Secluded ‘crown jewel’ coastline named the UK’s best white sand beach

Think you need to jet over to Palm Beach for gorgeous white sand?

Think again, because the UK has white sandy beaches good enough to rival some of the world’s most famous, from hotspots in the Maldives to Hawaii. Not only is it right on our doorstep, the country’s best is as secluded as it is spectacular.

Taking the crown is Holkham Beach, the seaside gem of the North Norfolk Coast.

Neighboured by Wells Next The Sea and Brancaster, Holkham is famous for its beach huts and the historic Holkham Hall, an 18th century country house constructed for the 1st Earl of Leicester.

One of the reasons this stretch of coastline is so special is that it’s so clean – largely because there are relatively strict rules in place to keep it in such pristine condition.

Dogs are allowed on the beach here, but they must be kept on a lead or ‘under close control’ to protect nesting birds, and there are plenty of opportunities to dispose of rubbish to ensure a litter-free environment.

Holkham’s accolade was given by Dog Friendly Cottages, a company offering a range of holiday rentals across the UK. Experts used digital colour analysis and Google Satellite Images to find which beach has the ‘whitest sand’, commenting: ‘Holkham beach is the jewel in the crown of the North Norfolk Coast, the beach stretches for miles and miles at low tide.’

What to do in Holkham

You might recognise Holkham Beach already, as it was used as a filming location for Shakespeare In Love, where Gwyneth Paltrow’s character strolls across the sands after her love affair with Shakespeare, played by Joseph Fiennes, ends.

With its long, characteristically Norfolk coastline, Holkham offers the possibility of long walks, and you can explore right along the shore to the neighbouring Wells Next The Sea.

In fact, the beach is actually part of the Holkham National Nature Reserve, and is comprised of saltmarsh, sand dunes, pinewoods and grazing marsh – perfect for nature lovers.

Elsewhere, Holkham Hall is now open to the public, and visitors can wander the hall, the walled gardens and the park, or hire a bike and explore all areas of the park, including the Obelisk, the Ice House and the Monument.

For a small-town vibe, Wells Next The Sea has a quay with breathtaking views, a classic Georgian Square and a mix of traditional and contemporary shops.

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