Not everyone was glued to the tennis on July 7. As Britain basked in glorious sunshine, thousands of us missed out on Andy Murray becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years, and instead headed to the seaside. Brighton beach was a sea of people, with barely a pebble visible among the bodies. With the heatwave set to continue for the rest of the month we thought it was time to reveal a few 'secret' beaches – gorgeous stretches of honeyed sand or pretty little coves that remain uncrowded even on a sunny weekend in July or August. You may need to pack a picnic and wear some sensible shoes to get there, but the reward will be your very own little patch of beach.
Moor Sands, Prawle Point, south Devon



The dramatic Prawle Point coastline, between Salcombe and Dartmouth, is the most southerly point in Devon and offers some of the finest hidden coves in the UK. My favourite is Moor Sands, the best of a trio of remote pearl-white beaches found at the end of a beautiful walk through quiet meadows. There is an abundance of wildlife here in summer, holly blue butterflies flutter on the breeze and buzzards circle high overhead. Moor Sands has a small off-shore rock stack to swim out to and you can also seek out sandy Elender Cove, nestled in the corner of Gammon Head, half a mile to the east. Refresh afterwards with good food and ales at the quirky Pig's Nose Inn in East Prawle village.

Getting there: Entering East Prawle from the north, turn right at the water tower (signed East Portlemouth/ Cycle Route 2), then turn left after half a mile at Vinivers Cross to find the bridleway on the right.
Daniel Start, author of the Wild Guide to Devon, Cornwall and the South West, which features over 100 secret coves
Musselwick Sands, Pembrokeshire
Musselwick Sands, Pembrokeshire, Wales Photograph: Dave-pemcoastphotos.com /Flickr



There's never any doubt about escaping crowds at Musselwick: for a start it's a good half mile from the nearest car parking and, the killer punch, you need to know the tide times. The approach is down an idyllic dell that narrows to a shelving slab of rock that is cut into steps. To your left appears one of the most ravishing curves of golden sand you will ever see. However, if the tide is in, you won't be able to reach it. Hopefully, you have timed it correctly and now have two or three hours to enjoy the sand and the rocks – kids love hide and seek here. If you got it wrong, head over the peninsula to Marloes Sands.

Getting there: Park in the village of Marloes and take the footpath at the western end of the village, heading north. It leads you straight there.
Kevin Rushby, regular Guardian Travel contributor and author of Guardian Travel's Unsung Corners of Britain
Heddon's Mouth, near Lynton, north Devon
Heddons Mouth, Exmoor, Devon Photograph: Adam Burton/Corbis

If the true measure of a secluded beach is that it could have been captured several times during World War II without anyone noticing, then Heddon's Mouth is likely to come out top. A few years ago, a former U-boat captain admitted that he had often anchored off shore, so that his crew could get in a bit of R&R there. Today, this rocky cove remains hidden from view by huge cliffs and thick woodland. Like all the best quiet beaches, it takes a little effort to get there, so treat this as a full day out.

Getting there: Take the train to Barnstaple, then the 309 or 310 bus to Parracombe, from where it's a three-mile walk along footpath and country lane to the Hunter's Inn pub. Then it's a one-mile walk along a river through the tunnel-like Heddon's Mouth Cleave, Exmoor's deepest V-shaped valley, down to the beach.
Dixe Wills, author of Tiny Islands and Tiny Campsites
Lantic Bay, south-east Cornwall
Lantic Bay, Near Fowey, Cornwall Photograph: John Miller/Corbis



One of a series of secluded suntrap coves on the rocky stretch of National Trust coastline between Fowey and Polperro, this is one of those out-of-the-away Cornish gems we locals like to keep to ourselves. Not that we have to try very hard: access is a 25-minute walk via farmland and steep cliff-paths (not for the unfit, particularly on the return journey) and there's nothing there (no loos, no café, very little shade), except white pebbled sand, spectacular views of Pencarrow Head, sheltering cliffs, rock pools, clear water and a handful of people (some of them come by boat). For an easier option, head to nearby Lansallos. Or for something wilder, try Lantivet – but only when the tide is out.

