trust means no buildings to spoil its wildness, and you get there on the old chain ferry from footballer-flashy Sandbanks.
Where to stay
Ok so you’ll have to be a bit patient if you want a weekend here, but this converted manor house is so worth the wait. On a grassy clifftop, overlooking a huge expanse of blue sea, The Pig on the Beach has 23 bedrooms and delicious seasonal British food straight from the kitchen garden, below.
The Pig on the Beach, Manor House, Manor Road, Studland, Dorset., BH19 3AU, 01929 450288
Doubles from £129, B&B