Getting there: From the A38 between Liskeard and Bodmin, turn on to the A390, and then left on to the B3359. Keep turning right until you find Lantic Bay's National Trust carpark. Best way is to arm yourself with a good OS map (National Trust provides co-ordinates). On foot, take the South West Coast Path from Polruan (one and a half miles) or Polperro.
(four miles).

So incongruous is its location on the outskirts of post-industrial Barrow, and so discreet its signposting, that when you find this deep, wide beach on the south side of the Duddon estuary, you won't quite believe it's there. The sandy beach is backed by a vast dune system, where the grassy dips and mounds are dotted with rare wild flowers and butterflies. Across the estuary, an identity parade of famous fells – Crinkle Crags, Coniston Old Man, Scafell – crowns a distant view of Lakeland.
Getting there: Follow the A590 from Ulverston towards Barrow-in-Furness. After passing Dalton-in-Furness look out for a right turn (Oaklea Road) signposted Roanhead.
Rachael Oakden, journalist based in Cumbria
Covehithe, Suffolk
Covehithe, Suffolk Photograph: Rob Francis/Corbis

At Covehithe, four miles north of Southwold, you'll find a golden sandy beach, scattered with sea-polished tree trunks and roots that have tumbled from the eroding cliffs – an iconic symbol of the changing Suffolk coast. It's one of the few properly sandy beaches in Suffolk and also one of the nicest places to swim. In his book Waterlog, Roger Deakin swam in the warm inland lakes (or broad) and then the bracing sea; now the broads are fenced off but swimming in the sea is as invigorating as ever.

There's no cafe here, not even a car park, so take a picnic, buckets and spades with you. The nearest pub and village shop are in Wrentham, where you turn off the A12 to Covehithe – or head to Southwold for a wider choice.

Getting there: To reach the beach you must abandon your car in the village and take one of two footpaths down to the beach (10 minutes). The gentlest and most sheltered path heads south, near the fork in the road as you enter the village. For a more dramatic approach, walk down the lane now barred to cars (note the no-access sign), and you'll reach the cliff where the road has been swallowed by the sea. From here you can head north along the cliff down to the beach, it's a well trodden path, though rather precarious as the sea edges closer every year.
Polly Robinson, founder of Suffolk-based Food Safari
Chesil Beach, Dorset
Aerial View of Chesil Beach Photograph: Jason Hawkes/Corbis

Most beach goers are like unadventurous sheep, never straying far from the most accessible watering trough. As a result, this summer the "Broadchurch-effect" has turned West Bay into a new kind of hell. And a sunny Sunday at Hive Beach in Burton Bradstock – once the hidden jewel of the Jurassic Coast – has become a Brighton beach-style nightmare. And yet, just to the east of the nightmare is one long, straight, 18-mile stretch of Chesil Beach, before it bumps into Portland Bill. Ten miles of the beach runs along the banks of the Fleet, a freshwater lagoon that has its own beach. That's 28 miles of beach in total! So, if you want enough room to catch a mackerel, build a barbie and indulge in some naturism, Chesil Beach is the place. There are car parks and access points all along the beach, and quite simply, if you're prepared to carry your snacks on your back and flex your calf muscles, seaside solitude will be your just reward.

Getting there: Access is easiest from the car park at Ferry Bridge on the Portland end of Chesil and the views from Portland itself are gobsmacking. Or at Abbotsbury or West Bexington access is available to the meaty middle portion of the beach, where you can walk in either direction to find a piece of peace.

Travel News from United Kingdom

-

Best Travel Agency in United Kingdom

-

Top Hotels in United Kingdom

-

Travel Place in United Kingdom

Videos of Travel Places United Kingdom

Photogallery of Travel Places in United Kingdom